All parks › Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle, 7 days
- $30[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- June[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 463,130[3]
- Campgrounds
- 1[4]
Mesa Verde National Park is a national park in Colorado[5]. NPS lists a $30 private vehicle entrance fee that is valid for 7 days[1].
Entrance fees and passes
Fees as listed by the National Park Service. Fees change, so confirm on the park's official fees page before you go.
| Fee or pass | Price |
|---|---|
| Private Vehicle[1] | $30 |
| Motorcycle[6] | $25 |
| Per Person[7] | $15 |
| Private Vehicle[8] | $20 |
| Per Person[9] | $15 |
| Motorcycle[10] | $15 |
| Annual Entrance - Park[11] | $55 |
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[12].
Entrance fee payment is cashless (card or mobile payment)[13].
America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites.
| Pass | Who can get it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Pass[14] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[14] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[14] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[14] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[14] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[14] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[14] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[14] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[14] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
NPS lists the park as open every day, apart from emergencies[15]. In 2025 the busiest month was June with 84,693 recreation visits, and the quietest was January with 6,632[2]. Trails, picnic areas and ancestral sites open at 8 am and close at sunset[15]. Some areas, including Wetherill Mesa and the campground, close during winter[15]. NPS describes summer days as mostly sunny, with temperatures that can pass 90°F and thunderstorms common in July and August[16]. Winter roads are often icy, and NPS says drivers may need snow tires, chains or all-wheel drive[16].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 6,632 |
| February | 6,795 |
| March | 17,561 |
| April | 26,231 |
| May | 53,728 |
| June | 84,693 |
| July | 78,589 |
| August | 62,596 |
| September | 55,614 |
| October | 48,708 |
| November | 13,255 |
| December | 8,728 |
Camping
NPS and Recreation.gov list one campground, Morefield Campground, with 267 sites[4]. NPS lists nightly individual-site fees from $38 to $51[4]. NPS says the campground is among the services that close in winter[15].
- Morefield Campground, 267 sites[4]
Pets and dogs
Under the national NPS pet rule, where pets are allowed, they must be kept in a crate or cage, or on a leash of six feet or shorter[17]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, with service animals excepted[17]. NPS lists 2 things to do at the park and says pets are permitted on both[18]. Individual parks may restrict pets in further areas, so check the official page[17].
Before you go
- Entrance fees are cashless, so bring a card or mobile payment[13].
- The park accepts the America the Beautiful pass for entrance[12]. NPS lists the Resident Annual Pass at $80[14].
- NPS lists an Annual Entrance park pass at $55[11].
- Cell connectivity is limited in the park, so save any digital pass to your phone or print it[8].
- Fees and hours change, so confirm them on the official NPS park page before you go.
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee at Mesa Verde National Park?
- NPS lists $30 for a private vehicle, $25 for a motorcycle and $15 per person, each valid for 7 days[1][6][7].
- What is the busiest month at Mesa Verde National Park?
- In 2025 the busiest month was June with 84,693 recreation visits[2].
- Are dogs allowed at Mesa Verde National Park?
- Where pets are allowed, they must be on a leash no longer than six feet or crated[17]. NPS says pets are permitted on both things to do it lists[18].
- Can I pay cash at the entrance?
- NPS says entrance fees are cashless, so use a card or mobile payment[13].
Facts and sources
- Entrance fee, Private Vehicle: $30. National Park Service
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 548,477, 2022: 499,790, 2023: 505,194, 2024: 480,065, 2025: 463,130. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Campgrounds in Mesa Verde National Park (list on this page). National Park Service
- Mesa Verde National Park is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Park) in Colorado. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $25. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $15. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Private Vehicle: $20. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $15. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $15. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $55. National Park Service
- Mesa Verde National Park accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- Entrance fees at Mesa Verde National Park are cashless (cards or mobile payment, no cash) according to NPS. National Park Service
- America the Beautiful pass prices (table on this page). NPS Passes
- Operating hours, Mesa Verde National Park Hours: The park is open daily except for emergency conditions. The Visitor & Research Center and Mesa Verde Museum are open all year but closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. Ancestral sites, picnic... National Park Service
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Mesa Verde National Park. National Park Service
- National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
- NPS lists 2 things to do at Mesa Verde National Park: Visit Mesa Verde's Historic Administrative District, Explore the Mesa Top Loop Road. Pets permitted on 2 of them (Visit Mesa Verde's Historic Administrative District, Explore the Mesa Top Loop Road). National Park Service