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Road trip: Page to Moab, AZ / UT

Page to Moab in One Day: Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods and Natural Bridges

Buttes, gravel, switchbacks and stone arches on the long way to Moab

The West Mitten, East Mitten and Merrick Buttes rising from the red desert floor, with a dirt road and a few cars in the foreground
Photo: Domenico Convertini / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monument_Valley,_Utah,_USA_(23611451292).jpg)
Length
1 day
Total distance
321.8 mi
Driving time
7 h 27 min
Est. tolls
No tolls
Stops
4
Driving
Moderate
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Budget
$$

A one-day, one-way drive from Page, Arizona to Moab, Utah: 321.8 miles and about 7 hours 27 minutes of driving, with a Monument Valley Valley Drive, the gravel of Valley of the Gods and the Moki Dugway, and Natural Bridges. Five stops, no tolls, dinner in Moab to finish.

  • Drive time7 h 27 min
  • Distance321.8 mi
  • Est. tollsNo tolls
  • Monument Valley: the 17-mile Valley Drive past the Mittens and Merrick Butte
  • Valley of the Gods and the Moki Dugway: gravel road, then switchbacks up Cedar Mesa
  • Natural Bridges National Monument: a paved loop with short walks to bridge overlooks

The story

Page to Moab is a 276-mile drive on the map, and that is exactly why this version skips the shortest line. A navigation app sends you straight up US-160, US-163 and US-191 in under five hours. This plan stitches together the roads that make the Four Corners country worth driving: the sandstone silhouettes of Monument Valley, a slow cruise through the gravel of Valley of the Gods, the switchbacks of the Moki Dugway, and the natural bridges tucked into Cedar Mesa.

The day is long on purpose. About 321.8 miles and 7 hours 27 minutes of driving, spread over roughly twelve hours with stops, means a 7:15 AM start from Page (6:15 on Page clocks; the Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time and Page does not) and a dinner reservation in Moab around sunset. The rhythm follows real road-trip habits: one fuel and driver-change break in Kayenta after the first 107 minutes, a long and rewarding stop at Monument Valley, a scenic gravel stretch that ends at the top of the Moki Dugway, one national monument, and a final two-hour run on US-191 into Moab. There is no sit-down lunch on the plan; pack one in Page and eat it at the top of the Dugway, or detour to Goulding's (see the options).

Come in the cooler months. Valley of the Gods Road and the Moki Dugway are unpaved and BLM warns the Valley of the Gods road can be difficult or impassable when wet, so check the weather and current road status on the day of travel. Two alternative routes in the options show where to add more scenery if you have extra time or want to spread the drive over two days: the La Sal Mountain Loop with the UT-128 river road, and the Needles Overlook spur.

Day by day

Day 1

Page to Moab through Monument Valley and Cedar Mesa

Leave Page at first light on the Utah clock, cross the Navajo Nation to Monument Valley for the Valley Drive, then take the gravel through Valley of the Gods and up the Moki Dugway before a stop at Natural Bridges and the run north to Moab.

Logistics7:15 AM · 15 min

Start in Page: Carl Hayden Visitor Center

The drive starts at Glen Canyon Dam above Page, a convenient pin at the edge of town (any Page address works; the first leg changes only slightly). Fill the tank and pick up coffee and a packed lunch before leaving; this plan has no sit-down lunch stop, and the next planned stop is Kayenta, about 100 miles away. Sunrise at Page on Oct 10 is about 07:27 on the Utah clock (computed from standard solar formulas), so this plan leaves just after first light rather than in the dark. All times use Mountain Daylight Time, the clock in Kayenta and Utah; in daylight-saving months Page's clocks are one hour behind, so 07:15 here reads 06:15 in Page.

Modern visitor center building on the edge of a cliff above Glen Canyon Dam at sunrise
Photo: NPS / Brent&Dawn Davis
Time
15 minutes to fuel up and leave around sunrise; the visitor center itself opens later in the morning and is not part of the plan
Carl Hayden Visitor Center
Hwy 89 at Glen Canyon Dam, Page, AZ 86040
Season: Typically open daily with seasonal hours; check current hours
Sources (3)
DriveDepart 7:30 AM

Page to Kayenta

Distance
101.3 mi
Drive time
1 h 47 min
Est. tolls
No tolls
Via
N Lake Powell Blvd, AZ-98, US-160

About 100 miles of open Navajo Nation country: AZ-98 joins US-160 into Kayenta. Watch for livestock near the road, especially in the first low-light stretch after sunrise.

Tolls: No toll roads or toll bridges on this leg (as of 2026-10-03); no toll authority applies.

