Mesa Verde is most famous for the ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. Although there are other cliff dwellings in the southwest, there are few as well preserved and as concentrated as those in Mesa Verde.
Centered on two connect mesas (plateaus), you can see several dwellings across narrow ravines and climb down ladders and steep steps to walk through several of them.
This is a fascinating glimpse into the native American history of the United States. There are also several hikes you can so and a fascinating museum to visit.
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Mesa Verde National Park at a Glance
⭐ State: Colorado
⭐ Main attractions: Ancient cliff dwellings
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Mesa Verde National Park Travel Guide
Planning a trip to Mesa Verde National Park can be overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be. Mesa Verde National Park guide for all your trip planning. Click on the links below to go to detailed guides and answers to your questions.
How to Plan a Trip to Mesa Verde National Park
Between navigating drive times and booking cliff dwelling tours, planning a trip to Mesa Verde can be challenging. Here’s all you need to know:
Here are my top tips for visiting Mesa Verde National Park.
This guide will help you with what you should AVOID doing when you plan a trip to Mesa Verde National Park.
Entrance Fee for Mesa Verde National Park
There is an entrance fee for the park. Find the latest fees on the NPS website.
To avoid long lines and save money, if you are planning to visit more than just Mesa Verde this year, it can be great value to purchase an America The Beautiful pass.
The one-year pass includes standard entrance at all sites managed by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Army Corps of Engineers. The pass covers the entrance fee for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle or up to 4 adults at sites that charge per person.
Get an America The Beautiful pass here
There are other types of passes available for seniors, veterans, etc.
Read More: NATIONAL PARKS PASSES
Mesa Verde National Park Visitor Centers
There is one Visitor Center and museum.
ℹ️ The Mesa Verde Visitor & Research Center is just inside the park entrance at the bottom of the mesa. It’s open year-round, but is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
ℹ️ The Mesa Verde Museum is located at the top of the Chapin Mesa at milepost 20. It has exhibits and cultural objects that provide insight into the Ancestral Pueblo way of life. It’s open year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day but has hours that change each season.
Best Tours In and Around Mesa Verde National Park
🎧 Get a self-guided audio tour of Mesa Verde National Park
Things to Do in Mesa Verde National Park
There are a surprising number of things to do in and near Mesa Verde National Park.
Read More: BEST THINGS TO DO IN (AND NEAR) MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
There main attraction in the park is, of course, the cliff dwellings.
Read More: HOW TO VISIT THE MESA VERDE CLIFF DWELLINGS
Hikes in Mesa Verde National Park
There are some really great hikes, ranging from very easy to challenging, on the mesa and below the tabletop.
Read More: THE BEST HIKES IN MESA VERDE
Where to Stay In and Near Mesa Verde National Park
🛏️ There is one lodge inside the park. Far View Lodge is at the top of Chapin Mesa and has lovely views south over Mesa Verde into Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. It’s usually open from spring to fall.
⛺ There is also one campground inside the national park. Morefield Campground is at the bottom of the mesa, not far from the Visitor Center.
Other accommodations are available in Cortez, Mancos and Durango.
If you’d prefer to stay in a house, cabin or apartment, my guide to the best vacation rentals in nearby Durango has some top pick suggestions.
Read More: BEST VACATION RENTALS NEAR MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
➡️ Find a hotel in Cortez on Expedia.
➡️ Find a vacation rental in or near Cortez on VRBO.
➡️ Find a hotel in Mancos on Expedia.
➡️ Find a vacation rental in or near Mancos on VRBO.
➡️ Find a hotel in Durango on Expedia.
➡️ Find a vacation rental in or near Durango on VRBO.
How to Get to Mesa Verde National Park
The most common ways to get to Mesa Verde National Park are to drive or fly to a nearby airport and pick up a rental car there.
Read More: HOW TO GET TO MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
✈️ If you’re looking for a flight, find a good deal on Skyscanner
The Best Airports for Mesa Verde National Park
This is the closest airport to Mesa Verde National Park.
Read More: CLOSEST AIRPORT TO MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
See all the airports near Mesa Verde National Park with the pros and cons of each of them.
Read More: THE AIRPORTS NEAR MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
✈️ If you’re looking for flights, use Skyscanner to scan the Internet for the cheapest deals.
How to Get Around Mesa Verde National Park
Unless you take a tour, you’ll need your own vehicle to get around Mesa Verde National Park. The national park actually has two mesas. You first drive up to the top of the main Chapin Mesa and then if you want to visit the less-visited Wetherill Mesa, you need to drive down and then up again.
The roads to the mesa tops are narrow and winding and are not suitable for RVs or trailers If you have a trailer, you need to unhitch and leave it in a special parking area at the bottom of the mesa (after the Visitor Center).
Factor in the drive times from the park entrance at the bottom of the mesa to the cliff dwellings at the top of the mesa so you aren’t late for your tour(s).
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
When to Visit Mesa Verde National Park
The park is open all year, but the cliff dwelling are now. You can see several of them from overlooks, but if you want to take a tour through them, you’ll need to visit in the warmer months.
Read the quick summary of the best times to visit Mesa Verde National Park so you can make the right decision.
Read More: BEST TIME TO VISIT MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
Read detailed information on every season, so you can make the most informed decision for your own trip.
Read More: VISITING MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
How Long to Spend in Mesa Verde National Park
How many days you should spend in Mesa Verde depends on a number factors including how much time you have available, your budget, and your interests. In one day, you can see one or two cliff dwellings and the museum. However, I recommend adding an extra day or two to visit more dwellings if you can get tickets and to visit Wetherill mesa as well.
Travel Insurance for Mesa Verde National Park
A Mesa Verde National Park visitor guide wouldn’t be complete without travel insurance. Protect yourself against trip cancellation, loss or theft of your property or any medical emergencies.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can choose the best travel insurance plan for your trip here or get a quote right now:
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About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Newsweek, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.