Mesa Verde in Colorado is not only a national park but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park’s famous Puebloan cliff dwellings is something you don’t want to miss out on. But where to stay near Mesa Verde National Park for the best experience?
It’s very convenient to stay at the Mesa Verde lodging within the park or in the neighboring towns Cortez and Mancos. Further away, Durango is another option for where to stay when visiting Mesa Verde National Park.
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Jump to
- Mesa Verde NP – Within park
- Cortez – Bigger Mesa Verde town
- Mancos – Smaller Mesa Verde town
- Durango – Fun town further away
Mesa Verde National Park
A convenient option for where to stay when visiting Mesa Verde National Park is to base yourself inside the Colorado park. It’s possible to do so at Far View Lodge.
The place to stay in Mesa Verde National Park is open seasonally during the warmer months of the year. It’s the only Mesa Verde lodging option that sits inside the park.
When you stay at Far View Lodge you begin and end your days in the very heart of Mesa Verde National Park. No other option for where to stay at Mesa Verde National Park gives you the same great access to the Colorado park.
If you base yourself inside the national park, you don’t need to drive any long distances during your Mesa Verde stay. As you’re already in the park, the driving time during your stay is minimized. Instead you can book the first or last guided Mesa Verde tour of the day and get there with ease.
But the hotel rates at Far View Lodge tend to be higher than at Mesa Verde accommodation outside the park. So for Mesa Verde hotels on a budget you should look into the other options for where to stay when visiting Mesa Verde.
Also have in mind that the rooms at Far View Lodge book up early in advance. The exclusive location inside the park makes the Mesa Verde place to stay very popular. So if you want to stay in Mesa Verde National Park, you need to make sure that you make your reservation as early as possible.
To sum up, Far View Lodge is the best place to stay when visiting Mesa Verde if you want to base yourself as close to the park adventure as possible. When you stay at Far View Lodge, you stay inside Mesa Verde National Park with the ultimate park access.
- Distance: 0 mi
- Driving time: 0 min
- Stay within Mesa Verde NP for: Best possible Mesa Verde access.
In-park Mesa Verde lodging
Far View Lodge
At Far View Lodge, you get the best possible location inside Mesa Verde National Park. From the Mesa Verde lodge, you have the park adventure on your doorstep. Sure, this place to stay in Mesa Verde National Park doesn’t offer luxurious amenities. However, it’s the only Mesa Verde lodging within the park.
Cortez
Another alternative for where to stay when visiting Mesa Verde National Park is the city Cortez. The Colorado city is located northwest of Mesa Verde on US 160.
To get from Mesa Verde hotels in Cortez to the park entrance is just a short 10-mile (16 km) drive. So it’s very easy to get from Cortez to Mesa Verde.
Still have in mind that you need to drive in the park as well. From the entrance point to the southern parts of the park the National Park Service estimates a drive time of 1.5 hours.
But in Cortez you find all the Mesa Verde hotels and restaurants you need for a comfortable stay. Many of the big hotel chains offer Mesa Verde lodging in Cortez.
To sum up, Cortez is the best option for where to stay near Mesa Verde National Park if you want the whole package. The Colorado town offers a wide selection of Mesa Verde hotels and places to grab a bite, just a short drive away from the fascinating park.
- Distance: 10 mi / 16 km
- Driving time: ≈ 15 min
- Pick Cortez for: Mesa Verde hotels in a bigger town with great access.
Favorite location: Cortez is the alternative for where to stay near Mesa Verde National Park that gives you the best of both worlds. On top of good park access you find a wide range of Mesa Verde lodging and restaurants in the city.
Best hotels in Cortez
Holiday Inn Mesa Verde
Holiday Inn in Cortez is a Mesa Verde hotel that delivers the whole package. From its location in eastern Cortez, you effortlessly reach the park. Additionally, this place to stay near Mesa Verde National Park offers great amenities, including swimming pool and hot tub, for some quality time off the park.
