Mesa Verde National Park is located in the high plateau country of southwestern Colorado. The park entrance is midway between Cortez and Mancos off U.S. 160. It is 21 miles from the entrance to park headquarters and the Chaplin Mesa ruins. Morefield campground is 4 miles from the entrance; Far View Visitor Center is 15 miles. Allow at least 45 minutes for the drive to Chapin Mesa.

Park roads are scenic drives with sharp curves, steep grades and reduced speed limits. For your safety do not park on any roadway.

Mesa Verde is also accessible by common carrier. There are daily scheduled flights to Cortez and Durango, both towns have rental car service. The nearest railroad terminals are Grand Junction Colo. and Gallup N. Mex.; buses from those points serve Cortez.

To get the most out of your visit, go first to either the Far View Visitor Center (open only in the summer); or to the Chapin Mesa Museum (open from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in summer and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year). Rangers there will help you plan your visit.

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