Mesa Verde National Park Travel Guide
Mesa Verde was the first national park intended to “preserve the works of man,” in the words of Theodore Roosevelt. To this day, it’s the only park designated as a cultural park. Established in 1906, Mesa Verde offers visitors a rare chance to step inside some of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in the United States. These mesas were home to the Ancestral Pueblo people for over 700 years. For the first six centuries, people lived on top of the mesas. In the last 100 years, they built and lived in the cliff dwellings you can see today. No one knows why the Ancestral Pueblo abandoned these dwellings around 1300 AD.
Mesa Verde offers natural beauty, too. It’s an International Dark Sky Park and home to over a thousand species, including some that live nowhere else on earth.
Top tips
You only need one day to see Mesa Verde National Park, unless you want to take multiple tours or hike several trails. The park is divided into two sections: Chapin Mesa and Wetherill Mesa. Chapin Mesa is the most popular half of the park, while Wetherill Mesa is quieter.
If you only have half a day, take a guided tour of Cliff Palace or Balcony House (more on the cliff dwelling tours below) and drive along Mesa Top Loop, stopping at the viewpoints along the way.
If you have a full day, add a visit to the Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum, hike one of the park’s several trails, or explore Wetherill Mesa.
- Buy tour tickets at the Visitor Center, or online ahead of your visit. We recommend booking a cliff dwelling tour ahead of time, as they do sell out. You can book as far ahead as 14 days before your visit.
- Arrive with a full tank of gas. Mesa Verde is in a remote area, and the loop roads require a few hours of driving if you want to see it all.
- There is RV parking at the cliff dwelling sites for those that travel in a Class B & C without a tow vehicle. If you’re just passing through (and have a towable RV), there is a lot just before the park entrance to detach and visit the park.
- Some park roads limit vehicle size to 25 feet and 8000 pounds, so plan to leave big rigs outside the park.
- Bring binoculars to get a closer look at the more distant dwellings.
- Bring snacks, sunscreen, and plenty of water. There is also a restaurant and gift shop on site. Mesa Verde gets very hot and has little shade, so plan for a full day in the sun.
- Watch out for signs of altitude sickness. It may feel like you’re in the desert, but Mesa Verde sits at an elevation of 7,000 to 8,500 feet.
- Bonus tip: keep an eye out for the free-roaming horses that can be spotted in the park!\
Where to stay in the park
Morefield Campground is the only campground inside Mesa Verde National Park. Full services are available April 28-October 12, with limited services (dry camping) available April 14-27 and October 13-26, 2022. The campground is not open year-round.
Morefield Campground is located just 4.5 miles from the park entrance and provides 282 campsites, including both full hookup and dry camping options. But only 15 full hookup sites are available, so book early if you don’t enjoy dry camping. Water, a bathhouse with showers, and a dump station are available onsite for those who dry camp. The campground is also near a full-service village with easy accessibility to bus tours, hiking trails, a gift shop, and a grocery/camp store.
Book here: https://www.visitmesaverde.com/lodging-camping/morefield-campground/
Where to stay outside the park
The Views RV Park & Campground
Cortez (about a 15-minute drive):
- La Mesa RV Park: https://lamesarvpark.com/
- Sundance RV Park: https://sundancervpark.com/
- Cortez RV Resort: https://rjourney.com/locations/co/cortez/cortez-rv-resort-llc/
- Country Road 34 BLM: https://www.campendium.com/county-road-34
Durango (about a 45-minute drive):
- La Plata County Fairgrounds: https://www.co.laplata.co.us/services/fairgrounds/index.php
- United Campground of Durango: https://www.durangorv.com/
- Oasis RV Resort: https://www.myrvoasis.com/durango
- Junction Creek Campground (rough washboard road): https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234475
Harvest Hosts/Boondockers Welcome:
- Yellow Car Country Wines
- The Turner Ranch
- Mcinne’s Place
- Mancos Brewing Company
Things to do
- Go at your own pace: Self-guided tours are available of Spruce Tree House, Far View Sites, and the Cliff Palace and Mesa Top Loop Roads. An audio tour is available as a podcast or as a download.
- Take a guided tour: Half-day guided tours of Mesa Verde depart daily from Far View Lodge or Far View Terrace. These bus tours are led by National Park Service rangers. The “700 Years” tour includes some short hikes to archaeological sites along the Mesa Loop Road and a walking tour of Cliff Palace.
- Explore the cliff dwellings: Guided walking tours are offered May-October. Tickets are required and are available online 14 days before the tour date. You must download or print your ticket before the tour; note that cell service in the park is very limited, so don’t rely on pulling up your email!
-
- Cliff Palace: The largest cliff dwelling in North America. This tour is rated moderate: a 60-minute tour covering .25 miles
- Long House: The second-largest cliff dwelling in the park and on the quieter side. The tour is rated difficult: a 120-minute tour covering 2.25 miles
- Balcony House: One of the more adventurous tours in the park, and not for the faint of heart! The tour is rated strenuous: a 90-minute tour including a 32-foot ladder, a 12-foot crawl through an 18-inch wide tunnel, and a climb up a 60-foot open cliff face with uneven stone steps and two 17-foot ladders.