Hampton Inn Mesa Verde
Another very good Mesa Verde lodging option in eastern Cortez is the Hampton Inn. In addition to that it puts you only minutes from national park entrance, Hampton Inn also offers appreciated facilities, including pool and hot tub.
Retro Inn at Mesa Verde
Retro Inn is a unique Mesa Verde place to stay with an appealing retro look and feel. Its colorful retro motel look is hard not to like. Although it’s a more low-key place to stay at, Retro Inn is a very popular option for where to stay near Mesa Verde National Park. If you want something else than the big hotel chains, you have found your place.
Mancos
Mancos is an option for where to stay near Mesa Verde National Park that is located even closer than Cortez. You find the very small Colorado town northeast of the national park on US 160.
From Mesa Verde accommodation in Mancos to the park adventure it’s as little as 8 miles (13 km). But once again have in mind that the National Park Service estimates a drive time of 1.5 hours from the entrance point to the southern parts of the park.
Mancos is a much smaller city than Cortez. With that comes fewer options for Mesa Verde lodging and dining in Mancos. So for a wider selection of Mesa Verde hotels and restaurants you need to look towards Cortez or the even bigger Durango.
In short, Mancos is a very convenient option for where to stay near Mesa Verde National Park. It’s a very small Colorado town but its location with accommodation near Mesa Verde is great. In fact, no other town is located as near Mesa Verde National Park.
- Distance: 8 mi / 13 km
- Driving time: ≈ 10 min
- Pick Mancos for: Mesa Verde hotels in a smaller town with great access.
Durango
Durango is located east of Mesa Verde and much further away than the other options for where to stay near Mesa Verde National Park. Still Durango is a popular option for where to stay when visiting the Mesa Verde area.
From lodging in Durango it’s 36 miles (58 km) to Mesa Verde National Park. Added to the driving time in the park the miles behind the wheel quickly add up. So from a point of convenience the other options for where to stay in Mesa Verde National Park and vicinity are preferable.
But Durango is still a popular option for where to stay when visiting Mesa Verde. Durango is a college town with a refreshing vibe that offers something else than the other Mesa Verde places to stay.
In the Colorado college town you find the famous Durango and Silverton Railroad and Museum. It lets you embark on a historic and unforgettable journey up into the Rocky Mountains.
That Durango is a bigger city than both Cortez and Mancos also means more Mesa Verde hotels and dining options. So in Durango you have all you need for a comfortable time exploring the Colorado region.
To sum up, Durango is a fun option for where to stay in the Mesa Verde area. The city doesn’t offer as good park access as the other options for where to stay in Mesa Verde and vicinity. But Durango is a destination on its own, and s historic train ride is a great thing to add to a Mesa Verde stay.
- Distance: 36 mi / 58 km
- Driving time: ≈ 50 min
- Pick Durango for: A fun town with reasonable Mesa Verde access.
Where to stay near Mesa Verde National Park FAQ
Here you find the answers to some frequently asked questions about where to stay near Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado.
Far View Lodge is the only lodging within Mesa Verde National Park. But just a short drive from the park Mancos and Cortez are gateway cities with much more Mesa Verde accommodation to choose from.
Mancos and Cortez are the cities closest to Mesa Verde National Park. It’s 8 miles (13 km) from Mancos and 10 miles (16 km) from Cortez to the Mesa Verde park entrance.
At Far View Lodge you stay right where the adventure begins. It’s the only lodging option inside Mesa Verde National Park. Although it’s not a luxury Mesa Verde place to stay, its location can’t be beaten.
From Durango it’s 36 miles (58 km) to Mesa Verde National Park. To drive from Durango to the Mesa Verde entrance takes just under an hour.
One full day in Mesa Verde National Park allows for a guided tour and exploring the most famous viewpoints. Add more time for a deeper experience and to hike the trails in the park further.
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