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Monument Valley is just one of those places everyone should see at least once. The landscape is breathtaking, and when you’re at Monument Valley, it feels like you are in a completely different world. Located within the Navajo Nation in Utah, Monument Valley is a sacred place to the Navajo, or Dine, their name for “the people.” Jeff, Kristin, and I are so grateful to experience a moment in this special place. Our visit is one that we will never forget.

Monument Valley

It’s no wonder that so many great Westerns and other films were made here. The land, for the most part, looks the same as it has for centuries; it’s absolutely stunning. It’s also wonderful that the Navajo continue to welcome visitors to Monument Vally, and that there is a pretty unique place to stay with breathtaking views.

The View Hotel Monument Valley

The View Hotel is the perfect place to stay for a night or two, maybe more. At this hotel, you’ll find standard hotel rooms, a campground, and cabins. We wanted to completely immerse ourselves in our Monument Valley experience. After careful consideration, we decided that the cabins would be the perfect place for us.

The View Hotel in Monument Valley

The View Hotel is right inside Monument Valley Tribal Park.

To get to The View Hotel, you’ll drive along the road to the hotel and stop along the way to pay the fee that allows you into the park. The hotel is the only hotel in the Monument Valley Tribal Park. You can’t miss it.

Be sure to hold on to the receipt for the fee and keep it with you every time you enter or exit the park. You will have to pay again if you can’t produce the receipt. We made the mistake of accidentally leaving the receipt in our cabin once, but we were able to produce everything else from check-in, so they kindly let that one slide. That is not normal procedure, though.

The View Hotel Monument Valley

The View Hotel is worth checking out even if you’re not staying there. As you enter the park, the main hotel is towards the left. The cabins, campground, and entrance to the road through the park, Monument Valley Scenic Drive, are to the left. There is also one trail you can hike without a guide near the road entrance.

Another note–if you are staying in the cabins, you will still need to check in at the main hotel front desk. You will then be given instructions on how to proceed.

The View Hotel Monument Valley

The lobby is beautiful. It’s also a nice place for viewing Monument Valley. The view here is similar to what the hotel rooms in the main hotel would have from their balconies.

The View Hotel Monument Valley

The gift shop and trading post is also a great place to check out.

The View Hotel Monument Valley

In the gift shop, you’ll find the usual tourist trinkets. In the trading post area, you’ll be able to see and purchase art created by native craftspeople.

The View Hotel Monument Valley

There is a restaurant on site. In the mornings, this is where you can eat the free continental breakfast, even if you’re staying in a cabin. It is not a breakfast buffet; it’s more like motels used to serve before hot breakfasts became more of the norm. For dinner, the restaurant offers a dine-in menu.

One thing we discovered during our visit is that the restaurant only offered standard American Grill fare. This may have changed, but I was hoping to sample some local cuisine, so I was surprised by this.

The View Hotel Monument Valley

At the time, the idea was that the restaurant didn’t want to compete with local businesses that did offer traditional Navajo dishes, so they offered the option for you to order take-out from a local business, Linda’s. They delivered all the orders for everyone once per evening, so you had to be proactive about placing your order in time.

We decided to try the take-out and eat in our cabin. We ordered a Navajo taco, pictured below.

Navajo Fry Bread

And we ordered the carne asada tacos. It may not have been completely traditional Navajo cuisine, but it was made locally and the Navajo taco included fry bread. Delicious!

From what I understand, you can currently get Linda’s food from a stand along the Monument Valley Scenic Drive at John Ford Point. It would make a perfect lunch option since the hotel doesn’t currently offer lunch options.

Linda's Taco Stand Monument Valley

Another option for dinner and other meals would be at the historic Goulding’s Lodge. The onsite restaurant looked promising, though we didn’t eat there. It’s also a good choice for lodging in the area, but you won’t have a view of the monuments. It’s worth checking out because the cast and crew of the film Stagecoach stayed there, launching the Western film industry in the area.

Let’s head back to The View Hotel…

At night, you can watch a John Wayne movie outside the main hotel. The Monument Valley area is also a great place for stargazing if you can get away from the lights. At our cabin, the stars were simply gorgeous as they sprinkled the sky over the monuments.

The View Hotel Movie

The Cabins at the View Hotel

The View Hotel Cabins

The previous evening, our accommodations were at the Lodge at Bryce Canyon. This area was also stunning. You can read more about our stay here. We woke up early to get to Page, Arizona, in time for our Upper Antelope Canyon tour. We also visited Horseshoe Bend. By the time we made it to Monument Valley, it was late afternoon.

We checked in at the main hotel and explored a bit. Then we headed over to the cabins. The cabins are two rows long on two levels. We made our reservation months in advance, and we reserved a cabin on the front row. Any cabin experience would be worth it, I think. But there is something special about an unobstructed view of the monuments.

The View Hotel Cabins

I included these shots so you can visualize how the cabins are staggered and what views you can expect. No matter which cabin you get, you’ll have a view of the monuments.

The View Hotel Cabins

The cabins are a short distance from the main hotel. Here is a picture of them from the main hotel lot. The entrance to Monument Scenic Drive is nearby.