- Take a hike: Mesa Verde offers nearly 30 miles of hiking trails. The park is an ancestral home sacred to 26 tribes, so be sure to stay on trails and leave the land as you find it. Pets are not allowed on hiking trails in the park, except for Nordenskiold Site #16, Badger House Community, and Long House Loop. Bring plenty of water and snacks to stay hydrated and keep your electrolyte levels up.
- Cultural dances and demonstrations: Check the calendar for details.
Where to eat & shop
We’ve been to Cortez, CO a couple of times when traveling through. There are some good spots for food and even outdoor gear.
Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant Cortez is where we ate in the Mesa Verde episode. We were skeptical (at least Marc was), but it turned out to be great. And that’s not the large Margarita’s talking!
fb organics is a natural grocery with good protein shakes if you’re just passing through. Right around the corner (on the same block) is Run + Hike with high-quality running and hiking gear.
Permits and closures
Road work is ongoing in the 2022 season, so allow extra time to reach your destination. Starting in mid-August 2022, visitors should plan for up to 30-minute delays between mile markers 1.6 and 3.2 from the park entrance at US 160.
The Cliff Palace Loop Road is now open, but Mesa Top Loop Road is set to close on the evening of Sunday, August 7 to begin construction. The closure will be in effect until construction is completed. Visit the park website for updates.
Spruce Tree House has been closed to visitors since 2015 due to safety concerns, but you can see the dwelling from overlooks behind the Chapin Mesa Museum.
This came at the perfect time. We’re going to Mesa Verde tomorrow. We were so happy to see your information you provided. We are staying at The Turner Ranch, a Harvest Host site only 15 miles from the National Park entrance. (It’s a nice HH site with Electric available, also allows camping up to 5 nights.)
Wow, great find. We didn’t really look for that becuase we thought it would be hot and it wasn’t. Have fun.
Dog information. Dog friendly trails, parks, restaurants, etc.
Yes, good input. Thanks.
We have been to Mesa Verde couple year you guy should check out black cannon in Gunnison Coloardo
This information is so awesome. Thank you so much for making this available to your viewing public. You guys are the best!
Thank you!
We head there in a month and 2 days (yes I am counting). We are staying two days at Mcinne’s place. Our first Boondockers welcome. Such helpful information tonight.
Mesa Verde has been at the top of my bucket list for 25 years. Coming from New England, as a non-full-time RVer, is a tall ask. This is the best info I have ever found on how to visit. Bravo, and thank you so much. Always enjoy your show.
This is awesome and perfect timing! My sister and I are traveling to Mesa Verde the end of September. Can’t wait to see everything. Thank you!!
We are planning on this for next year. Do you happen to know what there is to see/do for those who need accessiblity? For those who cannot climb a ladder, like the one you showed in the video, was there accommodations or at least look outs from the drive loop?
Thank you!
Great info Trish + Marc!!!
Also recommend in nearby Dolores, Colorado:
-The Views RV Park —RV camping, + Yurt glamping– and those views DO NOT disappoint!
-Dolores Food Market — funky locally owned joint with all local products and the most amazing produce (this place has a produce cave like liquor stores have beer caves) and everyone there was so friendly + helpful!
Thank you for all this wonderful time saving information! Wow looks like a fantastic place to stop and take in the history and beauty!
I was there in 1969, with a 9-yr-old’s point of view, “Why are we here?” After seeing your latest episode, I can’t wait until the wife retires with me to take longer trips from Delaware to show her some of the wonders of America that I saw as a kid, and she has never seen. Thanks Marc and Trish! Love you guys!
My husband and I just visited Mesa Verde area from August 7-10. We stayed the three nights at Mesa Verde RV Resort a half a mile from the Park Gate. Super clean RV park and we were in a pull through site that was spacious and far enough from the road so as to minimize road traffic. We booked the 700 year tour and loved our guide and bus driver. So informative. The portion of the half day tour at Cliff Palace was conducted by the park rangers who work at that particular site. This is an amazing park and I wish we had planned on going for another day to do some hikes and visit the Wetherill Mesa. However, the trails and tours are not dog friendly. We did however find a wonderful dog sitter in Cortez. We would have loved to have camped at Moorefield, it looked so lovely in Marc and Trish’s video, but we don’t yet have solar and we need internet. This was our first National Park in the US, and we Canadians are hooked. Looking forward to following KYD’s National Park visits for tips and insider info. It will help us prepare our next trip in the US. Thank you in advance.
Hi Natalie! Would you mind sharing your dog sitter? We are traveling with our doggy too! Thanks!
Thank you for the great info. We leave are headed there at the beginning of September. We will be Boondocking outside the park but the campground looks nice. Can’t wait to soak up some history and check another national park off the list.
We’ve been to Mancos twice, first time September 27 2021 and May 31 2022. We stayed at Riverside RV Park in Mancos, this is just 6 miles from the Mesa Verde entrance. It’s a really clean and great place to stay with full hook ups. They have a great Bakery in the center of town, the breakfast burritos but they can feed two folks.
