Brunette woman standing in yellow dress in front of monument valley buttes called "mittens"

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Staying at The View Hotel Monument Valley

Behold, one of the most enchanting desertscapes you’ll ever see.

Straddling the Arizona – Utah border in the USA, you’ll find a red sand desert you don’t want to miss. Known for its picturesque scenery and iconic sandstone buttes, Monument Valley is much more than pretty surroundings. Its sacred tribal land belonging to the Navajo Nation. If you’re looking for where to stay… look no further. The View Hotel Monument Valley is more than just lodging… it’s an experience.

Cabins nestled into the southwestern landscape of Monument Valley with a towering Butte behind them
The View Hotel & Campgrounds Premium Cabins nestled in the landscape of Monument Valley

Where is the Hotel located?

The hotel, cabins and campground are located on the Navajo Nation Tribal Park. There is a $20 fee per vehicle (up to 4 people) to enter the park.

Address to The View Hotel & Campgrounds, Monument Valley: Indian Route 42 Olijato Monument Valley, Arizona 84536

Brunette woman standing in the middle of a deserted southwestern road, with the iconic Monument Valley Buttes behind her
On the other side of these Buttes is the iconic shot made famous by the movie “Forest Gump”

Amenities and What to Expect at The View Hotel Monument Valley

Brunette woman sitting on a cabin porch watching the sunrise views
View from Premium Cabin #4 – if I returned, I would love to stay in the same cabin. Perfect view!

If you choose to stay in the hotel, you will find conventional lodging accommodations. I highly recommend staying in one of the premium cabins overlooking Monument Valley. In addition to the spectacular views, the cabins are very quiet and tranquil.

Brunette woman in a blue green dress entering a Hogan, a traditional Navajo dwelling
Checking out the inside of a Hogan, a traditional Navajo dwelling

Amenities on site:

Restaurant

Trade Post (lots of cool Native American art, jewelry, books and other craftsman goods & souvenirs)

Tribal dolls and cowboy boots lined up in the window at The View Hotel in Monument Valley's tradpost
Just some of the interesting finds in the trade post

Access to the 17 mile self-guided loop you can drive through Monument Valley.

Guided tours of Monument Valley are offered daily for additional fees. They will take you to parts of the park you cannot access without a Navajo Tour Guide.

Traditional Navajo Hogan
Between The View Hotel and the campgrounds are several ‘Hogans,’ which are traditional Navajo dwellings

The Premium Cabin at The View Campgrounds

Sigh.

I could actually spend quite a bit of time at this cabin. Although unassuming from the outside, the inside is well appointed and cozy with, of course, an arresting view! We stayed in cabin #4. It’s considered an “obstructed view.” You have to pay a bit more for an “unobstructed view.” But let me tell you: I thought the view from our cabin was perfect in every way.

View from The View at Monument Valley's premium cabin, landscape of red desert, buttes and cabins
The only reason this is considered an “obstructed view” is because there are cabins visible to the right

The cabin has climate control, a coffee maker, a comfy couch, bunk beds and a queen bed in the main bedroom. It could potentially sleep 4-5 Guests, if needed. There is a full bathroom with plenty of hot water also.

Inside of the premium cabin at The View Campground. Table and chairs, kitchen to the right, bedroom straight back.
The view of the inside of the cabin right when you enter the front door, the bunk beds aren’t pictured – t
hey down the hallway to the left before the main bedroom

Safety and Security

There is security at night at the main hotel. I didn’t see any security around the campgrounds after dark. The entire property felt very safe. For instance, all vehicles parked in the campground or hotel parking lot are required to keep a parking pass in their windshield.

Office reception cabin matching the red desert landscape of monument valley
Reception office for The View Campground & cabins – separate from the hotel reception desk

Food Situation

Our stay at The View Hotel Monument Valley was almost perfect. Unfortunately, the food department fell a bit short. The one area that could use a bit of improvement is The View Restaurant. Which, as a foodie, is disappointing.

There wasn’t an empty seat in the house when we arrived. It’s the only food option on the hotel property and at the end of your adventurous day, you won’t want to make finding food a production. While the service is lovely, the issue is the food is incredibly underwhelming (read:mediocre at best) for its exorbitant prices. For example, an uninspiring chicken sandwich and fries will set you back about $26.

