Mesa Verde National Park

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.

Entrance fees

Official ticket validity, checked October 28, 2026.

Park annual pass

Details: Fee good for a year, beginning from the date of sale.

Check the park’s own purchase eligibility and coverage terms before buying.

Official park annual-pass terms

Reservations

The NPS data snapshot does not list an entry reservation here. This is not confirmation that none is needed. Check the park’s current requirements; campgrounds, roads and specific activities may need separate reservations.

Weather and seasons

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.

Hours

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.

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.

Campgrounds

• Morefield CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov

Visitor centers

• Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center
• Mesa Verde Museum

Alerts

• Information: Road Construction
• Information: Limited Drinking Water Filling

As of October 29, 2026. Current alerts on nps.gov

Sources

Mesa Verde National Park fees on nps.gov. Prices, park information and photos from the NPS Data API, checked October 29, 2026. Photos credited to the National Park Service.