Monument Valley Tickets, Hours and the Valley Drive

On the Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation Department’s own Monument Valley page, entry costs $10 per person, per day, plus a vehicle fee of $15. The department raised fees for all its locations, permits and entry fees on January 1, 2026. Because Monument Valley is a Navajo Tribal Park and not a national park, the National Park Pass is not accepted. The fee lets you stop at the visitor center, look out over the Mittens and drive the 17-mile Valley Drive in your own vehicle; anything beyond the loop needs a Navajo guide and is paid separately.

This guide covers what you pay and where, the hours through the year, what the Valley Drive is like and which vehicles are allowed on it, the one trail you can walk without a guide, and the rules of the tribal park, which differ from those of a national park in ways that matter.

Who runs Monument Valley

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is managed by the Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation Department, which the Navajo Nation Tribal Council established in 1957. Its stated mission is to manage tribal parks, monuments and recreation areas wisely “for the long-term benefit of the Navajo People.”

That has practical consequences for visitors:

Navajo Nation law applies. The reservation covers over 25,000 square miles across four states, and the department asks visitors to be aware of Navajo Nation laws throughout.
The fees go to the tribal park, not to the National Park Service, which is why federal passes do not apply.
The valley is lived in. Beyond the visitor center, the valley floor is home to Navajo families. That is why most of it is open only with a Navajo guide.
You enter at your own risk. The department states that the Navajo Nation is not liable for accidents, theft or damage during your visit.

The View Hotel puts it plainly in its visitor FAQ: Monument Valley is not a U.S. national park but a Navajo Nation Tribal Park on the Navajo Indian Reservation. No extra visa or passport is needed to enter the Navajo Nation.

The entry fee in 2026

On the park’s Monument Valley page:

Fee	Amount
Entry, per person	$10 per day
Vehicle	$15 per vehicle
National Park Pass	Not accepted

A few details are worth knowing.

The pass covers more than one day. One Navajo tour operator advises that the park pass is valid for up to three days, and should be left on the dashboard if you park overnight.
You can pay on arrival. The department’s tour-operator page says you can buy the entry fee and a guided tour on arrival.
Tours usually do not include it. Several Navajo operators state that the tribal park entry fee is not included in their tour price and is paid as you enter. If you book a tour, check whether the fee is in the price.
Entry is first come, first served. In peak season the park asks travelers to be prepared for long waits.

Why you may see other prices

Monument Valley’s fee has changed several times, and older figures linger online, including on the department’s own separate entry-fee page, which still lists $8 per person, per location. Some lodges and tour operators also still quote the old fee. The department’s Monument Valley page, which also announces the fee increase of January 1, 2026, is the most current source; we use its figures here. If you want certainty before you travel, check that page or ask at the fee booth.

Opening hours by season

Hours change several times a year, and the last entry to the Valley Drive is much earlier than closing time. All times are Navajo Nation time, which in summer is one hour ahead of Arizona.

The park’s Monument Valley page gave these hours for autumn 2026:

Period	Viewpoint and patio	Scenic Drive	Last entry to the drive
October 3–16, 2026	7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.	8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.	3:30 p.m.
From October 17 (winter hours)	8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.	8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.	2:30 p.m.

Under winter hours the visitor center museum is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and the admin office 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For the rest of the year, the department’s tour-operator page gives a seasonal pattern:

March 8 to April 30. The fee booth is open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; last entry to the Scenic Drive is on or before 3:30 p.m.
May 1 to September 30. The visitor center and Scenic Drive are open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; last entry to the drive is on or before 4:30 p.m.
October 1 to January 31. The visitor center and Scenic Drive are open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; last entry on or before 2:30 p.m.

The two pages do not agree exactly on when winter hours start, so treat these as a guide and check the park’s page shortly before you go.

Days the park is closed

The park closes on major holidays in accordance with the Navajo Nation: Thanksgiving Day (November 26 in 2026), Christmas Day (December 25) and New Year’s Day (January 1). The tour-operator page adds Navajo Nation Family Day, the day after Thanksgiving, to the list for all Navajo Tribal Parks.

