By Car in Northeast Arizona

The only practical way to tour the Navajo and Hopi nations is by car. If you're arriving from Southern California or other parts of Arizona, Flagstaff is the best jumping-off point. If you're traveling from Utah or Nevada, you might come in from Utah on U.S. 89, starting your tour at Page. From Colorado, logical entry points are Farmington and Shiprock, New Mexico, via U.S. 64 (what looks like a more direct route to Canyon de Chelly through Red Rock ends up crossing an unimproved road). Gallup, New Mexico, to the east, is also a convenient starting point for exploring if you're coming from the Albuquerque area.

A tour of Navajo-Hopi country can involve driving significant distances among widely scattered communities, so a detailed, up-to-date road map is essential. Gas stations carry adequate state maps, but two other maps are particularly recommended: the AAA guide to Navajo-Hopi country or the excellent map of the northeast prepared by the Navajo Nation Tourism Office.

Most of the 25,000 square mi of the Navajo Reservation and other areas of northeastern Arizona are off the beaten track. It's prudent to stay on the well-maintained paved thoroughfares. If you don't have the equipment for wilderness travel—including a four-wheel-drive vehicle and provisions—and do not have backcountry experience, stay off the dirt roads unless they are signed and graded and the skies are clear. Be on the lookout for ominous rain clouds in summer or signs of snow in winter. Never drive into dips or low-lying areas during a heavy rainstorm. If you heed these simple precautions, car travel through the region will be as safe as anywhere else. While driving around the Navajo Nation, tune in to 660 AM (KTNN) for local news and weather.

Road service, auto repairs, and other automotive services are few and far between, so service your vehicle before venturing into the Navajo and Hopi reservations (or do so in the larger communities, such as Tuba City, Kayenta, and Window Rock), and carry emergency equipment and supplies. If you need assistance, ask a local for the nearest auto-repair service. Diamond Towing offers a 24-hour emergency road service.

Contact

Diamond Towing (Kayenta. 928/697-8437).