Monument Valley from Page: How to Do It as a Day Trip

Monument Valley is the West you already know from movies, car ads and every road-trip screensaver. Red buttes standing alone on flat desert, a two-lane road running straight at them.

From Page it is about two hours each way. That makes it one of the best day trips you can take from here, as long as you time it right.

Here is the route, the stops, the clock trap, and how to fit it into a stay in Page.

The drive

About 125 miles, roughly two hours without stops.

Leave Page east on AZ-98 across the Kaibito Plateau. Turn left on US-160 toward Kayenta. In Kayenta, turn left on US-163 north. About 25 minutes later you cross into Utah and turn right into Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.

Fuel up in Page or Kayenta. There is very little in between.

The clock trap

Arizona does not do daylight saving time. The Navajo Nation does.

From March to early November, Monument Valley runs one hour ahead of Page. Leave Page at 8 am and you arrive around 11 am valley time. Park hours and tour times are posted in valley time, so do the math before you go.

In winter the clocks match and this goes away.

Inside the park

Monument Valley is not a national park. It is run by the Navajo Nation, so your national park pass does not work here. Pay the entry fee at the booth (it went up in January 2026, so check the current rate on the Navajo Nation Parks site).

The main event is the Valley Drive, a 17-mile dirt loop past the Mittens, Merrick Butte, John Ford's Point and the Three Sisters. You can drive it yourself or ride with a Navajo guide.

Driving it yourself: the road is rough with deep sand in places. RVs, camper vans, motorcycles, large SUVs and off-road vehicles are not allowed. Many regular cars make it fine when it is dry, but go slow, and skip it after rain.

Taking a guided tour: worth it. Guides go into areas you can't enter on your own, and you get the history and stories from people whose families have lived here for generations. You can book at the lower parking lot when you arrive.

Allow two to three hours for the loop with stops.

Watch the cutoff. Last entry to the Valley Drive is 2:30 pm from October through January and 4:30 pm in summer. Arrive late and you will only see the view from the visitor center. It is a great view, but you drove two hours for more than that.

Other things to know: the park closes on Thanksgiving, the day after, Christmas and New Year's Day. Dogs are not allowed anywhere in Navajo tribal parks.

Stops worth making

Navajo National Monument (a short detour off US-160). A free, short paved walk to an overlook of Betatakin, a cliff dwelling tucked into a huge stone alcove. About an hour round trip from the highway. Most people drive right past it.

Kayenta. Fuel, food and restrooms. The last real town before the valley.

Forrest Gump Point (US-163, north of the park in Utah). The famous shot of the road running straight at the buttes. It is a live highway, so pull fully off the road and watch for traffic. Ten minutes past the park entrance is plenty far.

A simple day plan (Page time)

• 7:30 am: leave Page (8:30 valley time in summer)

• 9:15 am: Navajo National Monument overlook

• 11:00 am: lunch and fuel in Kayenta

• 11:45 am: Monument Valley, Valley Drive or guided tour

• 2:30 pm: Forrest Gump Point

• 3:00 pm: head back to Page

• 5:00 pm: sunset at Horseshoe Bend or Wahweap Overlook

In winter, shift everything earlier so you clear the 2:30 pm cutoff with time to spare.

Day trip or stay the night?

If you want sunrise behind the Mittens, you have to sleep out there. There is no other way to be at the valley at dawn.

For most people, the day trip is the better trade. You see the valley in good light, drive home on the same road, and sleep in the same bed twice. That frees the rest of your stay for the things that need Page as a base: Antelope Canyon in the morning, the lake in the afternoon, Horseshoe Bend at the right hour.

That is why we tell people to give Page two nights, or three with Monument Valley. Our 7-day Grand Circle road trip shows how it fits into the full loop.

FAQ

How far is Monument Valley from Page, AZ?
About 125 miles, roughly two hours each way.

Can you do Monument Valley as a day trip from Page?
Yes. Leave in the morning, do the Valley Drive or a guided tour, and be back in Page for sunset.

Is Monument Valley on a different time zone than Page?
From March to early November, yes. The Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time and Arizona does not, so the valley is one hour ahead.

Does the national park pass work at Monument Valley?
No. It is a Navajo tribal park with its own entry fee.

Can I drive the Monument Valley loop in a rental car?
Often yes, when the road is dry. Go slow. RVs, camper vans, motorcycles and large SUVs are not allowed.

Book directly

We are on the main street in Page, about ten minutes from Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell and Antelope Canyon, and a straight two-hour shot to Monument Valley. Drive out, drive back, sleep in the same bed.

Renovated rooms are open and bookable now, and more come online every few weeks.

Book direct for our best rate. Two night minimum, free cancellation up to seven days out. Direct only.

Check dates at thewesleyaz.com or call (928) 612-3300.

Written by The Wesley Team, the people who run the only boutique hotel in Page. Hours and fees checked October 2026; confirm with Navajo Nation Parks before you go.