Getting your car towed would be a lot more expensive than booking a guided tour. It's a dirt road, which means it can be in any type of shape. The road when you arrive will be different than it is right now due to usage, rain, snow, when the last time it was graded, etc.

A Toyota Corolla is low to the ground making it easier to become high centered. The suspension and axle systems are not built to handle significant variations in elevations. It's not 4WD making it easier to become stuck in deep sand. Not saying that any of these things will happen, just that it's possible to have problems.

I've driven through a couple of times in a sedan and one time I made the entire loop and another time I had to retreat because the conditions were not reasonable to proceed. And it was nerve-racking because I almost got stuck.

And yes rental cars are not permitted to drive off road. It will break the rental agreement and waive all liability protections. You'll be on the hook for damages. Read the rental agreement and find clauses about going on unpaved roads. It will be fairly clear.

You don't want to take a rental car on that road. Most rental car contracts prohibit driving a rental car on anything other than improved maintain roads. The road hasn't changed much from six years ago.

Taking a tour is MUCH better than driving yourself, regardless of whether or not your car can make it. The tour guides add so much to the trip and take you further into the back country than you would be able to drive yourself. Our tours were terrific. Perhaps even more important, you support the local economy. I highly recommend taking a tour.

The condition of the road can change, but personally I wouldn't feel comfortable driving a sedan on the road - most of the road is okay, but there were some iffy spots.

I went approximately 6 years ago on the self-driving tour, and agree with others, the road back then was horrible -- filled with potholes, rutted, dips, etc...

I drove a SUV, and couldn't imagine a sedan navigating well on that unpaved, dirt road.

Then early last year (2022), I saw here on TripAdvisor others posted that the road was "better" and they had no problem/issue driving.

If you go back and look at older messages/posts around early 2022 (or maybe late 2021) -- if I remember correctly, there should be others who share their experience.

Anyhow, I went last spring, but this time, in a lowered car, and like others said, the road was much better.

As someone else mentioned, the most challenging part was going up the dirt road during the incline.

I don't know if the road has degraded since then, but overall, I think most sedans can safely navigate on the dirt, unpaved gravel road. YMMV.

hello

just a quick update. monument valley in the winter was spectacular with stunning beauty and no crowds.

we did do the valley loop drive with a small sedan and there was snow on the ground as well as mud from melting snow. there were a few spot that were a little tricky with the muddy snow but otherwise we had no problems. the lady at the gate where you pay your admission which was 8 dollars per person told us that a few days before we arrived they were only allowing 4 wheel drive vehicles on the road due to the snow/ice. they had just recently opened the road to all cars and other vehicles.

if you want a relaxing cruise through the valley loop and you can afford a tour and have the time that would be my recommendation. due to our time frame we just did not have the chance to set up a tour so we did it our on own. there were other sedan on the road as well.

tip: stay at the view hotel if you can. fantastic views all day and night and especially for the sunrise-totally amazing. you will not regret it.

also if you have the time do the wildcat trail -terrific views of the mittens and you really get a feel for the valley and all its beauty.

thanks for all your help!

Thanks desslock for the up to date report.

I'm going in October this year. I will be driving across country and will be in a VW beetle. Would I be able to drive on the loop road?

Probably not enough ground clearance with a VW Beetle.