Kayenta

Kayenta is a small town near the northern border of Arizona and part of the Navajo Nation. The population was 5,189 at the 2010 census. Kayenta is 22 miles (35 km) south of Monument Valley and contains a number of hotels and motels which service visitors to Monument Valley.

Understand

Kayenta is located at an elevation of 5,700 feet (1,738 m).

Like other places within the Navajo Nation, it is illegal to serve alcohol in Kayenta. Kayenta and the rest of the Navajo Nation observes Daylight Savings Time, although the rest of Arizona does not.

Get in

Kayenta is on U.S. 163, near the junction with U.S. 160. The only practical way to get to Kayenta is by driving a car, either along U.S. Route 160 or U.S. Route 163. There is an airstrip, but it has no scheduled flights and is mainly used for medical evacuation flights. Flagsraff Pullam Airport, with scheduled commercials flights, is about a 2-1/2-hour drive away.

Get around

The center of Kayenta is small enough to walk around. Take the usual precautions against summer heat or winter cold. There is no public transport. To go further afield, a car is required.

See

• 1 Navajo Code Talkers exhibit, Hwy 160 (behind the Burger King). Pictures, articles and military equipment tell the story of how the Navajo code talkers enabled the U.S. military to securely transmit information during World War II. The main museum is located behind the Burger King in a separate building while the restaurant has a few display cases of Japanese and US World War II artifacts. 

Do

Every Wednesday the flea market comes to Kayenta, which will give visitors a glimpse into the local Navajo culture and always has a large selection of local foods including excellent fry bread for one or two dollars.

Buy

Bashas' Diné store

A Bashas' grocery store is located in Kayenta. Kayenta also has a True Value, a Video Plus movie rental store, as well as Navajo art shops.

• 1 Navajo Arts and Craft Enterprise (Highway 91 and Route 12), ☏ +1 928 328-8116. M–Sa 9 am – 7 pm, Su noon – 6 pm. (updated Nov 2017)

Eat

Kayenta is the home of several sit down and fast food restaurants, most of which are located at the junction between the 160 and the 163. In terms of fast food, Kayenta has a Burger King, Sonic Drive-In, Subway restaurant, and McDonald's. For casual dining there is the Golden Rice Bowl Chinese restaurant, Pizza Edge, and Blue Coffee Pot Restaurant. Amigo Cafe serves several typical Navajo dishes such as a large "Navajo taco" (frybread with taco-style toppings).

It is probably better to go on to Monument Valley or Mexican Hat to eat, or get a picnic at Basha's grocery. Near the Bashas' there is pizza available, as well as McDonald's and Burger King.

• Navajo Taco Stand near code talker Burger King, Highway 160, Navajo Nation (in the parking lot of the Burger King). 
• Amigo Cafe, US Hwy 163, ☏ +1 928-697-8448. Mexican, Native American, and American food as well as many fruit-flavored sodas and an espresso bar. (updated Dec 2021)

Sleep

• 1 Kayenta Monument Valley Inn (near the intersection of U.S. Route 160 and U.S. Route 163), ☏ +1 928-697-3221, fax: +1 928-697-3349. Has restaurant, souvenir shop, wireless internet. (updated Apr 2018)
• 2 Hampton Inn Kayenta, Highway 160, ☏ +1 928-697-3170, fax: +1 928-697-3189. One of the few hotels in Kayenta, offers a full-service restaurant. 
• 3 Wetherill Inn, 1000 Main Street (on U.S. Route 163 north from the junction with U.S. Route 160), ☏ +1 928-697-3231. Comfortable motel-style accommodation with an indoor pool, souvenir shop, and free fast wireless Internet. Basic breakfast is provided but there is no on-site restaurant. The hotel is on a quieter road than the main US160 route through the area. (updated Aug 2018)

Go next

The nearest places with significant population (Mexican Water, Mexican Hat, Shonto) are each about 40 mi (64 km) away along either U.S. Route 160 or U.S. Route 163. Monument Valley is 22 mi (35 km) away along U.S. Route 163. Navajo National Monument is 30 mi (48 km).

• North – on US 163:
  • Monument Valley – 22 mi (35 km).
  • Mexican Hat, Utah – 40 mi (64 km).

• East – on US 160:
  • Mexican Water, Arizona – 40 mi (64 km).
  • Four Corners – 80 mi (130 km).

• Southwest – on US 160:
  • Navajo National Monument – 30 mi (48 km) -- southwest on US 160, then north on AZ 564.
  • Shonto, Arizona – 40 mi (64 km) -- southwest on US 160, then north on AZ 98, then northeast on paved route following signs to Shonto.
  • Tuba City, Arizona – 75 mi (121 km).

Routes through Kayenta

END at N S ← Tuba City ←	W  E	→ Four Corners → Durango, CO
END at N S ← Bluff ← Mexican Hat ← Monument Valley ←	N  S	→ END at in Kayenta