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Old 03-20-2017, 05:27 PM   #1
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Four Corners Monument - where to stay?

I'm looking for somewhere near the Four Corners Monument to stay for a couple of days in early May. If I do it as an overnight, then I can boondock. If I'm in the area for a couple of days, then I need electric.

We'll be coming from the Albuquerque, NM area and headed towards Page, AZ.

Any thoughts/suggestions?
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Old 03-20-2017, 05:44 PM   #2
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Don't think there is any camping at the monument, however south of Cortez CO there is a nice RV park at the UTE Mountian Casino that when we stayed there accepted Passport America. From there your only 35 miles from the monument. We went on a semi private tour of the UTE Mountian ruins that was quite interesting.
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Old 03-20-2017, 05:45 PM   #3
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Do you have info on the tour you did?

The UTE location isn't ideal, but seems close enough.
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Old 03-20-2017, 05:46 PM   #4
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Otherwise, I just had someone mention McGee Park in Somethington, NM. It's on the route but a good ways east of 4-corners.
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Old 03-20-2017, 05:47 PM   #5
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Around the monument

There is absolutely nothing around the four-corners monument. We stayed in Mesa Verde which isn't too far away plus is also gives you access to Mesa Verde National Park which is awesome.
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Old 03-20-2017, 07:56 PM   #6
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At the junction of 491 and 160 there is an old gas station which serves as their tour office. We saw an add in paper and got phone number. The difference between Mesa Verde and the UTE mountian tour is you go back into an area that has the cave dwellings that have not been restored. You can ride in their van or drive you own car behind the van. Long drive on dirt road but you end up south of Mesa Verde.
You can google ute mountian tours and find more infomation.
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Old 03-20-2017, 08:51 PM   #7
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Four Corners Monument - where to stay?

You are not going to get any closer than the casino.

I would highly recommend you spend a few days in Bluff. We stayed at the Cadillac Ranch FHU 25 bucks a few years ago. Drive through the Valley of the Gods, see Goosenecks SP and take a drive up the Moki Dugway (find Muley point at the top if you can) to Natural Bridges. Loop around to Blanding then back south to Bluff or go back down the Dugway. This is a really special part of Utah that a lot of people miss. And if you have the time go over to Hovenweep.
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Old 03-21-2017, 01:38 PM   #8
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Where to stay.

Two years ago we stayed at Blue Mountain RV Park in Blanding for about a week. We used it as a home base to travel to various places nearby and enjoyed it. A nice, large RV park with clean bath rooms, laundry, 30 & 50 hookups, Internet and cable. Can't brag on it enough. It was a great place to stay! We agree! Don't miss Hovenweep!
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Old 03-21-2017, 01:53 PM   #9
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Stayed at Blue Mountain last fall. Nice place. Hiked a second bridge at Natural Bridges (2nd time there, love that place), hiked to House on Fire ruin and went to Hovenweep.
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Old 03-21-2017, 05:30 PM   #10
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Not much at four corners but just west is Monument Valley and there are campgrounds there. Also, north east of MV near Mexican Hat are the Goose Necks. Its a fantastic view of the river with a huge flat gravel area. Last time I was there in a car I saw several folks boondocking just feet from the edge. Its also known as one of the darkest spots in US for star gazing. A google search should give you all you need.

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Old 03-21-2017, 05:51 PM   #11
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The Sleeping Ute rv park at the casino is a passport america park good for 1 night, but when we were there we were allowed to pay daily and use passport america for 5 days. Saved 17 dollars a night. There were trees in campground. The Ute Mountain tour is very isolated, we packed a lunch and took water as there is not any food or water available on this tour. The tours are led by tribe members and are very interesting and they tell a very different story about the cliff dwellers than the one told at Mesa Verde National Park. There are so many cliff dwellings and Native American sites to see in this area, some very isolated, that it will take 5 to 7 days to see most of them.
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Old 03-21-2017, 07:10 PM   #12
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We stayed in the KOA in Cortez, CO. The staff was friendly and the sites were nice. Of course, there's little shade. If you are a rock hound, there's a great shop, San Juan Gems, on the north side of town. Get some coprolite to take home to the grandkids. It was a hit with the kids across the street.


