Mesa Verde National Park covers 52,485 acres in Colorado. It became a national park on June 29, 1906, the 7th of today’s 64 parks to get that title. It recorded 463,130 recreation visits in 2025, the 43rd most of the 63 parks with a 2025 count.
Today at Mesa Verde
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
In the park service’s words
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 (public domain).
Entrance fee and passes
The standard entrance pass is $30 per vehicle. Valid for 7 days.
The $80 America the Beautiful pass for U.S. residents covers this fee and everyone in your car. It pays for itself after 3 visits at this price, and it is accepted at every national park.
Entrance is free for U.S. residents on the 2026 fee-free days.
Best time to visit
- Best time to visit Mesa Verde: May and August to October. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: June, with about 88,886 visits in a typical recent year. That is 3.2 times as many as April.
- Quietest month: January (6,012 visits), when weather or closures keep most people away.
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
More detail: the best time to visit Mesa Verde, month by month.
Plan your visit
- Best time to visit: crowds and weather month by month
- Things to do: 0 hikes and 2 other activities
- Camping, RVs and lodging: 1 campgrounds, 1 lodges
- Getting there: Nearest gas to Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center: Sinclair, 0.4 miles away. Closest airport Cortez Municipal Airport (10 mi)
- Know before you go: safety, what to pack and what to leave at home
Weather, in the park service’s words
The park service says:
SPRING: This season offers a range of weather including clear skies, wind, rain, cloudy days and temperatures from 40 to 70°F (4 to 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 to 75°F (10 to 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.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Nearby national parks by road
- Canyonlands (Utah): about 2 h 30 min by car (121 miles)
- Arches (Utah): about 2 h 50 min by car (130 miles)
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison (Colorado): about 3 h 50 min by car (156 miles)
- Petrified Forest (Arizona): about 4 h 20 min by car (214 miles)
Drive times run between the closest visitor centers of each pair, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads. Link several parks with the road trip planner.
Sources
Last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Mesa Verde National Park?
The standard entrance pass is $30 per vehicle. Valid for 7 days.
What state is Mesa Verde National Park in?
Colorado.
When did Mesa Verde become a national park?
June 29, 1906.
How many people visit Mesa Verde?
463,130 recreation visits were counted in 2025.
When is the best time to visit Mesa Verde?
May and August to October. June is the busiest month and April the quietest while the park is fully open.
