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National Park

Mesa Verde National Park

  • Southwest
  • 9 hikes
  • 14 places to see
  • 2 current alerts

Plan a Mesa Verde trip Where to stay

Current alerts

  • Notice

    Road Construction

    Road work will begin on the first four miles of the Main Park Road during the week of September 20 - 26. Expect delays up to 15 minutes. Far View Sites and Cedar Tree Tower are closed for road improvements.

  • Notice

    Limited Drinking Water Filling

    Limited drinking water filling is available during the winter season. Bring enough water with you for your visit.

From the National Park Service, as of October 28, 2026, 5:14 pm. Check nps.gov before you go.

Latest news

About Mesa Verde

For over 700 years, the Ancestral Pueblo people built thriving communities on the mesas and in the cliffs of Mesa Verde. Today, the park protects the rich cultural heritage of 27 Pueblos and Tribes and offers visitors a spectacular window into the past. This World Heritage Site and International Dark Sky Park is home to over a thousand species, including several that live nowhere else on earth.

From the National Park Service.

Region
Southwest
State
Colorado
Designation
National Park
Entrance fee
$30, private vehicle
Hikes on this page
9
Places to see
14
Articles
2

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Mesa Verde.

Entrance fees

  • $30 Private Vehicle Valid for 7 days.
  • $20 Private Vehicle
  • $25 Motorcycle
  • $15 Per Person
  • $15 Per Person

Passes

  • $55 Annual Entrance - Park

Hours

Mesa Verde National Park Hours

Open 24 hours a day, every day.

The park is open daily except for emergency conditions. The Visitor & Research Center and Mesa Verde Museum are open all year but closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. Ancestral sites, picnic areas, and trails are open 8 am to sunset. Some park areas including Wetherill Mesa, campground, and other visitor services are closed during winter. Cliff dwelling tours are mid-May through late October. Reservations are required and available 14 days in advance of tour date online at www.recreation.gov.

Weather and when to go

SPRING: This season offers a range of weather including clear skies, wind, rain, cloudy days and temperatures from 40–70°F (4–21° C). Snow may fall into May. SUMMER: Most days are sunny and temperatures can reach above 90°F (32°C) . Thunderstorms are common in July and August. FALL: Temperatures range from 50–75°F (10–24°C). Snow may fall as early as October. WINTER: Temps range from the teens to low 30s F (below -1°C) . Icy roads are common. Snow tires, all-wheel drive, or chains may be required.

Getting there

Mesa Verde National Park is in Southwest Colorado. The park entrance and the Visitor and Research Center are located ten miles east of Cortez, nine miles west of Mancos, and about 35 miles west of Durango, Colorado along Hwy 160. Mesa top ancestral sites, Cliff dwellings, tours, and the Mesa Verde Museum are 20 to 21 miles (approximately 45 minutes) south along the park road which which is steep, narrow, and winding.

Gateway towns
Cortez, CO · Mancos, CO
Nearest airports
Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) · Montezuma County Airport (CEZ)

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address
34840 Hwy 160, Mancos, CO 81328
Official site
nps.gov/meve

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Mesa Verde

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

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Where to stay for Mesa Verde

The gateway towns, closest first. Add your dates in the planner to search for your own nights.

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Things to do in Mesa Verde

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

  • Visit Mesa Verde's Historic Administrative District

    Self-Guided Tours - Walking · about 45 min

    Take a walk amid the early park structures that comprise the Historic Administrative District of Mesa Verde National Park. Established in 1987 the historic district comprises stru…

  • Explore the Mesa Top Loop Road

    Self-Guided Tours - Auto · about 50 min

    The 6-mile (10 km) Mesa Top Loop takes you through 700 years of Ancestral Pueblo history. From remains of early pithouses and masonry villages to multi-storied cliff dwellings, th…

Trails

Places to see

Viewpoints

Visitor centers & lodging

Campgrounds in Mesa Verde

Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.

  • Morefield Campground

    267 reservable sites · 267 first-come sites

    Morefield Campground is four miles from the park entrance. The 267 campsites are situated within a high-elevation, grassy canyon filled with Gambel oak, native…

Reading about Mesa Verde

All 2 articles

What to pack for Mesa Verde

Gear & Essentials

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The basics

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