Sources (1)
Logistics9:17 AM · 10 min

Fuel and stretch in Kayenta

The one planned break on the long run to Monument Valley: a driver change, restroom and fuel stop where US-160 meets US-163, about 107 minutes into the day and right before the turn north. OpenStreetMap lists several gas stations at the junction. Top up here; the next fuel on the route is at Goulding's or in Mexican Hat, both off the plan's timeline, and Cedar Mesa has no services.

Time
10-minute break
Kayenta (US-160 at US-163)
Kayenta, AZ
Season: Year-round town; individual business hours vary
Sources (2)
DriveDepart 9:27 AM

Kayenta to Monument Valley Visitor Center

Distance
27.4 mi
Drive time
36 min
Est. tolls
No tolls
Via
US-160, US-163 N, Indian Route 42 (Monument Valley Tribal Park Rd)

US-163 runs north across the Arizona-Utah line and the buttes start appearing on the horizon long before you turn east onto Indian Route 42 for the last stretch to the visitor center.

Tolls: No toll roads or toll bridges on this leg (as of 2026-10-03); no toll authority applies.

Sources (1)
Must do
Scenic drive10:03 AM · 1 h 20 min

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park: the 17-mile Valley Drive

The marquee stop of the day. From the visitor center overlook the Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte fill the view; the park's 17-mile loop road then drops among the formations on rough, sandy terrain, with Navajo vendors selling crafts along the way. Plan about 80 minutes for the loop at a steady pace with photo stops (more if you linger); sites such as Ear of the Wind are reached by Navajo-guided tour only. Motorcycles are not allowed on the loop. Enter well before the posted last-entry time. The loop is a long, dusty block of the day, and the plan has you leave the park by about 11:20 for the drive north.

The West Mitten, East Mitten and Merrick Buttes rising from the red desert floor, with a dirt road and a few cars in the foreground
Photo: Domenico Convertini / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monument_Valley,_Utah,_USA_(23611451292).jpg)
Time
About 80 minutes for the loop at a steady pace, longer with extra stops
Reservation needed
No
Parking
Visitor center lot
Fee note
Park site lists $10 per person per day plus a $15 vehicle fee (as of 2026-10-03); confirm what applies to your party at the gate
Price as of
2026-10-03
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Visitor Center
Monument Valley, UT 84536
Hours: Seasonal: the Valley Drive typically runs about 8 AM to 5 or 6 PM with a mid-afternoon last entry; confirm on the park website
Season: Typically open year-round except Navajo Nation holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day); check current dates
Sources (2)
DriveDepart 11:23 AM

Monument Valley to the Moki Dugway through Valley of the Gods

Distance
51 mi
Drive time
1 h 51 min
Est. tolls
No tolls
Via
Indian Route 42, US-163 through Mexican Hat, Valley of the Gods Rd (CR 242), UT-261
Vs default
{"default_distance_mi":37,"default_drive_minutes":52}

The scenic heart of the drive, and the longest block between stops. Indian Route 42 and US-163 lead north past Goulding's and through Mexican Hat, then you turn onto Valley of the Gods Road (San Juan County Road 242), 17 miles of graded gravel and clay among sandstone monoliths with names like Rooster Butte and the Seven Sailors, per BLM. It exits onto UT-261 at the foot of the Moki Dugway, and the leg ends at the top of the climb. Passenger cars usually manage the road when dry, but BLM says it can be difficult or impassable when wet. BLM suggests about two hours for the loop with stops; the router time of 111 minutes covers the whole leg at OSM's default gravel speeds, so allow extra time for photos. There is no meal stop here: Goulding's Stagecoach Restaurant (see the options) is the sit-down alternative on the way.

Tolls: No toll roads or toll bridges on this leg (as of 2026-10-04); no toll authority applies.

Sources (3)
Must do
Viewpoint1:14 PM · 25 min

Moki Dugway pullout over Valley of the Gods

UT-261 climbs Cedar Mesa on three miles of graded gravel at an 11% grade, rising about 1,200 feet by BLM's count. The dugway was cut in the 1950s for uranium and vanadium ore trucks. The plan stops at the top, where BLM notes a parking area with views back over Valley of the Gods; pull completely off the road for photos. This is also the natural spot for the packed lunch. BLM cautions motor homes and trailers on this road.