Mesa Verde is an amazing place. I would suggest spending at least 2 full days. The Cliff Palace is awesome and for me the Balcony House was even more impressive. I recommend taking time to drive around and stop at several sites to get the full experience and understand the history of the area. It really a very peaceful place to camp.
Wow!!!!! This is phenomenal info.
Such great tips … Even which trails allow pets. And great diverse advice for different styles of visiting!!! This collection of National Parks info will be an invaluable resource. Thanks for all the time you guys are putting into compiling this resource!!
Your Mediterranean salad and salmon looked amazing! Are the recipes in your cookbook?
And where to find that “Go To” Garlic salt please!
I visited Mesa Verde years ago before I had an RV, camped there in a pup tent. I went down into Palace and had a phenomenal time. At the time I lived outside of Philadelphia. I remember climbing out of the Palace and there was an elderly black man on top and as I cleared the climb he laughed and said “Lordy son I have been listening to huffing and puffing I could of sworn it was an old steam locomotive coming this way.” I ended up talking with him as his family was taking the tour. It was a wonderful experience.
We were supposed to go to Mesa Verde this summer, but plans changed. So glad they did! These tips and video will help us get more out of our visit!
I have been living vicariously through you and your channel 4 years. A lot of national parks have wheelchair accessible areas maybe mention accessibility? I know I can’t go everywhere but I’m thinking one day I would love to get an accessible RV and travel
I love the Blog idea for planning what you need to Know before going to any NP.
Great info and report format.
Question – when did you go?
Posting the Month and Weather may also help when viewing after the fact or Many months later …
Hi Trish & Marc.
We are going to The Albuquerque balloon Festival, then head up to four corners just to say we did it. I just google Mesa Verde and it’s only one hour from the campground where we are staying, who knew?? We would have push reservations around a little but if we are that close, why not.
We really enjoy the camping video’s. Have a great week!!
Scott & Pamela
Do you guys do the “Bark Ranger” program at National Parks with Charlie?
If so, what is the doggie swag for Mesa Verde? Seems to be different swag item labeled with the park name at each, e. g. Biscuits & sticker @petrified, bandana @petroglyph, collar tag @indiana dunes, etc.
Do you have a gallery or hashtag for KYD/S2R dogs?
This is on our itinerary for next summer when we go to Durango. Thanks for the tips!
Trying to make a longish comment and i get marked as “spam”
Please help
I was there in May of 2022 and had a wonderful time and as a new RVer there would have been a few things we would have done differently. Thanks so much for your efforts and we lover your videos!!!
Thanks for taking the time to put this together. We loved our visit in 2018 and look forward to visiting again! The video of your trip was terrific, too!
Thanks for all the work you do with extra stuff like this. We plan to start traveling as a family in the next few years and having this documented information is valuable. Thank you
Hi !
Was just wondering what you did with Charlie while you were camped at Mesa Verde and touring the ruins?
When you have a dog it’s always a dilemma figuring out what to do with the Dog.
We have been to Mesa Verde many times, with our last being in May 2021. Check the website before going to plan your route and download the audio files. I had them on my phone and was great since we didn’t have service, we were able to listen as we went from place to place. If you do book a tour, I would say book well in advance so you get a time slot you want. Drink plenty of water before and during the tours.
Question… When getting tour tickets to the dwellings.
Is that a process where online tickets are gone instantly when the 14 day window opens online?
We actually just left Mesa Verde a week ago. They sell out very quickly my wife set an appointment in her phone calendar for 14 days out to make the reservations for Balcony House as soon as they became available. We got them but they were gone within an hour.
Thank you guys SO MUCH for incredible, detailed info!!! We live in Colo Spgs and plan to hit that area in the fall – it’s so close! Love following you guys and hope to see ya on the road!!! TnC
Very nice job guys very informative!!
Great tips! Definitely on my list of places to see.
Since you are doing a National Park season, you might want to know about the recent court decision on filming in National Parks. The Gordon M. Price decision from January 2021 was reversed on August 23, 2022. Commercial permits and fees are required for filming video in National Parks for anyone who may derive any form of revenue from the film.
Reference DIY Photography dot net vlogging your next vacation in a national park for youtube could land you in jail
I just saw the latest vlog from rvmiles where he reported that it’s now illegal to film inside a national park for profit. I can see where banning drones would be good because who needs a thousand drones over head at the same time you’re trying to enjoy a view. But to pay a 150 dollar permit for each park is excessive especially where you’re promoting and advertising the parks for free. Is this going to put a flaw in your slaw for this season?
So grateful to find this and watch the Mesa Verde video. We’re headed out west for our second big trip this summer. MV is on the list. Thanks again for your content and inspiration.
Hey everybody. We will be in Mesa Verde arriving Aug 13 and leaving the 15. We have reservations on Morefield Campground full hookup site inside the park. I am not able to see any info on road conditions as we are traveling in a 43 foot motorhome and towing a pickup truck. Wondering if this is okay to reach Morefield Campground as I am told there are several tight turns between the park entrance and the campground? Anybody has experience on this field?
With regards to the tours, I have reserved the 700 year tour. However reading the comments on tripadvisor it appears I should be better off taking individual tours or maybe the self tour. Any thought on that?
Thanks!