Navajo National Monument is a remote and stunning preserved area located entirely within the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona. It protects three ancient Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings — Betatakin, Keet Seel, and Inscription House — that date back to 1300 CE. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport or parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was last updated in April 2026.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Self-guided trails: Sunrise to sunset; Visitor Center: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Ticket prices | Free entry (including free camping) |
| Address | AZ Highway 564, Shonto, AZ 86054 |
| Nearest public transport or parking | Free on-site parking at the Visitor Center |
| Typical time needed to visit | 1.5 to 3 hours |
Navajo National Monument opening hours
Navajo National Monument is open year-round. The three self-guided trails and the Sunset View Campground are accessible from sunrise to sunset, even when the main buildings are closed.
The Visitor Center operates daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. It is completely closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. During the winter season, severe weather can occasionally cause delayed openings or temporary closures of the park road.
Navajo National Monument ticket prices
There is no entrance fee to visit Navajo National Monument. Access to the Visitor Center, the self-guided trails, and the ranger-led summer tours is entirely free. Uniquely, the park’s two campgrounds (Sunset View and Canyon View) are also completely free and operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official National Park Service website and last updated in April 2026. Because there is no fee to enter, you do not need the federal America the Beautiful Pass to visit this specific site.
How to get to Navajo National Monument
To get to Navajo National Monument, visitors must drive. The park is located in northeastern Arizona, approximately 19 miles west of Kayenta.
The recommended (and only paved) route is via US Highway 160. From Highway 160, turn north onto Arizona State Route 564 and drive 9 miles directly to the Visitor Center at the end of the road.
Warning: Do not use Indian Route 221 from the west (between Shonto and the park) to enter. It is an unpaved, unmaintained dirt road used by locals that can strand RVs and standard cars in areas with spotty mobile reception.
Parking at Navajo National Monument
There is free parking at Navajo National Monument located directly outside the Visitor Center. This paved parking lot has ample room for standard vehicles, with designated longer spots available for recreational vehicles (RVs) and trailers.
From this central parking lot, you can easily access the Visitor Center, the trailheads for the self-guided hikes, and the road leading to the campgrounds.
How long to spend at Navajo National Monument
A typical visit to Navajo National Monument takes between 1.5 and 3 hours. This allows time to browse the museum exhibits, watch the orientation film, and hike the Sandal Trail to the Betatakin overlook.
If you are joining one of the free, strenuous ranger-led tours to the canyon floor during the summer, or undertaking the rugged 17-mile backcountry hike to Keet Seel in the cooler months, your visit will require a half or full day (and an overnight stay for Keet Seel).
Accessibility at Navajo National Monument
Accessibility at Navajo National Monument is focused around the Visitor Center, which is fully accessible and features an information desk, museum, auditorium, and restrooms.
The 1.3-mile roundtrip Sandal Trail, which leads to the only viewpoint of the Betatakin cliff dwelling, is fully paved. However, it does feature a significant elevation change (a 150-foot drop and subsequent climb), which can be challenging for manual wheelchair users or those pushing standard pushchairs. The other self-guided trails (Aspen Trail and Canyon View Trail) are unpaved and rugged.
Inside / what to see at Navajo National Monument
Inside Navajo National Monument, the primary attraction is the Betatakin cliff dwelling. Translating to “House Built on a Ledge” in Navajo, this ancient, 120-room village is nestled inside a massive, naturally eroded sandstone alcove. The only way to see Betatakin without a guided tour is by hiking the paved Sandal Trail to the canyon rim overlook.
The Visitor Center offers an excellent museum displaying Ancestral Puebloan pottery, tools, and woven items, providing deep cultural context for the ruins and the landscape.
For the adventurous, the park offers ranger-led hikes down into the canyon to Betatakin during the summer season (Memorial Day to Labor Day). These usually depart early in the morning on a first-come, first-served basis. The much larger Keet Seel ruin is only accessible via a grueling 17-mile roundtrip hike that requires an advance backcountry permit. The third ruin, Inscription House, is entirely closed to the public to protect its fragile structures.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip Category | Visitor Advice |
| Timing | Time zones can be confusing here. From March to November, the Navajo Nation observes Mountain Daylight Time (MDT), meaning the park is one hour ahead of Flagstaff, Page, and the Grand Canyon. |
| Crowds | Arrive early (around 7:00 am) if you wish to secure a spot on the summer ranger-led Betatakin tours, as group sizes are strictly limited. |
| Layout | Use the restrooms and refill water bottles at the Visitor Center before hitting the trails; there is no water available along the canyon rims. |
| Entry process | Simply drive up to the Visitor Center and walk in; there are no entry gates, toll booths, or required check-ins for standard entry. |
| On-site logistics | Navajo Nation law strictly prohibits the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages anywhere on the reservation, including the park’s free campgrounds. |
Frequently asked questions about Navajo National Monument
| Question | Answer |
| Is Navajo National Monument suitable for children? | Yes, the Sandal Trail is paved and suitable for kids, and the park offers a free Junior Ranger program. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Navajo National Monument? | No advance booking is required for general entry or the campgrounds. However, overnight backcountry trips to Keet Seel require advance online registration. |
| Is Navajo National Monument open on Sundays? | Yes, the park grounds, trails, and Visitor Center are open on Sundays. |
| Are bags allowed at Navajo National Monument? | Yes, backpacks are highly recommended for carrying plenty of water and sun protection on the trails. |
Things to do near Navajo National Monument
- Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park: Iconic, towering red sandstone buttes famous in Western films, located about an hour to the northeast.
- Antelope Canyon: World-renowned, highly photographed slot canyons located in Page, roughly 90 minutes to the northwest (requires a booked Navajo guide).
- Horseshoe Bend: A dramatic, horseshoe-shaped incised meander of the Colorado River, also located in Page.
- Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site: The oldest continuously operating trading post on the Navajo Nation, located about two hours south in Ganado.
- Four Corners Monument: The only point in the United States where four states (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado) intersect, located about two hours east.
More Arizona travel
Other Arizona travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- The Navajo code-talkers museum at the Kayenta Burger King.
- What to know before visiting Canyon de Chelly National Monument in north-eastern Arizona.
- A practical guide to visiting Saguaro National Park in Tucson.
- What to know before visiting Coronado National Memorial in southern Arizona.
- Visitor guides to the national monuments around Flagstaff: Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater National Monument and Walnut Canyon National Monument.
