Forrest Gump Point & Monument Valley 1-Day Itinerary

Maybe you’re like me, wondering, “what’s that place where Forrest Gump stopped running?”

Or like me, having this image as THE perfect image of an American road trip even though I had never been there:

Before Forrest Gump, this was just a spectacular view.

Now, it’s an extremely famous view that SO many people know but few have actually seen in real life.

It has to be one of the most photogenic places on earth!

And the gigantic spires in the background are Monument Valley.

This day spent in the middle of nowhere between Utah and Arizona gets you the amazing view from Forrest Gump Point, but also involves time spent up close and personal with the giant rocks.

It’s an awesome place to visit for all of us budget-conscious road trippers who love the outdoors.

Here’s my 1-day itinerary to get to know Forrest Gump Point and Monument Valley!

How to Get to Forrest Gump Point

Forrest Gump Point is in Utah, while Monument Valley is in Arizona – even though they’re only 16 miles apart.

So, really, there’s no real reason to be here unless you’re on a road trip to see this place.

So, if you’re in the area, odds are you’re there as part of a longer road trip!

I drove through Monument Valley as part of the Grand Circle road trip, traveling between Canyonlands National Park and the Grand Canyon.

And I’m thankful it’s there because otherwise there’d be absolutely nothing in that long stretch across northern Arizona!

Do keep in mind, though, that the trip is best enjoyed driving from the east.

That way, the incredible view surprises you as you get to Forrest Gump Point first, and it’s a whole experience.

Just drive towards northeastern Arizona, get on Highway 163 towards Mexican Hat and Kayenta, and you’ll be met with this bucketlist view.

Forrest Gump Point & Monument Valley 1 day Itinerary

This itinerary is thought for if you’re traveling east to west.

You can, of course, do it backwards, but it really isn’t as exciting!

Another note: this is a budget-friendly itinerary, as are all my itineraries.

I’ll include exactly where we camped for free, as well as the best budget hotel options in the area.

1. Mexican Hat

The first item on the agenda is a quick stop at Mexican Hat.

Mexican Hat is a town, but you can get a pit stop at the formation that gave the town its name.

The Mexican Hat formation is an upside-down Mexican Hat balancing precariously on a pedestal of red rock.

Over time, softer rock eroded quicker than the harder rock, and that led to this physics-defying rock being here!

The formation is right next to the road, so it can be a quick stop.

We actually car camped for free near Mexican Hat, at a beautiful location… more on the free camping below!

2. Forest Gump Point

Drive 8 minutes and you’ll arrive at Forrest Gump Point.

This point is where the view of Monument Valley is most spectacular, and it has to be one of the world’s most photogenic roads.

The road slopes downward forever towards the valley, which is why the view is so amazing. You’re pretty much looking down at the extensive panorama. Since you’re higher up than Monument Valley at Forrest Gump Point, you get a more sweeping vista of everything.

And then there’s the road, perfectly situated in the landscape and pointed directly at Monument Valley. It’s the perfect leading line that makes this viewpoint even better. Do be careful while taking pictures, since this is a road and cars will be moving past you.

The best time to be here is sunrise, when the sun lights up the red spires in golden light. However, we came mid-morning and it was still beautiful and mind-boggling.

After spending some time gazing at the view and after getting some good photos, it’s time to immerse yourself in Monument Valley.

3. Monument Valley

The drive from Forrest Gump Point to Monument Valley is 20 minutes. The time flies because the drive is beautiful.

The fee to enter the park is $8 per person.

Once you’re inside, you can visit the Visitor Center, Trading Post and Restaurant. The Trading Post was my favorite place to visit because it was full of hand-made Native American crafts, like rugs, jewelry, arrowheads, and way more.

The building is higher up than the valley, so the views are amazing the entire time, now up close to the gigantic pillars of stone.

The formations you see from the Visitor Center are the Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte.

But you can get up closer!

4. Scenic Drive

The Scenic Drive is absolutely spectacular but does require somewhat of a high clearance.

For reference, we have a Subaru Forester that doesn’t have the highest clearance, and we made it. But we also had X-mode to help us make it up the steep hill. The drive is only rough at the beginning, so if you made it down to the valley the loop is fine until the end. Then, getting up the hill is the real crux!

During the scenic drive, you’ll drive a loop through all the buttes and crazy formations of Monument Valley. What you saw back at Forrest Gump Point? You are now part of the landscape.

Don’t worry if your car can’t make it down, because the park offers guided tours down to the valley. Even better, they take tours to areas where cars aren’t allowed – you can only access them as part of a tour. So, you may want to just take a tour even if your car can make the drive!

There’s not much else to do after the scenic drive, so it’s time to say goodbye.

5. Road Trip or Sleep!

After an awesome day in one of the most well-known natural landscapes in pop culture, you have two options.

You can continue driving to your destination, whether that’s east or west. To the east are Canyonlands and Arches National Park in Utah, or Mesa Verde National Park and Colorado. To the west is the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and Page, Arizona.

The thing is, those are all long drives after a day of driving and then touring Forrest Gump Point and Monument Valley.

My recommendation is to stay close to Monument Valley in Oljato, which is 7 minutes away. There are some wonderful hotels and a BUNCH of campgrounds.

Where to Stay in Monument Valley

The best hotels in Monument Valley:

• The View: inside Monument Valley, right next to the Visitor Center. It has a gorgeous hotel and cabins. Of course, the view is insane!
• Monument Valley Tipi Village: exactly what it sounds like!
• Goulding’s Lodge: a homey hotel with an Old West vibe.

Free camping near Monument Valley:

We car camped for free near Mexican Hat, at these coordinates (37.2413598, -109.8167952) while visiting Monument Valley

It’s one of the most beautiful places we’ve slept in during our travels, under the Seven Sisters formation!

But that’s not the only free site!

If you’re planning any sort of trip in the Southwest, I actually made a free map with 70+ free car camping spots I found and vetted during my 2 years on the road. It’s my go-to resource whenever I’m planning where to sleep for the night.

👉 Grab the map for free below – I’ll email it to you right away!

Camping near Monument Valley: if you need more amenities, there are SO many established campgrounds. The best ones are:

• Sleeping Bear Campgrounds
• Hummingbird Campsite

And that’s it for my 1-day Forrest Gump Point and Monument Valley itinerary! I hope it helps you plan your trip.

If you have any questions at all, comment below and I’ll be sure to answer them personally!