Kayenta's position in the Navajo Nation puts several remarkable destinations within reach.
Navajo National Monument is 30 miles southwest on US-160, then north on AZ-564. The monument protects Betatakin and Keet Seel, two of the largest and best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings in the Southwest. Betatakin can be seen from the rim on a ranger-led tour; Keet Seel requires an 8-mile hike and an advance permit, but rewards the effort with an atmosphere of extraordinary solitude.
Monument Valley's northern sector across the Utah border can be explored by continuing north on US-163 beyond the park entrance. The view of the Mittens from the roadside pullout just north of the Arizona-Utah line is one of the most famous in America — and it's free.
Four Corners Monument is about 75 miles east on US-160 and US-491. The only point in the United States where four states meet (Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico) is administered by the Navajo Nation. It's a bit of a tourist cliché, but the drive through the Lukachukai Mountains and the Carrizo plateau is superb.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument, roughly 90 miles southeast near Chinle, contains ancient ruins tucked into soaring red sandstone canyons. You can walk to the White House Ruin overlook independently; all other access is with a Navajo guide.