There are other food options in Monument Valley. However, none of them are close by. It also gets very dark at night. This makes for some incredible star gazing, but could be a bit tedious navigating the roads at night if you aren’t familiar with them.

Most stays include an adequate continental breakfast that offers a wide variety of options. During our stay a significant selection of bagels, danishes and cereal were offered. In addition, there were hard boiled eggs and hot pancakes, with many different fixings to choose from.

Tip: You always have the option to bring food of your choice to keep in the cabin. It’s equipped with a refrigerator and microwave. Making your own meals in the cabin is also a great way to save a little bit of cash on your trip.

17 Mile Monument Valley Loop

Brunette woman in a light blue green dress standing off in the distance near a cliff, with the iconic Monument Valley Buttes behind her
Halfway through the loop you will find this great lookout point along with food, jewelry and other Native art for sale

If doing a guided tour or excursion does not fit within your time or budget parameters, you can explore the loop with your own vehicle for free!

Red rocks, winding dirt road,  butte formations in Monument Valley
Scenic view while exploring the Monument Valley 17 Mile Loop

The drive is as scenic as it gets. There are several areas to pull over and snap some photos if you’re interested. At the halfway point of the loop, there is an area to park, shop and grab some food and drinks.

If you’re looking to get off the beaten bath and explore more of Monument Valley’s back country, you can take an extensive guided tour, here. Led by a Navajo guide, you’ll learn so much about the culture, traditions and history.

Tip: 4WD vehicles are recommended to drive the Monument Valley loop. At the entrance to the loop, (which is inside the Native Tribal Park where the hotel and campground is located), they will take down your license plate information. The loop is open from 7:00am, with last entry at 4:00pm and you can spend two hours inside the park.

Scenic view of Monument Valley, slender red rock formations
Interesting Red Rock formations driving through the Navajo Nation Tribal Park loop in Monument Valley

Know Before You Go

Late March – May is a great time to visit this destination. The weather will be sunny but tepid during the day, and just a bit cooler in the early morning hours and at night. Great weather in case you want to hike any of the trails!

The park entrance fee can only be paid with a card, no cash!

The hotel and especially the cabins book up quickly. They are almost always fully booked. Try to reserve your cabin as far in advance as you can, especially if the view is important to you. There are four cabin types to choose from. We stayed in the Executive Valley Rim Cabin, in Cabin #4 which during the month of April was $199/night + tax.

No drones are allowed in Monument Valley Tribal Park

You might also like: Here are the Best Monument Valley Tours for Unforgettable Experiences

Sunrise above the "mitten" buttes in Monument Valley
Visiting Monument Valley and staying at The View Hotel and Campground is worth it for the sunrise alone

Staying at The View Hotel and Campground in Monument Valley is certainly worthy of a pitstop if you are road tripping or traveling through the southwest of the USA. Its tranquility and natural beauty makes it destination worthy of a relaxing getaway here. Most Guests only stay for a one night sojourn, but I recommend staying for a couple nights here. Our visit can be summarized entirely by the Navajo prayer below:

“Beauty is before me, and beauty is behind me, above me and below me hovers the beautiful”

Navajo Prayer
Pin this for your Monument Valley trip planning!

Travel Tips & Resources to Help You Plan an Epic Trip!

Going – I have been subscribed to Going (formerly, beloved, Scott’s Cheap Flights) awhile now and it’s an amazing resource for finding… did you guess cheap flights? Yes, you can set your preferences from airports to flight class and get destination deals right to your inbox. It’s fab! I use the Premium paid version, but they have a FREE version too. So what are you waiting for?! Let’s get Going!

Booking.com – the majority, if not almost all of my stays are booked on Booking.com. It’s a reliable site to book and manage your reservations. It’s a great way to find boutique stays and unique accommodations at the best rates! You can also easily communicate with your accommodation through the app!

Expedia – If I am looking for a flight to a specific destination for specific dates, I find myself booking the majority of my flights on Expedia. It’s user friendly and straight forward. I often can find the most cost effective rates, while earning points for every flight I book (in tandem with the points I receive from the credit cards I pay with).

Viator – most of the activities, tours and excursions I book for my trips are booked through Viator. Whether you’re seeking a guide for the day, a group tour, a cooking class, Viator has you covered!

Get Your Guide – this is another great marketplace to find tours, excursions and activities to book for your upcoming trip.

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