National Park · Colorado, United States
Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park is a national park in Colorado, United States, covering 52,485 acres (21,240 ha), established in 1906; it recorded 463,130 visits in 2025.
Photo: Tobi 87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Park facts
| Park type | National Park |
|---|---|
| Location | Colorado, United States |
| Area | 52,485 acres (21,240 ha) |
| Established | 1906 |
| Annual visits (2025) | 463,130 |
| Coordinates | 37.1800° N, 108.4900° W |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
About Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park is a national park of the United States and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Montezuma County, Colorado, and the only World Heritage Site in Colorado. The park protects some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan ancestral sites in the United States. Established by Congress and President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, the park occupies 52,485 acres (212 km2) near the Four Corners region of the American Southwest. With more than 5,000 sites, including 600 cliff dwellings, it is the largest archaeological preserve in the United States.
Description from the park's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA), linked in the sources below.
Planning your visit
Best time to visit
May to September — warm days and full cliff-dwelling tours; winters are cold with snow
What to do
Getting there
| Nearest town | Cortez, Colorado |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Durango-La Plata County Airport |
| Getting there | The park entrance is along Highway 160 between the towns of Mancos and Cortez, Colorado and about 35 miles west of Durango, Colorado. |
Where to stay
| Campgrounds | Yes |
|---|---|
| Lodges | Far View Lodge inside the park |
Famous trails
- Petroglyph Point Trail — 2.7 miles (4.4 km) — Moderate
Like Mesa Verde National Park? Visit Mesa Verde National Park’s official park page for hours and current conditions before you travel.
Airports near this park
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Cortez Municipal Airport (CEZ) · Cortez, United States · 11.4 miles away
- Durango La Plata County Airport (DRO) · Durango, United States · 40.6 miles away
- Telluride Regional Airport (TEX) · Telluride, United States · 62.2 miles away
Parks nearby
More parks in Colorado
Frequently asked questions
Where is Mesa Verde National Park?
Mesa Verde National Park is in Colorado, United States (37.1800° N, 108.4900° W).
When was Mesa Verde National Park established?
Mesa Verde National Park was established in 1906, per the source listed at the foot of this page.
How big is Mesa Verde National Park?
Mesa Verde National Park covers 52,485 acres (21,240 ha).
How many people visit Mesa Verde National Park each year?
It recorded 463,130 recreation visits in 2025, the latest published figure.
When is the best time to visit Mesa Verde National Park?
May to September — warm days and full cliff-dwelling tours; winters are cold with snow.
Does Mesa Verde National Park have campgrounds?
Yes — Mesa Verde National Park has campgrounds.
How do I get to Mesa Verde National Park?
The nearest town is Cortez, Colorado. The nearest airport is Durango-La Plata County Airport. The park entrance is along Highway 160 between the towns of Mancos and Cortez, Colorado and about 35 miles west of Durango, Colorado.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_United_States_National_Park_System_official_units — Wikipedia list of National Park System official units — unit name, state, official designation.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_areas_in_the_United_States_National_Park_System — Wikipedia list of National Park System areas — year established and gross area.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_the_United_States — Wikipedia list of US national parks — coordinates, established date, area, recreation visitors (2025), description.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesa_Verde_National_Park — Wikipedia article — description (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.nps.gov/meve/ — Official park page.