Known for its mesmerizing Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, dramatic canyon landscapes, and captivating archeological structures, it’s no wonder that Mesa Verde National Park is one of Colorado’s most treasured sites. Not only is this remarkable park a haven for nature lovers, but it also serves as an immersive lesson in ancient Native American history and culture.

From Escape Camper Vans’ Denver hub, the drive to Mesa Verde will take about 6 hours and 30 minutes, spanning 377 miles. Alternatively, our Salt Lake City depot is located 355 miles away from the park, and would take approximately 5 hours and 40 minutes to reach.

Whether you’re on an epic tour of Colorado’s national parks or crossing through Utah’s stunning southwest scenery, a visit to Mesa Verde National Park will be well worth the journey!

Why Rent a Camper Van for a Trip to Mesa Verde National Park?

A camper van allows you to make the most of your time in Mesa Verde, without the hassle or constraints of a large RV. From keeping your trip stress-free to being able to access all areas of the park, these are just a few of the reasons why a camper van rental is the best way to experience the beauty of Mesa Verde National Park:

Mobility: Exploring Mesa Verde with a camper van allows you to make the most of the many overlooks, trails, and archeological sites throughout the park. On the contrary, an RV would limit your access to many camping spots, trailheads, and even some of the park’s key sites. In fact, at the wildly popular Far View Sites, parking is limited to vehicles under 25 feet, which a traditional RV would surpass.

Convenience: Our self-contained camper vans ensure that you have everything you need with you at all times. While a traditional RV may require finding campsites with sewer or electric hookups, this isn’t necessary for camper vans. Instead, you’ll have way more flexibility with where you set up camp, which will be a big help considering that there’s only one campground inside Mesa Verde.

Easy to Drive: Giant RV’s can be incredibly intimidating to drive, which could make navigating the winding canyon roads of Mesa Verde tricky. However, our compact camper vans are similar in size to a large family vehicle, making it much easier to feel comfortable when you’re behind the wheel. 

Overall, a camper van rental in Mesa Verde allows for far more agility and flexibility than a large RV would. Instead of dealing with the necessary logistics of an RV, you can spend more time immersing yourself in the fascinating history and scenery of one of Colorado’s most spectacular national parks!

Preparing for a Trip to Mesa Verde National Park

To ensure that your trip goes off without a hitch, it’s important to plan ahead and gather everything you’ll need before arriving in Mesa Verde. Reserve tours and campgrounds ahead of time, stock up on all your necessary supplies, and decide which route you’ll take to reach the park!

Supplies

Cold Weather Gear: Because of Mesa Verde’s high elevation, temperatures can drop considerably- especially at night. Pack plenty of layers, as well as a bedding kit from Escape Camper Vans’ extra add-ons. If you’re traveling during the winter or early spring, you’ll also need to add snow chains to your camper van rental.

National Parks Pass: If you plan to visit other national parks during your camper van road trip, then it could be worth grabbing an America the Beautiful pass to save on entrance fees.

Food & Water: Although there are several eateries inside Mesa Verde, there are also a lot of exciting cliff dwellings and trails to explore. Rather than spending time looking for a place to eat, stock up on ingredients for easy to make camper van meals instead. Remember to also pack plenty of beverages, as many campgrounds won’t have potable water.

Reservations

Tours: To visit Mesa Verde’s famous cliff dwellings, you must sign up for a ranger-led tour. Because tour groups are small in size and often limited, making advanced reservations is essential.

Campgrounds: There is only one campground inside Mesa Verde, so we recommend trying to book your spot a couple of months in advance- especially for summer excursions. There are also several dispersed campsites outside of the park, in case you’re unable to book ahead of time or are simply looking for a budget-friendly alternative. 

Planning Your Route

The two most common starting points for a Mesa Verde adventure are Denver, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah. Once you decide which city makes the most sense for you to start from, the real fun of planning your route can begin!

Driving from Denver to Mesa Verde National Park: The trek from Denver to Mesa Verde takes about 6 hours and 30 minutes, crossing through the striking terrain of southwest Colorado most of the way. You can either opt to visit Mesa Verde as part of a larger national parks tour through the state, or make a quick pit stop in the verdant Rio Grande National Forest on your way down from Denver. 

Driving from Salt Lake City to Mesa Verde National Park: The journey from Salt Lake City to Mesa Verde will allow you to experience Utah’s striking desert landscapes before passing through Colorado’s mountainous terrain. Located only two hours from Mesa Verde, it’s definitely worth making a stop in Canyonlands National Park– one of the renowned Utah Mighty Five.

Navigation

Phones: Your Smartphone will work well as your GPS, but keep in mind that reception throughout Mesa Verde is very spotty. Download Offline Maps before your trip, and be sure to keep portable chargers on hand as you won’t be able to charge your phone when your van is turned off.

Paper Maps: To help you navigate the park’s narrow roads and remote trailheads, grab a paper map of Mesa Verde National Park when you arrive. As an added bonus, the map will make for a wonderful, free souvenir from your trip!

Must-See Sights, Events, and Places of Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park is brimming with mystifying archeological sites, stunning canyon vistas, and jaw-dropping hikes! Spend your visit immersing yourself in the land’s fascinating history, trekking to ancient petroglyphs, and taking in spectacular views of the Montezuma Valley.

Cliff Dwellings

Mesa Verde’s biggest draw is its incredibly well-preserved Pueblan cliff dwellings. Dating back to the late 1190s, the ancient structures built into natural cliff recesses are an incredible sight to see. 

