Monument Valley Guides: Fees, Self-Drive, Best Time, Films
Planning guides for Monument Valley: the entry fee and hours, driving the loop yourself, the best time to visit, John Ford Point, Forrest Gump Point and the films shot in the valley.
The Best Time to Visit Monument Valley
The best months for Monument Valley are April-May and late September-October: mild, with long opening hours. Sunset lights the Mittens; the Mitten shadow falls in late March and mid-September.
Read guide →Can You Drive Through Monument Valley on Your Own?
Yes: the 17-mile Valley Drive is open to private cars, about 2-3 hours on a rough dirt road. The backcountry arches and Mystery Valley need a Navajo guide.
Read guide →Forrest Gump Point on US-163
Forrest Gump Point is a free roadside view on US-163 in Utah, near mile marker 13, north of Monument Valley. Where to park, when to go, and how to take the photo safely.
Read guide →John Ford Point in Monument Valley
John Ford Point is a stop on Monument Valley's Valley Drive, named for the director of Stagecoach and The Searchers. How to get there, the horse photo, and the tours that stop.
Read guide →Monument Valley Entrance Fee, Hours and Passes
Monument Valley's entrance fee is $10 a person in 2026, national park passes are not accepted, and the Valley Drive's last entry ranges from 2:30 to 4:30 pm by season.
Read guide →Movies Filmed in Monument Valley
John Ford shot seven Westerns in Monument Valley, from Stagecoach (1939) to Cheyenne Autumn (1964). Later films include 2001, Easy Rider, Back to the Future Part III and Forrest Gump.
Read guide →Ready to book? See the full-day tour dates →