Photo: Gedstrom (English Wikipedia) / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moki_Dugway_14.jpg)
Gravel switchbacks of the Moki Dugway cut into a red-rock cliff above the desert floor, with Monument Valley buttes on the far horizon
Moki Dugway on State Route 261, San Juan County, Utah. Photo: Gedstrom (English Wikipedia) / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moki_Dugway_14.jpg)
A pale dirt road winding across a broad red and olive desert plain with low buttes beyond, seen from the Moki Dugway
Utah State Route 261 as seen from the Moki Dugway. Photo: Daniel Schwen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Utah_State_Route_261_as_seen_from_the_Moki_Dugway.jpg)
Time
About 25 minutes for the views and a quick packed lunch
Reservation needed
No
Parking
BLM notes a parking area near the top of the Dugway
Moki Dugway (top of the climb, UT-261)
Mexican Hat, UT
Season: Typically open year-round; can be difficult in rain or snow, check current conditions
Sources (3)
DriveDepart 1:39 PM

Moki Dugway to Natural Bridges

Distance
29.5 mi
Drive time
1 h 10 min
Est. tolls
No tolls
Via
UT-261, UT-95, UT-275

Over the top of Cedar Mesa on UT-261, then UT-95 and the short spur of UT-275 to the monument. Mostly high, quiet piñon-juniper country with long gaps between services.

Tolls: No toll roads or toll bridges on this leg (as of 2026-10-04); no toll authority applies.

Sources (1)
Must do
Visitor center2:49 PM · 1 h

Natural Bridges National Monument: Bridge View Drive

A paved nine-mile loop with short walks to overlooks of the monument's three natural bridges (none are visible from the road). NPS lists about 10 minutes each for the Sipapu, Kachina and Owachomo viewpoint walks; with an hour, do the visitor center and all three viewpoints at an unhurried pace. The visitor center closes at 4 PM (NPS), so the plan arrives at about 14:49 and leaves by 15:49. The monument is cashless: pay by card or buy a pass online.

Entrance of the Natural Bridges visitor center with a 'Welcome to Natural Bridges' sign and a bulletin board
Photo: NPS Photo
Time
About 60 minutes for the visitor center and three viewpoint walks
Fee
$20
Reservation needed
No
Parking
Visitor center lot and viewpoint lots
Fee note
$20 per private vehicle, valid 7 days, as of 2026-10-03; America the Beautiful passes accepted; card or mobile payment only
Price as of
2026-10-03
Natural Bridges Visitor Center
At the end of UT 275, Lake Powell, UT 84533
Hours: NPS: visitor center normally 9 AM to 4 PM, open seven days a week in the main season (April-September) and Friday-Monday only in the off-season (fall, winter, early spring); the park road and trails are open 24/7. This plan assumes a Saturday.
Season: Typically open year-round; visitor center days and hours are reduced outside the main season; check current dates
Sources (5)
DriveDepart 3:49 PM

Natural Bridges to Moab

Distance
112.6 mi
Drive time
2 h 3 min
Est. tolls
No tolls
Via
UT-275, UT-95, US-191 via Blanding and Monticello

UT-275 back to UT-95, then east through Blanding and north on US-191 over the high plateau (La Sal Mountains to the east) and down into Moab. This is the day's last long block, about two hours with no planned stop. Blanding and Monticello are the fuel and restroom towns on the way if you need a break; Monticello is also where the scenic alternatives in the options branch off. Watch for wildlife at dusk.

Tolls: No toll roads or toll bridges on this leg (as of 2026-10-04); no toll authority applies.

Sources (1)
Eat5:52 PM · 1 h 30 min

Dinner in Moab at Desert Bistro

The finish line is a sit-down dinner in downtown Moab, reached at about 17:52 with sunset around 18:49. The restaurant describes its cooking as internationally inspired fine cuisine with a southwestern flair, takes reservations, and opens at 5 PM; book for about 6:00 PM so there is time to park. If a quicker meal suits the hour, see the Moab Grill option.

Meal
Dinner
Cuisine
Internationally inspired, southwestern flair
Reservation needed
Yes
Reservation notes
Official site offers reservations for 1-6 guests
Desert Bistro
36 S 100 W, Moab, UT 84532
Hours: Official site: open nightly 5 PM to close
Season: Typically open nightly; check current hours
Sources (2)

Where to stay

Stay

Apache Motel

A historic retro motel in downtown Moab, listed on the National Register of Historic Places according to its site, with a range of room types including kitchenette rooms and free parking.

Type
Hotel
Location
Outside the park
Reservation notes
Check current rates on the official site.
Apache Motel
166 Fourth E St, Moab, UT 84532
Season: Typically open year-round; check current dates
Sources (2)
Stay

Moab Springs Ranch

Bungalows and townhouses with kitchens on a shaded ranch property at the north end of town, with a pool and hot tub and an on-site coffee cafe, per its site.

