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Las Vegas to Monument Valley - Help Needed

jaree

Member
I am planning to drive from LV to Monument Valley first week of April and need some help from GetDPI friends. I get in to LV on Apr 4 and leave April 11. I will spend a day or two in LV too. So I will have 5 days for the road-trip.

Given the distance, I want to stopover for a night rather than do a 400 mile drive in one go (travelling with my 75 year old mom, this trip is for her as she wants to see the red desert landscape - she saw pictures of Arizona/Utah when she was 15 and has always wanted to make a trip there since then).

Option 1:

Las Vegas to Page AZ. Stopover in Page for a Night. Then to Mexican Hat, UT. I-15, then RT89/160/163.

Option 2:

Las Vegas to Flagstaff then to Mexican Hat UT. Rt 93/89/160/163.

Which of these is more scenic? Any other options/ideas?

Thanks in advance.

- J.
 

jlm

Workshop Member
for the northeastern side, i usually fly into Albuquerque, drive through Gallup, to get to: Window Rock, Chinle, (canyon de Chelly, Mexican Hat (tiny place)), Monument valley and Mesa Verde (great spot to spend a night).

if i fly into Las Vegas, i'm going to Death Valley, maybe Zion and Brice.
if flying into Salt Lake City: Zion and Brice

easy area to put on the miles.

i find one night in Las Vegas is plenty. a very relaxing and excellent restaurant is the one in the "Eiffel Tower"
 
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jaree

Member
Thanks! Agree with 1-night in LV being plenty as I was there last year. Will explore flying to Albuquerque instead + the other points you mentioned - very helpful.
 

k-hawinkler

Well-known member
I agree with Jim having ABQ as the starting and end point. A good route would be ABQ - Acoma - Gallup - Canyon de Chelly - Monument Valley - Mesa Verde - Chaco Canyon - ABQ.

You also could concentrate on Canyon de Chelly - Monument Valley - Mesa Verde and easily spend 6 busy days just there.
 

jaree

Member
Thanks Banker and K-H.

K-H - you are killing me, just checked some photos on google for Canyon de Chelly...amazing!
 

jaree

Member
You are not helping my friend! Great shot, thanks...

Question: Is it "easy" to stop on the these roads and take pictures? I mean are there pull-outs/overlooks so one can park and enjoy the views?
 

Don Libby

Well-known member
Or - bypass Las Vegas all together. Fly into Flagstaff AZ which is less than an hr from Sedona to the SW and maybe 2-hrs from the South Rim Grand Canyon to the NW. Page is less than 3-hrs as is MV, Mexican Hat and Valley of the Gods. Canyon de Chile is also within a 90-minute drive from MV although it's always taken me longer due to the stops along the way to photograph.

You can stay outside the MV at a small town called Kayenta and have a 30-min drive to MV or closer either inside the park itself or right outside. Distance between Flag and Keyenta is around 150 miles and MV is an additional 30+. Book now as the rooms fill up very fast.

Don
 

Don Libby

Well-known member
You are not helping my friend! Great shot, thanks...

Question: Is it "easy" to stop on the these roads and take pictures? I mean are there pull-outs/overlooks so one can park and enjoy the views?
The short answer is yes. Canyon de Chile is a combination of National Park and Navajo Park. There's a drive around the rim in the national park with pull outs and Spider Woman is at the end of one of the rim drives which drops you off into a parking lot. The walk to the viewpoint is paved and less than 1/4 mile.

You can visit inside the canyon however you must have a guide.

Same with MV, which is a Navajo Park. There's a 14-mile dirt loop road that is self guiding or you can hire a guide.

Valley of the Gods is about 30 minutes east on federal land which is open to the general public. There's a 14 mile dirt road leading though the valley which is very easy. I've always thought Valley of the Gods is a mini-MV which can be seen in the distance.

Hope this helps...

Don
 

k-hawinkler

Well-known member
Let me add to what Don Libby wrote.
In Canyon de Chelly there are 2 different canyons.
One is great for morning light, the other for evening.
It took me about 3 hours to drive along each and stop at the overlook points.
One can hike down to the White House ruins.
Anywhere else you need to hire a guide.
Also there are individual and group jeep tours into the canyons.

Sedona, southwest of Flagstaff, is another magical place.
There are so many great places in the Southwest.
I suggest you concentrate on fewer rather than more during a week long visit.
Good luck.
 

jaree

Member
Don and KH- Thanks. Agree with taking more time to explore fewer areas than rushing it. Your notes are very helpful and will come in handy as I plan.

Regards,

J.
 
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