Introduction:
This is a super expensive (in our view: overpriced) campground in a convenient location for visiting Monument Valley
Click here to read about our criteria for campground reviews.
The Basics:
Overall Rating: 3.6/5
Price per night / Discounts: $61 / None
Campground website: Goulding's RV Park and Campground
Our Site #: FHU
Privacy Rating (how spacious and private do the sites feel):
2/5: This is a typical parking lot campground where sites are right next to one another. There was at least some space and a couple trees, but if you're sitting outside in the evening, you'll be staring at your neighbor's rig. There are some nice views of Monument Valley from the end of the campground where the tents sites are located, but as far as the RV sites themselves, there is nothing particularly special about them.
Location Rating (accessibility to points of interest or to major highways):
5/5: If you are visiting Monument Valley, this is the best game in town. Really, it's the only full hook-up game in town. There's a dry campground in the Monument Valley park itself, which is even closer to where you want to be, but it costs $45 per night for no hook-ups. At that rate, you may as well pay $15 more and get full hook-ups, especially given how hot it can be in Monument Valley. The location is absolutely fantastic if you're visiting the park.
Site Quality and Big Rig Accessibility Rating (utilities and accessibility of campground hook ups):
2.5/5: Our sight was "lumpy" and uneven. We were able to get level without risers, but only because we parked at a weird angle. Given what they're charging, the sites should be a lot more level. They also need to trim some of the trees in the sites back as some of them were a bit long. The interior roads were fine. Not the widest, but certainly do-able.
Technology and Customer Service Rating (online resources, reservations, and staff):
3.5/5: I was able to make our reservation online which was nice and the folks we dealt with were friendly enough. I will say we booked a tour of Monument Valley through them and we did NOT think it was worth what we paid. Our tour guide was friendly, but he couldn't answer people's basic questions (ie: "How exactly were these monuments formed?") and he just seemed like he was phoning it in. He said he's been doing this for 15 years, and it kinda seemed like it - except the part where he wasn't able to answer very basic questions. In any case, for $75 per person, we expected a lot more and we overheard other private company tours in the same areas and those guides seemed much more engaging and knowledgeable.
Internet Availability Rating (Verizon coverage or campground wifi):
5/5: Wifi was actually quite reliable and fast here which was a nice perk.
Summary:
Overall, we were disappointed with this place because it is just so outrageously expensive and there is nothing to justify that cost. While it is certainly convenient to the monuments, if you're willing to drive a bit up the road, you can find a perfectly equivalent park for half the price. $61 per night for an unlevel parking lot space is just ridiculous. And this cost issue was made even worse when we felt we got a less than informative tour for $75 per person (plus tip). We could have gone with a private company and probably had a much better experience for less money. I don't think any of the RV options in this area are worth what they're charging. If we were to do it again, we would just stay in a place like Bluff or Mexican Hat and drive down for the day. That's really all you need anyway.
