Monticello (Utah) - city in and county seat of San Juan County, Utah, United States

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 car

• from Moab and I-70: travel south on Highway 191; Monticello is one hour south of Moab
• 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 bus

• Salt Lake Express stops in Monticello on its route between Salt Lake City and Blanding.

By air

The Monticello Municipal Airport has limited facilities. Contact the city offices at 435-587-2271 for information.

Get around

See

• Canyon Country Discovery Center, 1117 N Main St, +1 435-587-2156, info@ccdiscovery.org. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. Adults - $10 Children (12 & Under) $6; Seniors (65+), Military, & Students $8 2021-05-25

Do

• Hideout Golf Course, 648 S Hideout Way, 37.8608°, -109.344°, +1 435-226-1292. 18-hole golf course designed by Forrest L. Richardson. It has a driving range, chipping and putting areas, a snack bar, and pro shop. Interestingly, it was built in 2001 as part of a reclamation project of a former uranium mine and mill, dismantled in the 1960s. 2021-05-25

Buy

Eat

• Lamplight Restaurant. Casual dining, reservations not reuired, accepts all kinds of cards. Great atmosphere.
• Roughlock RV Park & Steakhouse, +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

• Inn at the Canyons, 533 N Main St, +1 435-587-2458, info@monticellocanyonlandsinn.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Indoor pool, hot tub, and breakfast included. 2021-05-25
• Grist Mill Inn, 64 S 300 E, +1 435-587-2597. A 7-room bed and breakfast in a 1933 flour mill. No smoking or pets. 2021-05-25
• Westerner RV Park, 532 S Main St, +1 435-587-2762, westernerrvparkmonticello@gmail.com. 2021-05-25

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.