Off the subject tidbit: The guy who owns the gem shop taught the local Indians how to make silver and turquoise jewelry. He sells jewelry identical to what you find in the Santa Fe Indian market (they're copying his work) for a fraction of their price - but it's not "Authentic Native Handicraft".
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Old 03-21-2017, 11:34 PM   #14
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My question is: what is at Four Corners that takes more than 15 minutes to see and take photos of? I would only go through there because that's the direction US 160 goes, but I would be on my way to someplace else--east to Mesa Verde and Durango, west to Monument Valley and Grand Canyon, north on US 491 (it will always be US 666 for me) to Moab, or south on US 491 to Gallup. For that reason, I should suggest stopping, taking your photos, and continuing on to Cortez, Moab, or wherever your next major destination will be.
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Old 03-22-2017, 02:59 AM   #15
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Originally Posted by fanrgs View Post
My question is: what is at Four Corners that takes more than 15 minutes to see and take photos of? I would only go through there because that's the direction US 160 goes, but I would be on my way to someplace else--east to Mesa Verde and Durango, west to Monument Valley and Grand Canyon, north on US 491 (it will always be US 666 for me) to Moab, or south on US 491 to Gallup. For that reason, I should suggest stopping, taking your photos, and continuing on to Cortez, Moab, or wherever your next major destination will be.

This really is just a stop along a push westward. The plan is:
- Dallas, NM
- Amarillo, NM
- Albuquerque, NM
- 4 Corners
- Page, AZ
- Moab, UT
- Salt Lake City, UT

Each leg is in the ballpark of 200 miles. The drive from Albuquerque to Page is longer than I want to go at one shot. Timing my days, we only like to travel one weekend day and then can only travel on Tuesdays during the week. So, it's looking like a 3-night stop to rest and recharge near 4 Corners before pushing onto a couple of weeks in Page.
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Old 03-22-2017, 03:01 AM   #16
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Thank you all for your most excellent input!
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Old 03-22-2017, 06:04 AM   #17
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Eppy, that 3 night stop at 4 corners will be the "Longest Month" you have ever had! Youroo!!
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Old 03-22-2017, 06:24 AM   #18
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Eppy, that 3 night stop at 4 corners will be the "Longest Month" you have ever had! Youroo!!
Wow, you got that right, and in fact, GPS fact, the actual 4 corners is in the wrong place in relation to where the Native Americans have set up shop at the 4 corners monument.
Four Corners spot is off the mark – The Denver Post

I worked on the Navajo Reservation for 8 years. Traveled in an RV from east to west, north to south and in between on Navajo and Hopi. The best RV park in the area is at the UTE Mountain Casino just south of Cortez. If you ever have more time, go Northeast of Cortez and on past Delores to Priest Gulch Campground. In the Mountains a bit and the Delores river cuts the campground in half. Wonderful.
West of the 4 corners region is Kayenta, which is where you turn North to the Navajo National Monument, there are a few wide spots there, as there is a McDonalds, and other businesses but I would not overnite there, as there is a lot of theft on the rez. Gangs are a norm now as I worked with the BIA and the OIEP in their schools. If you have time, travel on to Tuba City, which is 75 miles or so SouthWest of Kayenta, there is a Motel on the right hand side, Quality INN, and it has an RV park behind it. It was about 30 bucks, may have gone up, but small and serves an overnight. Call ahead, always full. If you make it to Tuba City, you are not that far from Paige. As always, never drink the water on the REZ, take your own water. I have been sick more than once drinking the ancient water that they use.
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Old 03-22-2017, 09:14 AM   #19
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Eppy, that 3 night stop at 4 corners will be the "Longest Month" you have ever had! Youroo!!


LOL!

I'm thinking of maybe staying back in Kirkland or Farmington so we can restock the fridge and stuff.
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Old 03-22-2017, 11:20 AM   #20
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"My question is: what is at Four Corners that takes more than 15 minutes to see and take photos of"
Possibly the OP had planned to enjoy some of the other sights around four corners and not just blast through to get where ever you are in a rush to get to.
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