Type
Hotel
Location
Outside the park
Reservation notes
Check current rates on the official site.
Moab Springs Ranch
1266 US Highway 191, Moab, UT 84532
Season: Typically open year-round; check current dates
Sources (2)
Stay

Red Cliffs Lodge Moab

A Tribute Portfolio hotel on the Colorado River along UT-128, at Mile Post 14 on UT-128. A good fit if you take the La Sal Loop alternative and finish on UT-128.

Type
Hotel
Location
Outside the park
Reservation notes
Check current rates on the official site.
Red Cliffs Lodge Moab
Mile Post 14 UT-128, Moab, UT 84532
Season: Typically open year-round; check current dates
Sources (2)

Where to eat

Eat

Sit-down lunch alternative: Stagecoach Restaurant at Goulding's

If a packed lunch will not do, Goulding's sits right on the route 5.6 miles from the Monument Valley visitor center: a sit-down lunch with cliff and butte views through large windows, Southwestern and American dishes from an all-day menu. Goulding's is owned by the Navajo Nation, and the property also has a trading post museum and gas station if you need to top off. Budget about 40 minutes plus a few minutes' detour; that pushes Natural Bridges to about 15:30, so trim the viewpoint walks to fit before the 4 PM visitor-center close.

Goulding's Lodge and trading post building below a tall red sandstone cliff near Monument Valley
Photo: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Goulding%27s_Lodge_01.jpg)
Meal
Lunch
Cuisine
Southwestern / American
Reservation needed
No
Alt note
Replaces the packed lunch at the Moki Dugway
Detour minutes
5
Stagecoach Restaurant at Goulding's Resort
1000 Gouldings Trading Post Rd, Oljato-Monument Valley, UT 84536
Hours: Official page: open daily, breakfast 7-11 AM, then the all-day menu 11 AM-9 PM; hours may vary seasonally
Season: Typically open daily; check current hours
Sources (2)
Eat

Quicker dinner: Moab Grill

Home-style Main Street diner-grill with burgers, steaks and a long breakfast menu, open every day from early morning until late evening per its website. Handy if the day runs late.

Meal
Dinner
Cuisine
American grill, burgers, breakfast
Reservation needed
No
Moab Grill
540 S Main St, Moab, UT 84532
Hours: Official site: Monday-Sunday 7:00 AM-10:00 PM
Season: Typically open daily; check current hours
Sources (2)

More options

Alternative route

Scenic alternative: La Sal Mountain Loop and the Colorado River road into Moab

Instead of continuing on US-191 from Monticello straight into Moab, climb the 60-mile paved La Sal Mountain Loop (USFS: about 2.5 to 3 hours to drive end to end, not suitable for large RVs or trailers, no services along it), drop into Castle Valley and follow UT-128 along the Colorado River into town. A navigation app prefers the direct highway. Too long to add after Natural Bridges the same day; it works if you skip Natural Bridges or split the trip. The USFS page mentions a federal highway widening project on the loop, so check for road work before committing.

Distance
96.2 mi
Drive time
2 h 6 min
Est. tolls
No tolls
Via
US-191, La Sal Mountain Loop Rd (CR-127 / CR-73), Castle Valley Rd, UT-128
To
Desert Bistro, Moab
From
Monticello (US-191 at Center St)
Vs default
{"extra_miles":41.9,"extra_minutes":70,"default_distance_mi":54.3,"default_drive_minutes":56}

Tolls: No toll roads (as of 2026-10-04).

Sources (3)
Alternative route

Scenic alternative: Needles Overlook via Canyon Rims Road

A side trip west on Canyon Rims Road (CR-133) to Needles Overlook, a BLM viewpoint above the Needles district of Canyonlands (BLM describes the road as paved). Out-and-back from US-191, then on to Moab. A navigation app would never route this. Adds roughly an hour and three-quarters; a daylight-only option best taken with an early start or an overnight in Moab.

Distance
98 mi
Drive time
2 h 42 min
Est. tolls
No tolls
Via
US-191, Canyon Rims Rd (CR-133 / BLM B133) out and back, US-191
To
Desert Bistro, Moab
From
Monticello (US-191 at Center St)
Vs default
{"extra_miles":43.7,"extra_minutes":106,"default_distance_mi":54.3,"default_drive_minutes":56}

Tolls: No toll roads (as of 2026-10-04).

Sources (2)
Viewpoint30 min

Optional detour: Goosenecks State Park

A deep, entrenched meander of the San Juan River, viewed from the rim of the canyon. The access road is UT-316 off UT-261 near Mexican Hat. Utah State Parks lists the park as open 24 hours with a day-use fee. OSM puts a round trip from Mexican Hat at about 14 miles and 45 minutes, which does not fit the one-day schedule; consider it only with an overnight stop.

