If you are looking for a place to stay near Monument Valley why not consider spending the night there? There is only one hotel where you can wake up just a stone’s throw from Mittens and Merrick’s Butte (the three monoliths that make up one of the most famous landscapes in the world). The name of this hotel is The View and it is run by the Navajo nation.
So if your life-long dream has been to see the spectacular sunsets and sunrises in Monument Valley, you should seriously consider this possibility. Let’s see what options you have and what The View can offer to your experience.
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How To Get There
The View Hotel is easily accessible, since it is located at the end of the Main Monument Valley Road where, among other things, you will find the large parking lot from which all tours to Monument Valley depart and the entrance to the Scenic View.
Hotel Facility
The View Hotel is not just one building. In fact, you can choose from three different accommodations. Your options are the classic hotel, some cabins called premium cabins, and a campsite. Let’s take a closer look at them.
The Actual Hotel
You will not fail to notice when driving along the Main Monument Valley Road. It offers all the amenities you would expect from a mid-high end hotel except there is no pool. The absence of the pool is out of consideration for the place where the hotel is located. The Navajo now living on the reservation do not have running water and must procure it themselves according to their needs. The hotel staff are particularly sensitive to this issue and will take every opportunity to remind you with informational signs.
In the hotel facilities, you will also find a large public panoramic terrace. Here westerns are screened in the evenings and there are also a gift shop and a restaurant with large windows overlooking Monument Valley (not too expensive considering that it is one of the few places where you can eat something within miles).
The Campground
If you have decided to rent an RV for your road trip, this may be the best option for you. In fact, The View has spaces available for those who love spending their holiday in freedom either in their RV or tent. There is another campsite, Goulding’s Campground, just outside the entrance of the park.
Premium Cabins
I was fortunate to stay in one of the cabins and I can’t recommend it enough. These are a few dozen cabins built close to Monument Valley, and most of them have an unobstructed view of Monument Valley. There’s not much of a difference between the prices of the cabins and hotel rooms. The cabins are ideal for a family or a group, because they can accommodate up to six people.
You can enjoy the view of Monument Valley in greater solitude and tranquility than at the hotel, thanks to the somewhat secluded location of the cabins and the small number of people they can accommodate.
Important Information
The admission to Monument Valley, operated as you know by the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation, is not included in the price of your stay and you will have to pay for it separately at the toll booth/ticket office on Main Monument Valley Road before reaching The View. Please also note that the annual National Parks pass cannot be used here.
Why You Should Stay at the View
At this point, rather than list the pros and cons, I would like to briefly mention the main reasons I would recommend this hotel.
It may be an obvious observation, but the view and the atmosphere make it worth it to stay here. Seeing the colors of the sunset and dawn on the rocks of Monument Valley is one of the most memorable experiences of your trip.
If you’re also planning to go on one of the many tours offered here, being already in Monument Valley makes it much more convenient. The same goes for after the tour. The convenience of being able to go to your room after a long sunny day following in the footsteps of John Wayne has its perks.
Of course, the price may discourage some, especially since it would be one of many expenses that a road trip requires, but only you can determine how important this aspect is for you.
Booking The View Hotel
Let’s face it, as you might expect, prices for spending even just one night in this hotel would turn many people away. Unless you find a really great deal, during the high season rates start from $200 a night for a room with a balcony overlooking the Monument Valley.
Prices are considerably lower if you opt for a room without a view. This is the only low-cost solution that would still allow you to enjoy the view from the large public terrace.
The price to stay at the campground is around $40 per night and in addition, you will have to spend around $20 to pitch the tent.
Alternatives: places to stay close to the Monument Valley
Unfortunately, there are no similar alternatives. The only option that comes closest to The View is to stay at Goulding’s Lodge which is located further west near Monument Valley Airport. You will be about 10 minutes drive away from The View’s parking lot and the view you can enjoy from the property is certainly still beautiful, although obviously further away.
Find a room at Goulding’s Lodge
There are several accommodations in Kayenta, which is the closest town to Monument Valley, but we have already discussed them in detail in our article that you can read by clicking on the button below.