Kayenta

The Town Kayenta is a working community rather than a resort. Like other places on the Navajo Nation, it is governed partly through the chapter system. Kayenta Chapter, a local political division, covers land in both Utah and Arizona and is larger than the township itself. Treat homes and grazing land around town as private. The Navajo Nation's park rules ask visitors not to wander across residential areas, and to ask before photographing people.

Monument Valley Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is the main reason most visitors stay here. The park covers 91,696 acres across the Arizona–Utah line. Its sandstone buttes rise 400 to 1,000 feet from the valley floor. From the visitor center you look out on the Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte. A 17-mile loop drive, all dirt with deep sand in places, runs down among the formations. The tribe says an SUV or truck is better than a car on the loop, and motorcycles and RVs are not allowed. Other areas, such as Ear of the Wind, can only be reached on tours with Navajo guides. This is tribal land, so national park passes don't work. Drones, climbing and alcohol are banned.

Navajo National Monument West of town, State Route 564 leaves US 160 and runs 9 miles to the visitor center of Navajo National Monument. Entry, camping and tours are all free. The 1.3-mile Sandal Trail leads to an overlook of Betatakin, a cliff village built in a huge alcove in the late 1200s. Rangers lead hikes down to it in summer. Keet Seel, the largest Ancestral Puebloan structure in Arizona, is 17 miles round trip from the visitor center. It can only be reached on a few ranger-led overnight trips each spring and fall. Inscription House, the third village, is closed.

When to Go Each site here keeps its own calendar. Betatakin ranger hikes run only from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Keet Seel overnight trips are offered in April, May, September and October, when staff are available. Navajo National Monument is busiest in September, followed by May and April. Its Sunset View Campground, with 31 sites, stays open all year, while the 14-site Canyon View Campground closes in winter. Monument Valley switched to winter hours on October 17, 2026, so the loop drive now takes its last cars at 2:30 p.m. Both Monument Valley and the monument's visitor center close on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

Events The Kayenta Fourth of July Rodeo runs from July 1 to 4. It ends on the Fourth with a 'Best of the Best' round and fireworks.

Getting There From Page, take State Route 98 and US 160 east, about 103 miles. From Flagstaff it is about 149 miles via US 89 and US 160. Chinle and Canyon de Chelly are about 68 miles southeast via State Route 59 and US 191. The National Park Service warns that GPS and cell service are unreliable on the Navajo Nation. Stay on the paved routes it recommends. The road into Navajo National Monument from the west, Indian Route 221, is unpaved and used by local residents.