Monticello
Monticello is a cool haven in the midst of the Canyon Country region of Utah. Located at the base of the Blue Mountains (aka "Abajo" Mountains) in the center of San Juan County, Monticello typically has cooler weather than the surrounding desert. This makes it ideal for summer hiking, biking, horseback riding and motorsports and a delightful place to cross country ski or snowmobile in the winter. From the Blue Mountains you can see the Four Corners Region, consisting of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Understand
Get in
By road
- from Cortez, Colorado and Mesa Verde National Park: travel west on Highway 491; Monticello is one hour west of Cortez
- from Flagstaff, Arizona, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell and the Navajo Nation: travel north on Highway 191; Monticello is four hours north of Flagstaff and one and a half hours north of Monument Valley
By air
The Monticello Municipal Airport has limited facilities. Contact the city offices at 435-587-2271 for information.
Get around
See
Do
Buy
Eat
- K&A Chuckwagon, 469 N. Main St, ☏ +1-435-587-3468. Covered outdoor dining, recreation, RV hook-ups, family reunions. Open while warm outside, which is generally from May through September.
- Lamplight Restaurant. Casual dining, reservations not reuired, accepts all kinds of cards. Great atmosphere.
- Roughlock RV Park & Steakhouse (8 miles north of Monticello on Hwy 191), ☏ +1-435-587-2351. Fantastic steakhouse with old west atmosphere. Reservations recommended, operates seasonally.
- Peace Tree Juice Cafe, 20 South Main St (Across the Inn at the Canyons). Breakfast and lunch, dinner since May 2013. Great espresso, sandwiches, wraps. Small, but nice outdoor seating.
Drink
Sleep
Go next
- Canyonlands National Park. Monticello is the closest town to the park's Needles District, home to excellent hiking opportunities among impressive and odd rock spires.
| Routes through Monticello |
| Vernal ← Moab ← | N  S
|
→ Blanding → Eagar-Springerville |
| END ← | N  S
|
→ Dove Creek → Cortez |