Location: Tuba City
Top Things to do in Tuba City
Top Restaurants in Tuba City
The 6 Best Things to do in Tuba City, Arizona (AZ)
Tuba City (Navajo: Tó Naneesdizí) is an unincorporated town in Coconino County, Arizona, on Navajo lands, in the United States. It is the second-largest community in Coconino County. The population of the census-designated place (CDP) was 8,611 at the 2010 census. It is the Navajo Nation's largest community, slightly larger than Shiprock, New Mexico, and the headquarters of the Western Navajo Agency. The Hopi town of Moenkopi lies directly to its southeast.
Restaurants in Tuba City
1. Experience Hopi Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10 reviews
Visit the Hopi mesas and experience one of North America's oldest yet vibrant Native American cultures. Your experience Hopi Guide will share the heritage of the Hopi as you travel in comfort across the mesas. Tours leave daily from the lobby of the Moenkopi Legacy Inn & Suites located at the western gateway to Hopi, adjacent to the community of Tuba City,AZ.
2. Coal Mine Canyon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 136 reviews
Reviewed By norman28 - Stockton-on-Tees, United Kingdom
We have visited the Grand Canyon and a few days ago visited the Painted Desert which we thought was magnificent but this Canyon beat the lot. It is a little more expensive than some at $12 per person ( not per car) and you have to go to Cameron Visitor Centre to buy your permit (located right beside the roundabout at Cameron) but trust me it is worth it. From Tuba City take the 264 and about 300 yards past the 337 marker take a left turn up the dirt road towards the windmill. At the windmill bear left past all the cattle, which look scary, but are quite docile and continue another 50 yards or so towards the picnic tables. You will not see the Canyon until you are almost right up to it. This road is suitable to all vehicles as long as you drive nice and slow and is only about 500 yards long anyway. There are a number of concrete tables each with a barbecue so take your lunch and soak up the magnificent views. You need to walk around the rim, short distances, to see all the aspects of the canyon....it is truly breathtaking and changes colour as the sun moves from cloud to cloud. In my opinion this is a must visit place as there cannot be many places on earth that can match it. Final tip especially for the ladies, wear solid shoes, trainers or similar as the ground is covered in small prickly plants. Very low and no problem if you wear shoes to protect your feet.
3. Dinosaur Tracks
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 456 reviews
These are dinosaur tracks on the side of the highway on the Navajo Nation.
Reviewed By laurenc0486
This place was out of this world! We absolutely loved our guide Alvin. He was very informative. We couldn’t believe some of the dinosaur tracks we saw! One of the best experiences in our road trip across America!
4. Explore Navajo Interactive Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 112 reviews
Reviewed By 805williamm - Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Very easy to find, the location is well sign posted as you drive along Main Street, Tuba City. The Parking area is located behind the museum, it is quite small and is shared between the museum and other businesses, so parking can be difficult at times. As you enter the museum area from the parking area the Main Entrance to the Navajo Code talkers is on the Left-hand side of the walkway. The Main Entrance to the Navajo Interactive Museum is a little further along the walkway on the Right-hand side. We recommend that you look at the Navajo Interactive Museum first. We received a really great welcome from two Members of the Navajo Nation as we entered the museum. There is a 10 Minute video presentation which explains the Navajo Creation Story, we found it to be very interesting. As you step into the museum there is a Female Hogan (Navajo Dwelling) directly in front of you. This is well worth exploring, especially if you are interested in the way these dwellings were constructed. The construction is very substantial and would withstand all weather conditions for many years, and the roof is a serious work of art. These Hogan’s were definitely built to last. There are two types of Hogan, Male & Female, The Male Hogan is used for Ceremonies and Private Meetings, whereas the Female Hogan tends to be larger and is the Home to the Family. The Museum is divided into 4 Quadrants, You enter in the East Quadrant and move Clockwise through, South, West, And North. Each Quadrant explains a different subject. Land ~ Language ~ History ~ Culture, including the different ceremonies associated with each one, and other ceremonies in the life of the Navajo Nation. A Navajo guide is available should you want one, and will explain anything you don’t understand, sometimes at great length. The more you show an interest in their Nation and ask questions the more they are willing to explain to you. There is a lot of history and information here for those who want to learn about the Navajo Nation, or for those who are just mildly interested. You may hear the word “Din’e” used instead of Navajo. Din’e is the correct name for the Navajo People & The Navajo Nation. The word comes from their own language and literally means ‘The People’. The word Navajo actually comes from an ancient Puebloan language, it is pronounced ‘Nava Hu’ and means ‘The place of large planted fields’. It was used by the Spanish who called them “The Apaches of the Navajo”. In the museum you will notice there is very little written material, this is because the Navajo do not record things by writing them down. Everything is passed from person to person, and generation to generation by the spoken word, often in the form of stories. The children (From a very early age) are taught these stories, they have to commit them to memory, and repeat them, time after time, until they are perfect (Not a modern version, only the original version is allowed). Only then can they pass on the stories to their children, and so history is never forgotten. There are a lot of Artefacts, Native Crafts, Navajo Rugs (Which can be very expensive),Gifts, Souvenirs Etc. There are also some ‘Sample Kits’ to allow you to try your hand at Basket & Rug making. Having bought some of these ourselves, we found them to be interesting and from making them, we learned a lot, especially patience. We were there in September 2019, the museum was open 09:00 Hrs ~ 17:00 Hrs Monday to Friday. It is closed Saturday & Sunday, but I would check online for the opening times when you intend to visit.
5. Navajo Code Talkers Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By 805williamm - Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
This Museum is quite small, but we found it to be very interesting. The parking area is quite small, it is shared with the Navajo Interactive Museum and others, so parking may be difficult at times. The Main door to the Code Talkers Museum is on the Left as you enter the Museum Area from the parking area. We were told that sometimes the Main Door to this museum is closed. If the door is closed follow the walkway through the Museum area to the side walk and turn left, enter the Tuba Trading Post and the rear entrance to the Code Talkers Museum is at the back of the store on the Left-hand side. There does not seem to be a lot in this museum, but what is here is very good. There are uniforms & weapons used by both The Code Talkers & by the Japanese. There is also a lot of equipment that was used by the Code Talkers in Battle during WWII, and information boards on most of the equipment explaining what it is and what it was used for. There are some actual messages from WWII and their transcripts and some photographs which considering their age are in very good condition. I am unsure of the actual opening times of this museum, there was a notice on the main door which said, “If this door is locked, we are closed”. I would check online before you visit, or at least check the opening times of the Tuba Trading Post. There are no restrooms in either the Code Talkers Museum, Navajo Interactive Museum or the Tuba Trading Post. The nearest restrooms are located in the Quality Inn near the Tuba Trading Post. From the Trading Post, turn left and walk past the Hogan, the Quality Inn is in front of you. Both the museums and the trading post have an agreement with the Quality Inn to allow visitors to use their restrooms. This museum may be small, but the contribution that these men made during WWII is immeasurable. Give thanks to those who defend democracy, for they bear the gift of liberty and pay the price of freedom.
6. Tuba City Trading Post
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 60 reviews
Reviewed By carriepTX671
What a great place to buy souvenirs if the local open air market is closed! There is a wide variety of cultural items to remind you of the rich heritage of the Navajo people. This trading post also houses the Navajo Code Talkers Museum. Either before or after shopping, this exhibit is a must see for any traveler. It describes the important role in World War II that the Navajo men played as well as listing the name of each individual who contributed. Don’t let this piece of history go untouched.
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