If you have any questions about the best things to do in Mesa Verde National Park, or how to plan your trip, let us know in the comment section below. The Loungin’ Lizardis a bar/restaurant that also serves great food. If you are craving pizza or pasta, we recommend Lotsa Pasta & That’za Pizza (Tim and Tyler liked their meatball sandwich). Destination Grill serves great cocktails and very good burgers (and it’s within walking distance of the Holiday Inn). The Mexican food at La Casita is amazing and they have outdoor seating (this was our favorite restaurant in town and we ate here several times). This property is located outside of Cortez and it takes 45 minutes to drive to Mesa Verde National Park. Rooms can accommodate up to 6 people so this is a great pick for families. Guests can participate in daily chores, such as feeding the animals. This is a historic ranch that is located near some archaeological sites. This very highly rated property is located in the heart of Cortez.Ĭanyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch. It’s nothing fancy but it was clean, quiet, the Wi-Fi worked well, and had a great location in town. In town, there are many hotels and lodges to choose from as well as a good selection of restaurants. It takes just 15 minutes to drive to park entrance. CortezĬortez is the largest town near Mesa Verde National Park. This campground is located inside of Mesa Verde National Park, not far from the main entrance. This lodge is located in the heart of the park so it won’t take long to drive to the main sites. Inside of the park, you can stay at the Far View Lodge, which is open from May 1 through September 30. You will have enough time to take guided tours of Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Long House, or take one of the special tours. With more than one day in Mesa Verde, you can do everything on this list. As you exit the park, stop at the Park Point Fire Lookout. With your extra time, drive Mesa Top Loop Road, see the Spruce Tree House, hike to Soda Canyon, and visit the Far View Sites. However, if you tour Long House and Balcony House or Cliff Palace, you will get to see both Wetherill Mesa and the Mesa Top Loop sites. Balcony House and Cliff Palace are located near each other, so they can be easier to schedule. If you have one full day in the park, you have enough time to tour two cliff dwelllings. Visit the Park Point Fire Lookout as you exit the park. If you only have half of a day, take a guided tour of Cliff Palace or Balcony House and see the viewpoints along Mesa Top Ruins Road. One day is all that you need in Mesa Verde National Park, unless you plan on taking multiple tours or hiking multiple trails. Drive the Mesa Top Loop for several great viewpoints of cliff dwellings and the canyons and drive the Cliff Palace Loop to visit Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and hike the Soda Canyon Overlook Trail.įrom the park entrance, it takes 40 minutes to drive to Mesa Top Loop and the Cliff Palace Loop. Continue on Mesa Top Ruins Road (in orange) to visit the biggest cluster of sights in Mesa Verde.Near the end of this drive, the road forks again. Along the way you will pass a campground, several scenic overlooks, and a few hiking trails.Ģ: At Far View Lodge, the road forks. It’s easiest to think of this park in three sections: (1) the viewpoints along Mesa Top Ruins Road between the main entrance and Far View Lodge, (2) the sites along Mesa Top Ruins Road and Mesa Top Loop Road, and (3) Wetherill Mesa.ġ: It’s a pretty drive on Mesa Top Ruins Road through the first section of the park (the white road on the map below). After passing through the main entrance, you will wind your way up on top of the mesa. There is one entrance into the park and it is located on Highway 160.
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