We will be in the Canyon de Chelly area in mid-August 2017 and would like to stop for a 1-2 night visit.It appears the Cottonwood Campground at the Monument is the best (and almost only) option for overnight accommodations near the monument. I know it will be hot, will be traveling in a 36' motorhome with a generator which we can use during the day if needed. Reviews of the campground on the internet are mixed, with some people stating they didn't feel safe at the monument. If we use common sense and take reasonable precautions, as we should always do when traveling, should we feel uncomfortable staying here for a couple nights?Also, I have a list of the guided tour operators, can anyone make a recommendation for a specific one they enjoyed?Thank you for any info provided.

It is not a place that we would stay!

punkin' wrote:We will be in the Canyon de Chelly area in mid-August 2017 and would like to stop for a 1-2 night visit.It appears the Cottonwood Campground at the Monument is the best (and almost only) option for overnight accommodations near the monument. I know it will be hot, will be traveling in a 36' motorhome with a generator which we can use during the day if needed. ....>>>>.... Heat would be my only worry -Reviews of the campground on the internet are mixed, with some people stating they didn't feel safe at the monument. ....>>>>.... I would be interested as to why they did not feel safe? If we use common sense and take reasonable precautions, as we should always do when traveling, should we feel uncomfortable staying here for a couple nights?....>>>>.... I can't speak for you but we go out of our way to visit - for me it feels Spiritual, I love the place and the people.Also, I have a list of the guided tour operators, can anyone make a recommendation for a specific one they enjoyed?I can't recommend anyone by name but last april my brother did a coast to coast trip and that was his favorite stop, and he love the guided tour and all the additional info he gained from taking it.Thank you for any info provided.Comments about safety are generally because the place is not up to some standard,- you are just around the corner from the Motel Rooms and the Site Resturant. Enjoy your trip and be sure to report back as to how you found it to be.We have enjoyed it - I have recommended it often - no one that I have spoken to personally has ever had an issue with it - it is a special place.Best of Luck,Bing Map

IDman wrote:It is not a place that we would stay!Have you been?

will you have a toad? will you be taking that motorhome around to all of the various overlooks? I think most of them will accommodate the MH but check google world before you try it.If you have/use a toad the parking lots at the overlooks can be quite a walk from the actual overlook. If you pull into a lot and there is an old rusty beat up pickup sitting there you may want to leave one person in the toad/rv while the other one goes down to the overlook. when I got back to my car there was paint chipped off the door pillar where somebody had tried to break in to it with a slim jim. don't know about security for the motorhome.yes, been there, done that.bumpy

Bumpyroad wrote:will you have a toad? will you be taking that motorhome around to all of the various overlooks? I think most of them will accommodate the MH but check google world before you try it.If you have/use a toad the parking lots at the overlooks can be quite a walk from the actual overlook. If you pull into a lot and there is an old rusty beat up pickup sitting there you may want to leave one person in the toad/rv while the other one goes down to the overlook. when I got back to my car there was paint chipped off the door pillar where somebody had tried to break in to it with a slim jim. don't know about security for the motorhome.yes, been there, done that.bumpyBumpy,We had a different experience, we went over to the car to talk with the older woman there and were able to buy all our Christmas gifts.The people/locals/owners of the land the National Monument sits on, will often sit in the parking lot selling their artwork and jewelry. While we were there not only were we able to Buy, and at great prices, great items we actually had a few pieces made while we were driving around the Monument.Sorry to hear you did not have a good experience, as we have never had anything but Good Memories of the visit, as I think it is just a special place.JMHO,

Canyon de Chelly camping | Good Sam Community

Bumpyroad
Explorer
Apr 21, 2017
will you have a toad? will you be taking that motorhome around to all of the various overlooks? I think most of them will accommodate the MH but check google world before you try it.
If you have/use a toad the parking lots at the overlooks can be quite a walk from the actual overlook. If you pull into a lot and there is an old rusty beat up pickup sitting there you may want to leave one person in the toad/rv while the other one goes down to the overlook. when I got back to my car there was paint chipped off the door pillar where somebody had tried to break in to it with a slim jim. don't know about security for the motorhome.
yes, been there, done that.
bumpy
Busskipper
Explorer
Apr 21, 2017
IDman wrote:
It is not a place that we would stay!

Have you been?
Busskipper
Explorer
Apr 21, 2017
punkin' wrote:

We will be in the Canyon de Chelly area in mid-August 2017 and would like to stop for a 1-2 night visit.

It appears the Cottonwood Campground at the Monument is the best (and almost only) option for overnight accommodations near the monument.

I know it will be hot, will be traveling in a 36' motorhome with a generator which we can use during the day if needed.

....>>>>.... Heat would be my only worry -

Reviews of the campground on the internet are mixed, with some people stating they didn't feel safe at the monument.

....>>>>.... I would be interested as to why they did not feel safe?

If we use common sense and take reasonable precautions, as we should always do when traveling, should we feel uncomfortable staying here for a couple nights?

....>>>>.... I can't speak for you but we go out of our way to visit - for me it feels Spiritual, I love the place and the people.

Also, I have a list of the guided tour operators, can anyone make a recommendation for a specific one they enjoyed?

I can't recommend anyone by name but last april my brother did a coast to coast trip and that was his favorite stop, and he love the guided tour and all the additional info he gained from taking it.

Thank you for any info provided.

Comments about safety are generally because the place is not up to some standard,- you are just around the corner from the Motel Rooms and the Site Resturant.

Enjoy your trip and be sure to report back as to how you found it to be.

We have enjoyed it - I have recommended it often - no one that I have spoken to personally has ever had an issue with it - it is a special place.

Best of Luck,

Bing Map
IDman
Explorer
Apr 21, 2017
It is not a place that we would stay!

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