We stayed Sunday night, June 3rd, 2007 at the Gouldings Campground and RV Park at Monument Valley. This is a classic case of a place where you stay because of the location, not the facility. The view is great even though the park is tucked away in a canyon with the main highway between you and the monument. The only other option is the $12 a night park inside the Navajo Nation Park. This campground should be the first choice if you don't need hookups. Gouldings has you for most of the season due to the heat. Most people want to run AC and have water, sewer and tv hookups and Gouldings is the only choice in the area.
Upon check-in, we felt about as welcome as a dust devil. On this first time, and on subsequent encounters, the staff was silent and rather unfriendly. The rate is high but all spots have full hookups. It is a Good Sam RV Park so members can save a few bucks. You are in a beautiful canyon so even if you have cellular internet, it probably won't work. At least our Sprint service wouldn't connect. Gouldings has the solution for sale. Very slow (11mbps) wifi for a fee per 24 hours. In our view, this really should be included for such a high priced park. But as we said, they have you where they want you. You can see the valley and some monuments from the park.
Our spot was level but the entire first row of spots is on a slope. I wouldn't want one of those. The hookups in our space were quite far away from the level place where you park. You'll need longer than normal cables and hoses. The sewer was actually on the other side of our electric pole, closer to the other camper than to us. And our hose wasn't long enough to use it at all. The restroom was okay but only had one stall for a sizable park. Don't go at the last minute because you may have to wait. We also noticed some bad language graffiti, rough surfaces and bugs in there.
Dining: Food was okay with very slow service. Allow plenty of time, money and patience for your meal. That is more difficult if you travel with young persons.
The map and amenities list includes a playground but it is gone. That space is now a group site. Amenity land becomes money earning. And instead of spending time playing with your kids, you can pay money for tours, dinners, John Wayne movies, fuel, groceries....all going to the same establishment. Any business has the right to run this way, it just smells a bit more here in view of such an important monument to the Navajo Nation.
In the end, the view is great and your choices are limited. If you want stay here, you have to pay up and move along as soon as you can.