Planning a Road Trip to Navajo Nation? Read This First...
/With local governments easing lockdown restrictions, many Americans itching to get away are looking to travel domestically, with road trips being a socially-distant option that is safer than flying. But as COVID-19 continues to surge in counties and states across the country, travelers should carefully research case counts in their destinations and in the towns they must pass through while driving.
Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Canyon de Chelly usually top the list of a road-tripper’s itinerary in the Southwest, and all are located on Navajo land. Is it safe to travel to Navajo Nation? Navajo Nation has been hit the hardest by the coronavirus and has one of the highest infection rates in the country. Healthcare facilities are understaffed, underfunded, and have long been non-prioritized by government health services. The Navajo people are strong and resilient, but COVID is a devastating disease and the battle against it is ongoing.
Out of respect to the sovereign nation and to the people that protect these sacred lands, please do your research before attempting to travel, and consider the following:
How to Support Navajo Nation during COVID-19
Donate
Access to funds and resources is absolutely crucial at this time, and you can help Navajo Nation’s fight against the coronavirus with a direct donation. Consider donating money you would have spent visiting the monuments on their lands. As a tourism destination that is unable to welcome tourists due to the pandemic, your donation will help ease the strain caused by lost revenue.
The Navajo Nation COVID-19 Fund’s list of medical and community needs: https://www.nndoh.org/donate.html
The official Go Fund Me, coordinated by the Navajo Nation’s Health Command Center: https://www.gofundme.com/f/official-navajo-nation-covid19-relief-fund
Stay Informed
A quick way to check to check for updates is by visiting the Navajo Nation’s official website: https://www.navajo-nsn.gov/, or their coronavirus informational page: https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. Keep up to date on information regarding the status of lockdowns, curfews, and closures.
Another way to stay informed about travel and reopening information specifically is to subscribe to the email lists or check the websites of locally-owned hotels or tour agencies. Do so often and you will be the first to know when local businesses are ready to welcome travelers.
Support Local and Navajo-Owned
When it is safe to travel again to Navajo Nation, support hotels, restaurants, and businesses that are Navajo-owned. Doing so will make sure the money you spend while traveling will contribute directly to their local economy and benefit the Navajo community and families. Keep a ‘Navajo Nation Road Trip’ on your bucket list, and bookmark their businesses so you can support them as soon as it is safe to visit again.
Navajo-Owned Hotels: The View Monument Valley, Thunderbird Lodge, Quality Inn Navajo Nation
The Rez Rising app lists native-owned business by category: Click here for Navajo-Owned Tour Agencies
Do not travel if there is a possibility you have been exposed
If you are sick or there is even a possibility that you have been exposed to the coronavirus, please stay away until you are better and do not bring more COVID to the Navajo Nation and surrounding communities. Asymptomatic spread of the virus has proven to be very serious, and if you are planning on traveling at all, it would be common courtesy to get tested before as to not endanger yourself, anyone you are traveling with, or anyone you might come across.
Consider travel in the off season
If the pandemic continues throughout the summer and it happens to be deemed safe to visit during the off season (November-January), don’t let that deter you from planning your road trip at that time! The off-season is actually one of the best times to visit Navajo Nation destinations, as there are less crowds and the views can be purely magical when dusted with a layer of snow. You can also take advantage of lower hotel and car-rental rates during the off season.
Tip your guides!
When it is safe to travel to Navajo Nation and you are able to visit Monument Valley, Antelope Valley, Horseshoe Bend, or Canyon de Chelly, you will find that having a local guide to share their insight is an invaluable addition to your experience. Tipping your guide is a welcomed and appreciated gesture, and is sometimes a guide’s primary source of income. Common estimates of how much you should tip can depend on the total cost or duration of a tour, or if it was private guided tour. Be sure to come prepared for your visit with cash so you can thank your guide for sharing their land, their storytelling, and their insight.
The View of Monument Valley from ‘The View Hotel’, a Navajo-Owned Business on Tribal Lands
Are you planning to visit any of the destinations in Navajo Nation, or know of additional ways to support the Navajo people at this time? Leave a comment below:
