Mesa Verde National Park — Mile .7 Headquarters Loop Road
Mesa Verde National Park, CO Hours and Location

Mile .7 Headquarters Loop Road
Mesa Verde National Park, CO   81330Driving Directions
Phone: (970)529-4465(970)529-4465 Maps & Directions

https://www.nps.gov/meve/planyou...

National Park

Operating Hours & Seasons

Mesa Verde National Park Hours

Mesa Verde's main park road is open 24-hours a day, although activities and services within the park are primarily limited to daytime hours. Please note that lodging and camping is available from mid-April to mid-October. Please visit http://www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisit/hours.htm for more information.

Standard Hours

• Sunday:Open 24 hours
• Monday:Open 24 hours
• Tuesday:Open 24 hours
• Wednesday:Open 24 hours
• Thursday:Open 24 hours
• Friday:Open 24 hours
• Saturday:Open 24 hours

Fees & Passes

Entrance Fees:

• $20.00 - Mesa Verde Entrance Fee - Per Vehicle - Summer Season
  This is a per-vehicle entrance fee for the summer season (May 1 to October 31, 2017). It is valid for seven days from the day of purchase. Please note that we offer fee waivers for qualified education groups. Visit http://www.nps.gov/meve/learn/education/feewaiver_info.htm to learn more.
• $10.00 - Mesa Verde Entrance Fee - Per Person - Summer Season
  This is a per-person (bicyclist and individual) entrance fee for the summer season (May 1 to October 31, 2017). It is valid for seven days from the day of purchase. Please note that we offer fee waivers for qualified education groups. Visit http://www.nps.gov/meve/learn/education/feewaiver_info.htm to learn more.
• $15.00 - Mesa Verde Entrance Fee - Per Vehicle - Fall/Winter/Spring
  This is a per-vehicle entrance fee for fall/winter/spring (January 2 to April 30, 2017 and November 1 to December 31, 2017). It is valid for seven days from the day of purchase. Please note that we offer fee waivers for qualified education groups. Visit http://www.nps.gov/meve/learn/education/feewaiver_info.htm to learn more.
• $7.00 - Mesa Verde Entrance Fee - Per Person - Fall/Winter/Spring
  This is a per-person (bicyclist and individual) entrance fee for fall/winter/spring (January 2 to April 30, 2017 and November 1 to December 31, 2017). It is valid for seven days from the day of purchase. Please note that we offer fee waivers for qualified education groups. Visit http://www.nps.gov/meve/learn/education/feewaiver_info.htm to learn more.

Entrance Passes:

• $40.00 - Mesa Verde Annual Pass
  The annual pass provides entrance into Mesa Verde National Park for a year, beginning from the date of sale. It covers the entrance fee for the pass holder and anyone in his/her vehicle.

About

Preserving the “Works of Man”

Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from AD 600 to 1300. Today the park protects nearly 5,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States.

Directions

Mesa Verde National Park is in Southwestern Colorado. The park entrance is along Highway 160, between the towns of of Cortez and Mancos, Colorado. (10 miles east of Cortez; 9 miles west of Mancos; and about 35 miles west of Durango, Colorado.) Once you enter the park, the first view of a cliff dwelling is 21 miles (approximately 45 minutes) along a steep, narrow, and winding road.

Visitor Centers

Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center

Located at the park entrance, off Highway 160, this facility serves as the park’s primary facility for orienting visitors to opportunities within the park and surrounding area. Be sure to make the visitor center your first stop if you wish to visit Cliff Palace, Balcony House, or Long House to purchase tour tickets (offered seasonally). Exhibits offer glimpses into the richness of Ancestral Puebloan culture and daily life.

Weather

Spring: Temps range from 40 F to 70 F, but snowstorms can occur as late as May. Summer: Temps can reach well into the 90s F. Thunderstorms are common in July and August. Be prepared to bring and DRINK plenty of water. Fall: Temps can range from 50 F to 75 F. Snowstorms can occur as early as October. Winter: Temps can range from the teens to low 30s F. Icy roads are common. Snow tires, all-wheel drive, or chains, may be required. Be prepared with water, snacks, and layers of warm clothing.

Permits and Reservations Information