Four Corners Monument

The Four Corner National Monument has been on my list while attending college in Northern Arizona. Back then it interested me because it was in the middle of the desert on a History Channel tv show. The thought of being in all four states at once is pretty epic.

Fast forward 8 years, we as a family were on the hunt for Navajo Nation parks, and natural bridges this season in different states, and the monument made the top of the list of places to visit while on Navajo Nation land. The monument is located on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation in the United States. You’ll be please to know that the monument was just reconstructed in 2010 so the place is pretty nice.

Visiting the 4 Corners Monument

This is a unique location to visit while on a reservation. The tribal park is the only place you can be in 4 states all at once and is located in the middle of nowhere.  It’s fascinating that the original marker was made out of a sandstone shaft. In 1931 they placed a bronze plate after fixing the sandstone rod in the previous 32 years. 

During the 2010 renovation, the Navajo Recreation Department added awning shades, bench seating and elevated areas to view the bronze marker. We just had to take photos with the unique landmark and got some great photos of everyone being in 4 states at once. The bragging rights are pretty fun to have now.

I did have to use my belt with some other creative tools to snag the high-quality images we wanted from the elevated platform with our tripod. 

Four Corners Monument Tickets

While visiting the famous 4 corners of the USA the entrance fee to the monument is $8 a person. Kids 6 years old and under are free. For your trip, bring a debit or credit card with you. The entry booth only accepts credit cards for payment.

After entering we arrived at the parking lot shortly. They do not want you parking directly by the buildings, they reserve these parking spots for the Native American artisans that are selling handmade items. After we parked everyone was eager to see the monument and get a photo. We waited in line for a few minutes to get some exclusive images for our family. 

When planning your trip consider going during off season. This will help you avoid waiting in long lines for a photo. We went in late September and the crowd was almost non-existent. A total score compared to the awful summer lines. We got some pictures while hovering all of the state borders and got back in line after looking at the pictures to get more of the perfect angles Amanda was looking for. 

A vendor told us that during peak season the wait times can be two hours long. The temperatures during summer can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 31 degrees Celsius, so bring some water to stay hydrated if visiting during the hotter months. 

We picked up a hand painted sandstone rock formation item that pictures a black bear from a local American southwest artist. We were able to pay the vendors inside with cash and card payments even though the nearest town was fairly far away. 

What to do at Four Corners Monument

Try Frybread & Navajo Tacos

There are people selling food and drinks in the monument area. We picked up two fry breads, one with normal sugar and one with sugar and cinnamon.

Both were great and it was a perfect snack before heading out on our horse with no name.  

Shop at the local Vendor Booths

There are Native Navajo’s who sell locally from their tribes in the designated booths. Here you will see different Art and Souvenirs created by them to be sold here. We picked up a few Sand Art pieces. We love to support locals so if you find something you love this may be a good way for you to do that too.

The monument is a nice place to stop, grab a snack, and break up your southwestern usa road trip. I would suggest going earlier in the day and during a slower season. It is a really neat experience to get some photos that highlight interesting events in American culture.

PSA: The restrooms are pit toilets like you will encounter in the national parks.

History of The Monument

The land in the area of the monument was initially Native American land before Spain put claim to it and was part of New Spain. Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821 making this land part of Mexico. It went from Native American land to Spanish land to Mexican land in a span of roughly 200 years. 

The Mexican American war began in 1846 and lasted two years. At the end of the war The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 granted possession of this land to the United States. Fast forward to 1850 the Compromise of 1850 took this unorganized land and created the New Mexico Territory and the Utah Territory. This would create the horizontal state line at the monument. This line is the 37th parallel North and was defined by the 31st United States Congress. 

How did the second state line get formed? 

About 11 years later in 1861 the 36th United States Congress transferred some land from the Utah Territory and created the Colorado Territory. The Colorado Territory’s southern border would remain as the 37th parallel north. A new border between the Colorado Territory and Utah Territory was declared to be the 32nd meridian west from Washington. This line was derived from the reference used at the time, the Washington meridians which are located in Washington DC. 

The 32nd meridian makes the most western state line of Colorado and the most eastern state line of Utah. So while standing at the monument it makes the the two northern corners of the small bronze disk. 

Overall the monument is cool to check out if you’re driving through on a road trip. It’s also great to stop by to check out if you’re interested in the history or supplementing schooling for the kids. You can grab food and souvenirs and be in all 4 states at once. Let us know if you in you check out this tourist destination on your trip and what you think of it!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Four Corners Monument?

Four Corners Monument is locate in the State of Arizona. It’s in the city of Teec Nos Pos, governed by the Navajo Nation.

What are the Four Corners Monument Hours?

They are open Sunday through Saturday 8 AM to 4:45 PM Navajo Nation Time. For information on closures visit their website here.

How Far is Four Corners Monument from Phoenix?

The distance between Phoenix and Four Corners Monument is 370 Miles. On average you can expect it to take approximately 5 and a half hours to drive from Phoenix to Four Corners Monument.

How far is Four Corners Monument from Las Vegas?

The distance between Las Vegas and Four Corners Monument is 450 Miles. On average you can expect it to take approximately 7 hours to drive from Phoenix to Four Corners Monument.

Things to do Near Four Corners Monument?

If you want to know what to do near Four Corners Monument check out our blog post on the Top 15 Things To Do With Family in Southern Utah. You’ll find all the things we did on our family road trip through the four Corners Monument. This way you wont miss anything nearby.

Hotels Near Four Corners Monument

if you’re looking for a hotel near Four Corners Monument consider Bluff Dwellings! We loved our stay there and include a ton of photos & videos for you to check out in our post.