The San Juan River looping around a layered rock peninsula in a deep canyon at Goosenecks State Park
Photo: Chesley Chen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Goosenecks_State_Park,_San_Juan_River,_Utah.JPG)
Time
About 30 minutes at the rim
Reservation needed
No
Detour minutes
45
Goosenecks State Park
Mexican Hat, UT
Hours: Open 24 hours per Utah State Parks
Season: Typically open year-round; check current dates
Sources (2)

Route map

  1. Carl Hayden Visitor Center (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  2. Kayenta (US-160 at US-163) (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  3. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Visitor Center (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  4. Moki Dugway (top of the climb, UT-261) (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  5. Natural Bridges Visitor Center (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  6. Desert Bistro (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  7. Stagecoach Restaurant at Goulding's Resort (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Option
  8. Goosenecks State Park (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Option
  9. Apache Motel (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Option
  10. Moab Springs Ranch (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Option
  11. Red Cliffs Lodge Moab (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Option
  12. Moab Grill (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Option

Good to know

Route, timing and weekday assumptions

  • Assumed weekday: a Saturday departure (Saturday Oct 10, 2026). Natural Bridges' visitor center is open Friday through Monday in the off-season, so a Saturday works; on a Tuesday-Thursday in fall the visitor center would be closed (the road and trails stay open). Confirm hours before you go; see also the dated block below.
  • Clock: all times use Mountain Daylight Time, which Kayenta, Monument Valley and Utah observe in daylight-saving months. Page, Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, so in those months Page clocks run one hour behind the times in this plan.
  • Daylight: sunrise at Page on Oct 10 is about 07:27 on the Utah clock, so the 07:15 start is at first light. The plan reaches Moab about 17:52, before sunset (about 18:49 in Moab on that date; both computed from standard solar formulas). The Valley of the Gods and Moki Dugway sections are best done in daylight.
  • Total driving: 321.8 miles and 7 hours 27 minutes (447 minutes) of driving time (sum of the five legs, no tolls). The direct OSM route Page to Moab is about 276 miles and 4 hours 45 minutes.
  • Stop rhythm: driving blocks between stops are 107 minutes (Page to Kayenta), 36 minutes (Kayenta to Monument Valley), 111 minutes (Monument Valley to the top of the Moki Dugway through Valley of the Gods, including gravel), 70 minutes (Dugway to Natural Bridges) and 123 minutes (Natural Bridges to Moab).

Driving notes

  • Valley of the Gods Road is graded gravel and clay; BLM says passenger cars generally manage it when dry but it can be difficult or impassable when wet. An OSM contributor note on the road says the second half toward UT-261 may need high clearance, so check with a rental company before taking a low car. Check UDOT (UT-261) and the BLM Monticello Field Office (435-587-1500) for current road status on the day of travel.
  • The Moki Dugway is three miles of graded gravel at about 11% grade; BLM cautions motor homes and trailers. Pull completely off the road to photograph.
  • Cell service is unreliable on Cedar Mesa; carry water and a full tank. No tolls anywhere on the route.
  • Fuel and food: fill up in Page, then Kayenta (planned break). Goulding's (gas, grocery and the Stagecoach Restaurant) and Mexican Hat or Bluff are the next options after Monument Valley, and Blanding or Monticello come later on US-191. There is nothing planned for lunch, so pack one.

Current conditions (as of 2026-10-04)

  • Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park lists Valley Drive hours of 8 AM-6 PM with last entry 3:30 PM through Oct 16, 2026, then winter hours from Oct 17 (8 AM-5 PM, last entry 2:30 PM). The page lists fees of $10 per person per day plus a $15 per-vehicle fee and says entry is first come, first served; confirm at the gate.
  • Natural Bridges National Monument is cashless (card or mobile payment); the entrance fee is $20 per private vehicle for 7 days. The NPS visitor-center page says it is open 9 AM to 4 PM, seven days a week through September and Friday through Monday in the off-season; the NPS API record also lists daily hours through Oct 31, 2026 and reduced days from Nov 1.
  • No closure or alert for Valley of the Gods or UT-261 was found on the BLM page, but UDOT road status could not be read for this draft; check it before you go.
  • Goosenecks State Park lists open 24 hours; check day-use fee on the Utah State Parks site.

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Before you go

Hours, fees and road conditions change; confirm with the official sites in each item's sources before you leave.

Sources

Good to know: distances and drive times are typical figures without live traffic, and where routes are shown the route data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors. Toll amounts are estimates and change often, so check them in the DriftKin planner or with the toll authority before you plan around them. Opening hours, fees, prices, permits and closures also change, so confirm with the park or business before you go.