Time zone: read this before you plan

The Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time; Arizona does not. During daylight saving time, Monument Valley is one hour ahead of Page and Flagstaff. In winter, Arizona, Utah and the Navajo Nation are all on the same time.

So if the last entry to the Valley Drive is on or before 4:30 p.m. in summer, that is 3:30 p.m. by an Arizona clock. Tour operators repeat the warning on their booking pages, and their times are always Navajo Nation time.

What the Valley Drive is

The Valley Drive, also called the Scenic Drive or the loop drive, is the part of Monument Valley you can see on your own. In the department’s words it is a 17-mile loop drive that is all natural and dirt road, with very rough terrain and deep sand dunes.

From it you see many of the formations that made the valley famous, among them the Mitten Buttes, Merrick Butte and the view from John Ford’s Point, and the drive passes Navajo vendors selling hand-crafted jewelry. Along the way:

Stay on the designated route and obey all signs. Driving off it is prohibited.
The loop is for vehicles only. The department says the 17-mile loop is accessible by vehicle only.
Allow time. With stops for photographs, the loop easily fills a couple of hours, and you must enter before the last-entry time.
Carry water. There are no services on the loop beyond the vendors.

Which vehicles are allowed

The department’s rules for the loop are specific:

Prohibited: RVs, camper vans, motorcycles, and large SUVs or off-road vehicles. Motorcycles are refused because of the rough terrain and deep sand dunes.
Preferable: an SUV or truck, according to the park’s entry-fee page, which asks that you have a vehicle that will withstand the rough terrain.
Your risk: the department is not liable for any damage to your vehicle on the loop or on tribal park land.

The View Hotel’s FAQ is a little more relaxed, saying 4x4 or high-clearance vehicles are recommended for the dirt and sandy road but are not required. Conditions change with the season and the weather. After rain the sand can become deep or rutted, and an ordinary rental car with low clearance can struggle. If you are unsure about your car, park it at the visitor center and take a guided tour instead.

What you cannot see from the loop

The loop covers only part of the valley. In the department’s own words, places such as Ear of the Wind and other landmarks can only be reached on guided tours. The View Hotel says the same: private vehicles reach a portion of the park, and additional areas are only open with a Navajo guide, because the land beyond the loop is the home and “backyard” of Navajo families.

Our Monument Valley jeep tours guide compares the guided options, from a standard backcountry tour to sunrise, sunset, horseback and Mystery Valley.

The visitor center

The visitor center sits at the top of the valley, at the start of the loop. From its viewpoint you see what the department calls the world-famous panorama of the Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte.

Museum. Open daily during visitor center hours.
Restaurant. In the summer months the visitor center has the Haskenneini Restaurant, serving Navajo and American food, plus a film, snack and souvenir shop.
Restrooms. Open year-round.
Vendors. One mile before the visitor center, Navajo vendors sell arts, crafts, native food and souvenirs at roadside stands. The department’s message is simple: buy local, buy Navajo.
Tours. Guides wait at the lower parking lot, and you can book a tour there on arrival.

The View Hotel stands next door; it is the only hotel inside the tribal park.

Hiking: the Wildcat Trail

You cannot hike freely in Monument Valley. The View Hotel’s FAQ states that because the land is controlled by local families, you cannot hike in the park without a certified Navajo guide. The one exception is the Wildcat Trail, which begins near The View Hotel.

Length. The park lists the Wildcat Trail at 1.5 miles. The View Hotel describes its walk from the hotel, down into the valley and around the Left Mitten, as a 4-mile hike that descends nearly 900 feet to the valley floor. Allow for the longer figure and for the climb back up.
Sign in and out at the visitor center before you start.
Direction. The trail circles the Left Mitten clockwise, the direction the Navajo move inside a hogan.
Hours. Designated trails are open during park hours, which the tour-operator page gives as 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and are used at your own risk.
Conditions. There is no shade or water on the valley floor. In summer start early; in winter expect cold and wind.

Any other hike in the valley, including the climb to Hunts Mesa or the walks in Mystery Valley, is done with a Navajo guide.