You can drive your own vehicle on this road while the park is open, even if you aren’t staying there. I highly recommend a tour, though. If you don’t have time to do a tour, it’s worth driving through if your car can take it; four-wheel drive is suggested. But if you take a tour, you’ll get so much more out of your experience because you’ll have a local Navajo guide who shares the stories and culture of the people who live there.

We did the Dreamcatchers Tour, and we loved it! We had an evening tour which included exclusive areas, dinner (including Navajo fry bread!), music, and dancing. To read more about our experience, click here.

Cabins at the View Hotel

And below is the view of The View Hotel from the cabins. The idea was for the hotel to blend in with the environment. I think they did well.

The View Hotel from the Cabins

And here it is lit up in the evening.

The View Hotel from the Cabins

Our Cabin

Cabin at The View Hotel Monument Valley

If you come to Monument Valley, I highly recommend staying in a cabin at the View. It was perfect. We’ve stayed in cabins similar to these all over the country, mostly in KOA Kampgrounds, so the layout was nothing new for us.

In the main room, we had a queen bed.

Cabin at The View Hotel Monument Valley

We had table and chairs, a microwave, and a small fridge. There isn’t a stovetop, though. The main room has a large picture window so you can see the monuments from the inside of the cool cabin if it’s warm out. You can also pull the shade down. Like any true Navajo hogan, the door faces east over the valley. You’ll love watching the sun come up.

Cabin at The View Hotel Monument Valley

From the main room, you can access the bunkbed room.

Cabin at The View Hotel Monument Valley

You can also access the bathroom from the main room. The shower has a tub which is nice if you’re traveling with small children. The cabin is air-conditioned. This is great news because daytime in Monument Valley in June is HOT.

Cabin at The View Hotel Monument Valley

The best part about staying at The View Hotel is seeing the monuments at different times a day. The hotel views are great, but I think the cabins have the best view. There is nothing better than sitting on your porch and just…being. We woke up early that first morning to watch the sunrise. Here is one of the first pictures of that morning.

Monument Valley at Dawn

The view only improves as the sun rises.

Monument Valley at Dawn

We spent a lot of time watching the light change over the valley over the course of a day. Simply stunning.

Exploring Monument Valley and the Surrounding Area

Since we stayed two nights, we had some time for exploring the area. The Monument Valley Tribal Visitor Center is a great place for information, and it has some small exhibits, like to tribute to John Ford who directed many films in the area.

Monument Valley Tribal Park Visitor Center

Nearby is the Navajo Market. One section has some shops that we enjoyed. You will also see stands along the highway where locals sell their wares. Another great place for shopping is at John Ford Point along Monument Valley Scenic Drive.

Monument Valley Navajo Market

You also want to be sure you get a photo from Forrest Gump Point on Highway 163. You’ll probably see others doing the same. Just be aware of traffic. You don’t want to be in the road when a car is coming.

Forrest Gump Point Monumement Valley

We also drove out to the Mexican Hat area. This would be another amazing place to stay a night. The San Juan River is right there, and the area looked fun. I’d love to explore it more in the future.

Mexican Hat

The Wrap-Up

Monument Valley

Monument Valley holds a special place in our hearts. I wouldn’t hesitate to return, and I’d encourage anyone to make the trek in the desert to see this amazing place. The landscape is mesmerizing, but learning the stories and culture of the Navajo was the best part of the trip. I stand by my claim: everyone should see Monument Valley at least once.

The View Hotel Cabins in Monument Valley
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9 Comments

  1. This hotel screams American to me and I love it! I have only ever visited NYC and New Jersey to visit my sister, but this is what I have in mind when I think about visiting America. The wild, wild west, the sand, the rolling dunes!

  2. We did a day a Monument Valley, but it must have been amazing to stay and watch the sunset over the formations. So gorgeous.

  3. Lisa, Casey, Barrett Dog Reply

    The View Hotel Cabins definitely has a phenomenal view! We will be checking this gorgeous place out should we find ourselves in Monument Valley.

  4. The cabins look really nice! And that view! I love trying local cuisine!

  5. The View Hotel Cabins at Monument valley look amazing…I think my friend may have stayed there last Spring because the cabins look vaguely familiar and I remember thinking how much I would love to stay there sometime. Now I know that I absolutely must go! So cozy and those views are spectacular (food looks so delicious too!).

  6. I have Monument Valley on my list for quite some time. And now I know I’ll stay at the charming View Hotel Cabins as Utah keeps calling my name. To be honest, I wasn’t aware how large this place is…I knew it was in Arizona but didn’t realize it spanned over into Utah as well.

  7. The views are so beautiful! The food looks wonderful, too. I would love to visit Monument Valley!

  8. It seems like a must do to stay at The View Hotel Cabins in Monument Valley if you’re visiting the area. I would love to see the Monument Valley at all different times of the day due to the lighting. It seems absolutely beautiful. I hope to visit Monument Valley one day, it seems other-worldly.

  9. Cindy Moore Reply

    A cabin in Monument Valley sounds perfect! I’d enjoy a stay there.

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