Monument Valley and surrounding area...how many nights?
 

How many nights should I allow in Monument Valley area? Is two enough? I have 6 nights to divide between Moab and Bluff and I'm trying to decide if I need 4 in Moab and 2 in Bluff or 3 in each?

Thanks,

One night will be plenty for Monument Valley IMO. If you are going to visit petroglyph sites in the Bluff area, then you might want to spend another night there, but in the Moab area there is more than enough to do to spend extra time there.

A new hotel opened recently in Monument Valley: http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal...-red-roc-1873/

Yes, that is a hard one to answer. I agree with emalloy that one night is plenty at Monument Valley. Bluff and Moab each offer such a different experience from one another. There are great day hikes in each area. In Moab you have Corona Arch, Perfect Kiva and Mesa Arch just to name a few. You will find more crowds in the Moab (relatively speaking) area. In Bluff you have a world of the ancient Anasazi that can't be found at Mesa Verde. Ruins left untouched for almost a 1000 years. Many easy day hikes to the ruins....without the crowds. If you want to check out some of the ruin sites in the Bluff area, read my blog on the subject:
http://reddirtdawg.blogspot.com/
So you see my vote would be to split the time between the two towns. Whatever you decide, you will never be the same after visiting our wonderful landscapes here.

How much of the surrounding area do you want to include? Only Monument Valley, one night will be enough. Add Natural Bridges National Monument, it takes more time. Expand that area a bit more and Mesa Verde National Park fits in and it takes more time. How about Antelope Canyon in Page, AZ or Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, Shiprock, Canyon de Chelly? Maybe all the way to the Grand Canyon or Durango, CO?