Public travel plan
A Motorcycle Ride Through Monument Valley and the Moki Dugway
A compact two-night motorcycle trip based in Kayenta: arrive and stay two nights, ride the route through Monument Valley and over the Moki Dugway, then depart. The route described runs from Kayenta along Highway 163, pa…
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Useful context before you go
A compact two-night motorcycle trip based in Kayenta: arrive and stay two nights, ride the route through Monument Valley and over the Moki Dugway, then depart. The route described runs from Kayenta along Highway 163, past Forrest Gump Point and Mexican Hat, then onto Highway 261 before returning to Kayenta. Kayenta is a dry community; the hotel restaurant offers zero-alcohol wines and beers. The Moki Dugway is a steep, unpaved gravel section with tight bends and no crash barriers. Ride slowly, keep attention on the road rather than the views, and heed the entrance sign advising against RVs and towing vehicles. The source gives a two-night Hampton Inn price of £515.45; verify current rates and exchange rates before booking.
Itinerary highlights
What is in this plan
Days 1–3: Kayenta Base, Monument Valley and the Moki Dugway
Stay two nights in Kayenta and use the middle day for the described ride: Highway 163 through Monument Valley, onward past Forrest Gump Point and Mexican Hat, then Highway 261 over the Moki Dugway and back to Kayenta. The ride crosses between Arizona and Utah. The source describes a cloudy, overcast day, but gives no seasonal timing. Estimated costs are a broad trip budget for two riders, including two hotel nights, food, fuel and the park visit; check current prices and admission details.
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Hampton Inn KayentaHampton Inn Kayenta, Kayenta, Arizona
Use Kayenta as the staging point for the ride and book two nights. The stay described included covered parking near the lobby, where the motorcycles were visible from the main road; the riders locked them and felt comfortable leaving them there. The hotel restaurant served black bean soup and fajitas, and had zero-alcohol wines and beers. Kayenta is a dry community.
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Monument Valley Navajo Tribal ParkMonument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona-Utah
Ride Highway 163 into the park. The towering sandstone formations are central to the experience, and the landscape is sacred to the Navajo people; allow time to take in the views rather than relying on photos alone.
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Forrest Gump PointForrest Gump Point, U.S. Route 163, Utah
Expect crowds at the popular roadside photo stop. If it is busy, continue riding and use the next viewpoint, as the riders did; they stopped farther along for a view back toward the valley.
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Mexican HatMexican Hat, Utah
The route passes through this small desert community about eight miles beyond Forrest Gump Point. The rock formation that gives the town its name is outside town, so keep riding a further few miles to see it.
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Mexican Hat RockMexican Hat Rock, near Mexican Hat, Utah
Stop to see the unusual formation, described as a flattened disc balanced on a cone, about three and a half miles outside town. The source mentions two climbing routes but does not recommend climbing it.
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Moki DugwayMoki Dugway, Utah State Route 261, Utah
Highway 261 climbs roughly 1,200 feet over a three-mile unpaved stretch, with tight switchbacks and loose gravel. Take it slowly, watch for traffic coming downhill around blind bends, and keep your attention on the road rather than the views. The riders found the gravel manageable at a careful pace.
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Moki DugwayMoki Dugway, Utah State Route 261, Utah
The riders stopped at a scenic viewpoint near the top of the Dugway to stretch their legs and take in the valley views before heading back down. The source does not give the viewpoint a specific name, so use the Moki Dugway route itself to locate the stop rather than searching for an inferred landmark.
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StarbucksStarbucks, Kayenta, Arizona
Back in Kayenta, this Starbucks provided coffee and food after the ride. The source mentions a flat white, curry squash, and tacos; the food descriptions are conversational, so check the current menu rather than expecting those items to be available.