Mesa Verde National Park
Hours
See this week's hours below.
- Entrance fee
- $30 · private vehicle
- Phone
- 970-529-4465
- Address
- 34840 Hwy 160, Mancos, CO 81328
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.
Hours
Mesa Verde National Park 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.
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Entrance fees
| Private Vehicle | $30 | Valid for 7 days. |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle | $25 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. |
| Per Person | $15 | Valid for 7 days. |
| Private Vehicle | $20 | Purchase digital park entrance passes on recreation.gov at no additional cost. Once purchased, passes for Mesa Verde National Park must be printed or saved on your mobile device prior to use. Connectivity is limited in the park, therefore printing the permit or saving it on your phone is highly recommended. Passes, including the America the Beautiful, National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Passes, such as the Annual, Access, or Senior pass may be purchased at the entrance station upon arrival. |
| Per Person | $15 | Purchase digital park entrance passes on recreation.gov at no additional cost. Once purchased, passes for Mesa Verde National Park must be printed or saved on your mobile device prior to use. Connectivity is limited in the park, therefore printing the permit or saving it on your phone is highly recommended. Passes, including the America the Beautiful, National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Passes, such as the Annual, Access, or Senior pass may be purchased at the entrance station upon arrival. |
| Motorcycle | $15 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. |
An America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee at every site that charges one.
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.
Weather
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.
Things to do
Astronomy, Auto and ATV, Biking, Birdwatching, Bookstore and Park Store, Camping, Cross-Country Skiing, Food, Guided Tours, Hiking, Junior Ranger Program, Museum Exhibits, Park Film, Road Biking, Scenic Driving, Shopping, Skiing, Snowshoeing, Stargazing, Wildlife Watching.
Source: National Park Service data feed, checked September 24, 2026. Hours shown are the Park Service's posted standard hours plus any date changes it lists. Official page for Mesa Verde ↗