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Territory capital · United States

Window RockTségháhoodzání

Go for one night as the capital of the Navajo Nation: museum, zoo and the memorial park take half a day; add Canyon de Chelly or Hubbell for a second.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Window Rock is the administrative capital of the Navajo Nation, a town of about 3,000 people just west of the New Mexico line. It is small, but the tribal museum, the zoo and the sandstone window that names the town sit within a few minutes of each other, and it is the practical base for Canyon de Chelly, Hubbell Trading Post and the reservation's rug-weaving country. Most travellers reach it by car from Gallup, New Mexico.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (monsoon storms and heat), Dec–Feb (cold nights, some closures)
Airports
ABQ · FLG · GUP
Nights
1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Window Rock911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Window Rock, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeUS$3–6
  • Sit-down mealSit-down meal for twoBefore tax; tip 18–22%.US$30–60
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum and zoo entryDonations welcome.Free
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$140
  • Mid-range bedMotel or inn double room, a night, per roomUS$140
  • High-end bedMotel or inn double room, a night, per roomUS$220

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$120 · High US$220

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

The window rock and Navajo Nation Veterans MemorialNavajo Nation MuseumNavajo Nation Zoo and Botanical ParkCapital of the Navajo Nation
Airports
ABQ Albuquerque International Sunport (About a 2.5-hour drive east; the usual gateway with rental cars.) · FLG Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (Smaller; about a 3-hour drive west.) · GUP Gallup Municipal Airport (No scheduled airline service; Gallup itself is about 30 minutes east by road.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    11°C (52°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    15°C (59°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  5. May

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  6. Jun

    not flagged

    30°C (86°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    29°C (84°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    13°C (55°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

Best: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (31°C (88°F)), coolest Jan (−9°C (16°F) low), wettest Aug (8 rain days), driest Jun (2). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Window Rock: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C (46°F)

−9°C (16°F)

4 rd

Feb

11°C (52°F)

−7°C (19°F)

4 rd

Mar

15°C (59°F)

−4°C (25°F)

4 rd

Apr

19°C (66°F)

−1°C (30°F)

3 rd

May

24°C (75°F)

4°C (39°F)

3 rd

Jun

30°C (86°F)

9°C (48°F)

2 rd

Jul

31°C (88°F)

13°C (55°F)

7 rd

Aug

29°C (84°F)

12°C (54°F)

8 rd

Sep

26°C (79°F)

8°C (46°F)

5 rd

Oct

20°C (68°F)

1°C (34°F)

4 rd

Nov

13°C (55°F)

−5°C (23°F)

3 rd

Dec

8°C (46°F)

−9°C (16°F)

4 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town is about 5 square miles (14 sq km): walk the museum, zoo and memorial park cluster, or drive between them in a few minutes. Navajo Transit System runs buses on the reservation; a car is the practical choice for anything outside town.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Drive US-191 north to Ganado, about 1 h

A working trading post with rugs and jewellery; the NPS site is free to enter.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h

Drive US-191 north to Chinle, about 1 h 45 min

Rim drives are free; the canyon floor needs a Navajo guide. Better with a night in Chinle.

Gallup, New Mexico

go

Door to door: About 35 min

Drive Hwy 264 east to I-40, about 30 min

The nearest full-size town: motels, restaurants and the only legal alcohol nearby.

Petrified Forest National Park

caution

Door to door: About 2 h 30 min

Drive east to I-40 then west, about 2 h 15 min

A long return day; pair it with an overnight in Holbrook instead.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Window Rock and St. Michaels

The two inns and most services sit along Hwy 264 between the town centre and St. Michaels, 3–5 minutes apart by car.

Gallup, New Mexico

About 30 minutes east on I-40; far more rooms, restaurants and bars, and alcohol is legal there.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
US$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
US$110–180 excl. bed
High
US$180+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or inn double room1 × 1 night × US$140US$140
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$120US$240
Rental car, one day, compact1 × US$70 · checkUS$70
Fuel, 200 km of driving1 × US$25 · checkUS$25
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$51
Trip total≈ US$278 per person per day, bed includedUS$556

2026 estimate in US dollars; car hire and long drives excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeUS$3–6
Frybread from a standMost stands cluster near the downtown flea market.US$5–10
Green chile cheeseburgerUS$8–14
Sit-down meal for twoBefore tax; tip 18–22%.US$30–60
Grocery run for a day's foodUS$20–35
Museum and zoo entryDonations welcome.Free

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Window Rock is a small, quiet administrative town and violent crime is rare; the real issues are long empty drives, summer monsoon storms, patchy cell coverage and the alcohol ban on the reservation.
  • Alcohol is prohibited on the Navajo Nation: do not carry or drink it in Window Rock, and expect a search if you cross into the reservation with a cooler.
  • The reservation observes daylight saving time, unlike most of Arizona — clocks shift relative to Phoenix and Flagstaff in summer.
  • Cell coverage is patchy outside town; download maps and fuel up before long drives.
  • Some roads and trails on tribal land need a permit or a Navajo guide: check before you set off, especially at Canyon de Chelly.
  • Summer monsoon storms drop heavy rain fast and wash out dirt roads.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Navajo Nation Police (Window Rock dispatch)
928-871-6111
Poison control (US, 24 h)
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Window RockTségháhoodzání

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Díígi shíí yíghááhTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Navajo Nation Police (Window Rock)928-871-6111
  • Poison control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies here; national capitals and consulates sit in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Houston and Denver. US visitors: your own consulate is not needed, but keep ID on you.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Gallup → Window Rock by car: about 30 min, roughly 40 km (25 mi) (check)
  • Window Rock → Canyon de Chelly by car: about 1 h 45 min (check)
  • Albuquerque airport → Window Rock by car: about 2.5 h (check)

Say or show

  • Ahéheeʼ — Thank you (ah-HAY-heh)
  • Yáʼátʼééh — Hello (yah-ah-TEH)
  • Díkwíísh bąąh? — How much is it? (dih-KWEE-sh bah)
  • Háájígo chąąʼ bee nihwiiłtʼé? — Where is the restroom? (check pronunciation)

Alcohol is banned on the Navajo Nation. Photography of ceremonies and some sites is restricted: ask first.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Window Rock. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (monsoon storms and heat), Dec–Feb (cold nights, some closures) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for ABQ: drive times, rental desks, last fuel before the reservation.
  2. Walking cluster map for the museum, zoo and memorial park, with parking and shade.
  3. Place pages with verified hours for the Navajo Nation Museum, the zoo and the tribal park.
  4. Permit and guide rules for Canyon de Chelly and tribal-land drives, checked against NPS and Navajo Nation sources.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources

Ask about Window Rock

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