Permits and camping

The tribal park issues several permits, and none of them includes the entry fee.

Backcountry permit. Required for hiking and camping in Navajo Tribal Parks, available from the visitor center.
Special use permit. Needed for photography, filming, weddings and painting beyond ordinary personal use; ask at the visitor center.
Commercial photography. Photographs or video for commercial use are prohibited without a permit from Navajo Parks & Recreation.

On camping, the department’s rules list a fee of $15 per person, per night, with a backcountry use permit required for hiking. In practice, stay at a designated campground, such as the one run alongside The View Hotel, or at Goulding’s RV campground outside the park.

The rules of the tribal park

Monument Valley’s rules reflect the fact that it is sacred land and a home. The department states that all Navajo Tribal Park scenic areas are considered sacred sites, protected by Navajo Nation law.

No drones. Drones are prohibited at all Navajo Tribal Park locations and will be confiscated if flown.
No climbing. Rock climbing is prohibited. The department asks visitors to respect the religious requests of the Navajo people and not climb the monuments.
No alcohol or drugs. Their possession and consumption are prohibited on the Navajo Nation.
No dogs. Dogs are prohibited at all Navajo Tribal Park locations.
No firearms on tribal lands.
Leave everything. Do not disturb or remove animals, plants, rocks or artifacts.
Ask before photographing people. Obtain permission before taking pictures of Navajo people, and do not wander across residential areas or disturb property.
No scattering of ashes. Discarding cremated remains on tribal lands is strictly prohibited.
No off-road driving. Dune buggies, off-road vehicles and modified motorcycles are prohibited in the tribal park areas.

The department is also clear that all areas of the Navajo Nation are closed to non-Navajos without a valid pass or permit, and that being there without one counts as trespassing.

Weather and what to bring

Monument Valley is high desert. The View Hotel’s table of average temperatures gives highs of 45°F in January, 70°F in April, 90°F in July and 66°F in October, and lows of 25°F in January and 63°F in July. December lows average 24°F.

Summer. Hot days, and July through September is monsoon season, when the department says the danger of flash floods is greatest. Storms can make the loop impassable.
Spring and fall. The mildest months, and the busiest.
Winter. Cold, sometimes with snow, and much quieter. Many photographers prefer the low winter sun.

Bring water, sun protection, a hat and closed-toe shoes for the sandy stops, and a warm layer: the park lists its elevation as 5,564 feet, and evenings cool quickly. Our journal article on Monument Valley weather goes through the seasons in more detail.

Planning the visit around the fee

A self-guided visit, with the entry fee and the loop, makes a good half day. To fit it together:

Arrive early to beat queues at the fee booth and to have time on the loop before the last-entry cutoff.
Start at the viewpoint, then drive the loop, then come back for the late-afternoon light at the visitor center.
Add a tour if you want the backcountry. You can book one on arrival, but in busy months booking ahead is safer.
Stay overnight for sunrise or sunset. The View Hotel recommends sunrise from its balconies and sunset on a guided tour inside the park.

Our guide to getting to Monument Valley has the distances from Page, Flagstaff, Sedona and Las Vegas and where to stay.

Frequently asked questions

Is the National Park Pass valid at Monument Valley?

No. Monument Valley is a Navajo Tribal Park, not a national park, and the department states that it does not accept the National Park Pass.

Can you drive Monument Valley without a guide?

Yes, the 17-mile Valley Drive is open to private vehicles during park hours, if you enter before the last-entry time. RVs, camper vans, motorcycles and large SUVs are not allowed on it. The rest of the valley needs a Navajo guide.

What time does the Valley Drive close?

It depends on the season. Under the winter hours that began October 17, 2026, the drive is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with last entry at 2:30 p.m. From May 1 to September 30 it is open until 7:00 p.m., with last entry on or before 4:30 p.m.

Can I fly a drone at Monument Valley?

No. Drones are prohibited at all Navajo Tribal Park locations and will be confiscated if flown.

Is Monument Valley open on holidays?

It closes on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, and all Navajo Tribal Parks also close on Navajo Nation Family Day, the day after Thanksgiving.