Prepare for Travel

• 1). Determine when you will be traveling to Mesa Verde. Although the park is always open, many amenities and attractions are closed between November and April, including some of the cliff dwellings as well as the campground, lodge and restaurants.
  
  
• 2). Plan what you want to see and do in the park based on how much time you will be spending there.
  
  
• 3). Plan how you will get to the park. The park entrance is located on U.S. Route 160, and the nearest airports are located in Cortez and Durango, Colorado, and Farmington, New Mexico. If you arrive by plane, you will need to rent a car, as there is no public transportation to and from the park. Make appropriate reservations.
  
  
• 4). Book accommodations either inside or outside the park. You can reserve a campsite or a room at the lodge inside the park. Nearby Cortez has 20 hotels and other accommodations. Durango, located 35 miles from the park, also has a number of hotels.
  
  
• 5). Pack for your trip.
  
  

Visit the Park

• 1
  Purchase a ticket for a ranger-led tour or explore on your own at some of the cliff dwellings.mesa verde national monument image by Brett Bouwer from Fotolia.com
  
  Select from several types of entrance fee options. One option is to pay a fee for your vehicle that allows you seven days of park entry. If you plan to visit other national parks within the year, you may wish to consider the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass. Regardless of the option you choose, you will receive a brochure and park map upon entering Mesa Verde National Park.
  
  
• 2). Proceed to the Far View Visitor Center for an overall park orientation. En route, stop at the Mancos Valley Overlook for a good view of the countryside. It takes about 45 minutes to drive from the park entrance to the Far View Visitor Center, where you can look at exhibits of historic Native American baskets and pottery. Purchase tickets here for the Cliff Palace, Balcony House or Long House cliff dwellings. Tickets are not required for entrance to the Spruce Tree House or Step House.
  
  
• 3). Drive to the cliff dwelling tour location you chose for the ranger-led tour. Be sure to purchase tickets at Far View Visitor Center as they are not available at the sites themselves.
  
  
• 4). Visit Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum to learn about the Ancestral Puebloan life. There are dioramas depicting culture, farming and lifestyle. During the winter season, when the Visitor Center is closed, this is the place to purchase tickets to the cliff dwellings.
  
  
• 5). Go to Spruce Tree House for a self-guided tour and drive the Mesa Top Loop Road, which is six miles long.
  
  
• 6). Take a hike on a hiking trail to get up close to the natural surroundings and geographic features of the park. Carry drinking water and wear sturdy shoes.