Monument Valley Camp Ground

[The Danes Are Coming]

Can anyone recommend a decent camp ground from where we can reach Monument Valley in the toad? We travel in a 40" motor home.

Any BLM land where we could park for a limited fee on the Arizona side?

We have checked the various RV reviews for RV parks in the neighbourhood and they appear to be highly overpriced and not very well liked by visitors.

[RVThere]

We've done Monument Valley as a stop during the day going from CO to Az/UT.

So we've stayed in either Mesa Verde NP or Cortez, CO and done 4 Corners and MV on the way to Page or Flagstaff. Or we've stayed in Page, done the Glen Canyon dam tour and then went to MV.

Either Page or Mesa Verde is about 2 hours from MV. Plenty of other attractions in either area.

[paz]

If i remember correctly, there aren't any campgrounds around Monument Valley because it's a Navajo reservation. We stayed at Cadillac Ranch in Bluff, UT, which is fairly close by.

[Robot9000]

We are heading to Mesa Verde and then down to Monument Valley next week. We are staying at Gouldings Lodge campground. I think its the only one in the area.

[Chuck 1935]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robot9000 We are heading to Mesa Verde and then down to Monument Valley next week. We are staying at Gouldings Lodge campground. I think its the only one in the area.

We stayed there and it was nice and centrally located to do the drive through the valley.

[micd]

We liked Gouldings. It is full service, pool, free movie on the history of Gouldings, gift shops, laundry etc. It is a great place to stay in the middle of the trip after you've been boondocking or when your about to start so you can catch up on things. They also run tours right from the Campground which due to a dust storm we didn't get to take. However the air did clear enough for us to climb on the rocks on a trail from the campground. We didn't get very far since it got dark but it was fun.

Here are some pics.

1994 Brave 29RQ RV: Monument Valley - Gouldings Campground

I think we paid $43 with our Good Sam's discount.
Michelle

[Dave1956]

We have stayed at Goose Neck State park (Utah) very near Mexican Hat Utah. This was a beautiful place to camp and an easy drive over to Monument Valley. It is boondocking and there were only about two other campers with us. From our campsite we looked over a cliff at about 6 or 7 bends of the Colorado River one of the few places you can do that. We could see Monument Valley on the horizon. It was one of our more memorable camping expeiences.

The road going in is excellent, but camping is either in a parking lot or down a dirt road (we chose the paved lot). There were no improvements beyond a pit toilet and some tables. If we are ever passing that way again, this would absolutely be on our list.

When we day toured the Monument Valley there is a Indian Reservation CG with services, but we prefer boondocking. While the tour was beautiful, we were a little dissapointed in the valley.

[The Danes Are Coming]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave1956 We have stayed at Goose Neck State park (Utah) very near Mexican Hat Utah. This was a beautiful place to camp and an easy drive over to Monument Valley. It is boondocking and there were only about two other campers with us. From our campsite we looked over a cliff at about 6 or 7 bends of the Colorado River one of the few places you can do that. We could see Monument Valley on the horizon. It was one of our more memorable camping expeiences.

Dave - that sounds like a possibility. Do you know if the road from Cortez via route 262 is passable for a 40" motor home with a toad? 262 through Aneth and Montezuma Creek looks kind of small on our map.

[RVThere]

You can also go to Google Maps and pull the street view icon down onto Highway 261 and see the roadway as if you were driving it. (see the little 'guy' icon on the upper left above the vertical zoom bar).

When you drag the icon over the picture, any road in blue will will StreetView. Any blue dots will have a photo.

Looking at 261 at its intersection with 316 to go into Gooseneck, it looks OK for your rig and toad.

[Dave1956]

you should have no problem. I was there last before my MH, then I was driving a Dodge Diesel trk pulling 30 foot trailer. the roads were great and there is plenty of room in the parking lot. When we were there, there was another MH camping. I would say that MH was about 38ft.

Dave

[jwomack]

View from Goulding's RV Park Site #32. Site # 34 would be best. Second pic is from stone wall in pic #1. Take a tour with one of the Navajo guides while you are there.

[Norm4015]

We have also stayed at Gouldings and enjoyed it. Beautiful area. When we go back we'll stay at Gouldings again.

[JohnQ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norm4015 We have also stayed at Gouldings and enjoyed it. Beautiful area. When we go back we'll stay at Gouldings again.

Ditto, and the staff were very friendly & helpful.

[twogypsies]

There is dry camping just outside Monument Valley's visitor center - can't get any closer than that! Plus, the last time we used it, it was free! You can "do" Monument Valley in a day so this makes it an easy stop. Enjoy your trip!