Located in beautiful Southwest Colorado, Mesa Verde Country is within easy driving distance of several gateway cities, including Denver, Albuquerque, Salt Lake, Phoenix and Las Vegas. The scenic drive takes you through the beautiful scenery of Southern Colorado. See below for driving directions to Mesa Verde National Park.
Mesa Verde Country is the perfect location for a great American road trip. It is home to Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway, the only byway dedicated solely to archaeology. Trail of the Ancients transverses the spectacular landscapes of Mesa Verde Country— but be sure to get out of the car and enjoy all the incredible archaeology the byway has to offer!
Mesa Verde Country is part of The Grand Circle, America’s largest concentration of National Parks. Visit the Grand Circle website for more information. To help plan your next southwestern vacation, visit our Things to Do page for itinerary suggestions indoors as well as outdoors!
FROM CORTEZ TO: | MILES | HRS |
---|---|---|
Albuquerque, New Mexico | 252 | 5.5 |
Denver, Colorado | 380 | 8.0 |
Flagstaff, Arizona | 267 | 5.0 |
Grand Canyon – South Rim | 368 | 6.5 |
Grand Canyon – North Rim | 340 | 7.5 |
Grand Junction, Colorado | 204 | 4.0 |
Page (Lake Powell), Arizona | 211 | 4.5 |
Phoenix, Arizona | 404 | 8.5 |
Salt Lake City, Utah | 356 | 7.0 |
Telluride, Colorado | 78 | 1.5 |
El Paso, Texas | 528 | 9.5 |
Los Angeles, California | 730 | 13.0 |
The closest airport to Mesa Verde is the Cortez, CO (CEZ) airport. There are affordable daily flights connecting Cortez (CEZ) to Denver International Airport (DEN) if you prefer to fly.
A vehicle is needed to explore Mesa Verde National Park. If you plan on flying in, you can rent a vehicle from many different companies when you land at the Cortez airport. You can also travel by bike or join an Aramark Tour if you are planning to bring an RV or do not have a car. Visit the National Park Service website for additional information on travel restrictions and getting around the park.