Moab to Monument Valley by motorcycle
Monument Valley is the ride most Moab visitors ask about next. The road there is all pavement: south on US-191 through Utah's canyon country to Bluff, then US-163 across the open desert to the buttes you have seen in a hundred westerns. The park itself is Navajo Nation land with its own rules, and one of them matters a lot to riders: bikes can't ride the valley loop.
The route at a glance
- Start: Moab
- Roads: US-191 south to Bluff, then US-163 west through Mexican Hat to Monument Valley
- Distance: about 145 miles, about 3 hours 5 minutes without stops (Wanderlog). Plan on most of a day with stops and the ride back, or stay the night nearby.
- Park entry: $10 per person per day, plus $15 per vehicle. The park does not accept the National Park pass (Navajo Nation Parks, Navajo Nation Parks entry fee).
Mile by mile
Moab to Bluff on US-191. South out of Moab past the La Sal Mountains turn-offs and through the farm towns of Monticello and Blanding. Fuel up in one of them; towns get small after Blanding.
Bluff. A small town where highways leave in four directions, with a restored 1800s fort and lodging that calls itself motorcyclist-friendly (Rider Magazine). About 3 miles west of Bluff, US-191 turns sharply south to Mexican Water, Arizona; stay right on US-163 for Monument Valley (Visit Utah).
US-163 to Mexican Hat. Broad, open and windswept (Visit Utah). About 1.5 miles north of town is the Mexican Hat rock itself, the sombrero-shaped formation the town is named for (Visit Utah). The town sits at an old metal bridge over the San Juan River (Rider Magazine).
Mexican Hat to the park. 21 miles on US-163 to the visitor center turn-off, then 4 miles to the park (Visit Utah). This is the stretch with the famous long straight road pointing at the buttes. Pull fully off the road for photos; traffic here is fast.
Inside Monument Valley
- No motorcycles on the loop. The park's 17-mile Valley Drive is dirt with deep sand, and the park says it does not accept motorcycles on the loop drive (Navajo Nation Parks). Ride to the visitor center viewpoint; private vehicles can't go further than that without the loop anyway (Visit Utah).
- To see the valley floor, park the bike and book a seat with a Navajo tour operator; the park lists its authorized operators (Navajo Nation Parks tour operators).
- Hours: in winter (from October 17, 2026) the Scenic Drive runs 8 am to 5 pm with last entry at 2:30 pm, first come, first served. The park closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day (Navajo Nation Parks).
Detours for riders who like a bit of dirt
These are optional and not for every bike. On a heavy road bike, skip them. - Moki Dugway (UT-261). Three miles of unpaved switchbacks down an 11% grade off Cedar Mesa (Rider Magazine). It is graded gravel and it climbs about 1,000 feet (Visit Utah). Ride it slowly, in good weather only. - Valley of the Gods. A 17-mile dirt loop (Visit Utah) that crosses sandy washes; Rider Magazine's writer hit one too fast and briefly lost control (Rider Magazine). Slow right down at every wash. - Goosenecks. The turn-off is about 8 miles south of the Moki Dugway; the San Juan River winds more than 5 miles to cover 1 mile as the crow flies (Visit Utah).
Riding tips
- Season: spring and fall are the best months; mid-summer is hot (Rider Magazine).
- Watch the road surface: expect sandy patches on US-163, and loose dogs and wildlife on the reservation roads (Rider Magazine).
- Wind: the open desert on US-163 gets strong crosswinds.
- Rules for visiting riders (helmets, eye protection, lane filtering): Riding in Utah.
Keep going
- Back in Moab: Moab by motorcycle for Arches, the River Road and the La Sal loop.
- Flying in? Salt Lake City to Moab gets you to the start.
- The big loop: Utah's Mighty 5 by motorcycle.
Rent a bike
Booking opens soon. Until then, use the ride guides to plan your trip.