The Cliff Palace is the most popular dwelling in the park, featuring 150 rooms and 23 kivas. The impressive site is thought to have housed about 100 people, and is believed to have served as a significant setting for social and administrative purposes.

There are several other magnificent dwellings to visit outside of the Cliff Palace, many of which can be found along Cliff Palace Loop Road. Keep in mind, the road is open from 8am until sunset, and dwellings can only be visited by joining a ranger-led guided tour.

Petroglyph Point Trail

This 2.4-mile loop trail is one of Mesa Verde’s most treasured hikes. The scenic path leads to striking views of both the Spruce and Navajo Canyons, along with an up-close look at an ancient petroglyph panel that stretches approximately 35 feet wide. To make the most of your hike, it’s highly recommended to take the trail counterclockwise. 

Far View Sites

What was once a robust farming community is now one of Mesa Verde’s most impressive archeological landmarks, known as the Far View Sites. A 0.75-mile loop trail leads to six astounding sites with impeccably preserved ruins, including the ancient Far View House, the Far View Tower, and the Pipe Shrine House.

Mesa Verde Museum

Visiting one of the oldest national park museums is an excellent way to learn more about the rich history and culture of Mesa Verde and the Ancestral Pueblo people. The museum features a number of fascinating exhibits and artifacts, as well as an enlightening orientation film which dives into Mesa Verde’s ancient past.

Knife Edge Trail

The Knife Edge Trail is a relatively short, two-mile hike that conveniently begins at Morefield Campground. The scenic path leads through a lush forest before arriving at a breathtaking viewpoint over the Montezuma Valley. Because of its spectacular vista, the summit of Knife Edge is also one of the park’s most popular sunset spots.

Drive the Mesa Top Loop Road

Continue learning about the park’s ancient history as you cruise along the 6-mile Mesa Top Loop Road. The incredibly scenic drive weaves past several of the park’s most notable landmarks and overlooks. As you drive, there are a number of key sites and short trails to explore, all of which lead to remarkable canyon views and ancient sites. 

Camping near Mesa Verde National Park

While there is only one campground inside Mesa Verde National Park, the site is quite spacious and rarely fills up. To be on the safe side, we still recommend booking your campsite at least a couple of months in advance, especially if you’re planning a summer road trip.

Whether you choose to sleep inside the park or at another nearby site, practicing Leave No Trace principles is imperative. Out of respect for the land and the local wildlife, be sure to dispose of any trash properly, keep food in bear-safe containers, make sure campfires are put out correctly, and leave your campsite as you found it.

Morefield Campground: Mesa Verde’s only campground is conveniently located just four miles from the park entrance and visitor center. While the seasonal site operates from the end of April until mid-October, a small section of the campground remains open from October 17-30. Amenities at this high-elevation site include fire pits, picnic tables, hot showers, laundry facilities, and 15 full hook-up sites. Although reservations are not mandatory, they are encouraged, especially during the busy season.

Target Tree Campground: Only 15 minutes away from Mesa Verde’s entrance, this convenient site is a great alternative if you’re not able to find availability inside the park. The scenic campground runs from May through September and reservations can be made on a six-month rolling basis. Facilities include potable water, vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. 

Snowslide Campground: This first come, first served site is nestled in the verdant La Plata Canyon and is less than thirty miles from Mesa Verde. The small campground operates from May through September and features basic amenities including pit toilets, fire grates, and picnic tables. It’s important to note that there is no drinking water or trash pickup, so be sure to stay hydrated and leave your site as you found it.

When is the Best Time to Visit Mesa Verde National Park

To make the most of all the cliff dwelling tours and spectacular trails in Mesa Verde National Park, the fall and summer are the best seasons to visit. However, the park is open all year and each season comes with its own set of pros and cons.   

Summer

The summer is definitely the most popular time to visit Mesa Verde National Park. All cliff-dwelling tours will be available, gorgeous wildflowers will be in full bloom, and the local wildlife will be especially active. However, this is also when many trailheads, sites, and campgrounds will be at their most crowded. If you’re planning a summer visit, be sure to book your tours and campsites well in advance. 

Spring

Because of Mesa Verde’s high elevation, the springtime can be quite chilly and even snowy at times. While the weather is generally harder to predict during the shoulder season, this is typically a very rainy and windy time of year, so packing the appropriate wardrobe is essential. It’s also important to keep in mind that ranger-led tours of the cliff dwellings do not begin until mid-May. However, many of these sites can be seen from accessible overlooks throughout the year. 

Fall

The fall is a wonderful time to visit Mesa Verde. Not only is this a quieter time of year compared to the summer, but you also have a great chance of spotting Colorado’s spectacular fall foliage. Plus, most cliff-dwelling tours continue until the end of October, so you’ll have the benefit of minimal crowds without having to sacrifice seeing some of the park’s top highlights. 

Winter

While Mesa Verde becomes a magical winter wonderland during the off season, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Snowstorms often lead to unexpected road and trail closures, most campgrounds will be closed for the season, and cliff-dwelling tours will not be possible. However, this is prime-time for cross country skiers and snowshoers to explore a different side of this majestic park.

Reserve with Escape Camper Vans for your trip to Mesa Verde National Park

From breathtaking archeological sites to dramatic canyon vistas, visiting Mesa Verde National Park is a must! Embarking on a camper van trip through this enchanting park will allow you to access all the incredible sites and trails that the park has to offer while having everything you need at your fingertips. So grab your hiking boots, reserve your cliff dwelling tours, and book your dream camper van for the ultimate Colorado adventure!