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Monument Valley to Mesa Verde National Park
Posted on 7/22/26 at 8:43 am
Posted on 7/22/26 at 8:43 am
Next month we have a trip planned out west and visits to both Monument Valley and Mesa Verde NP. I'm jazzed up about driving Valley of the Gods Road and the Moki Dugway. We would like to stay near Mesa Verde so we can make the cliff dwellings tour. I've looked at hotels/cabins in Blanding, Monticello, Cortez, and Durango. I'm not scared of a little morning drive. The Far View Lodge within the NP is an option as well. For those who's been to Mesa Verde, what would would be the best lodging option? And do you have any tips or pointers?
6
Posted on 7/22/26 at 10:18 am to Donkus
stay at the lodge, it’s nice. Food is decent at the restaurant as well and the beer is cold. You’ll probably want to take a morning and an afternoon cliff dwelling tour so being at the lodge makes it easy. Mesa Verde is also very nice outside the cliffs as well, there’s tons of pretty hikes
If you just don’t want to stay there, the mcelmo creek area outside Cortez is very nice and there’s a vineyard there that is a great day trip (sutcliffe).
If you just don’t want to stay there, the mcelmo creek area outside Cortez is very nice and there’s a vineyard there that is a great day trip (sutcliffe).
Posted on 7/22/26 at 11:08 am to Donkus
quote:
And do you have any tips or pointers?
We stayed in Durango. Don't let them tell you the cabin doesn't need AC because it's high in the mountains! My room was still 80 F at midnight!
Also the tour for cave dwellings is an hour + drive from the visitor center. Make sure when planning your tour time you plan for long drive in the park and not just to the park.
This post was edited on 7/22/26 at 2:39 pm
Posted on 7/22/26 at 11:53 am to Donkus
If you want to stay in an actual town with shops, restaurants, and such, then Durango is your move. It's a great town, well worth visiting for its own sake. As someone else said, though, don't confuse drivetime to the entrance of Mesa Verde (40 minutes) with the drivetime to the start of your tour (80+ minutes). You drive inside the park for quite a while to get to the cliff dwellings.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 12:10 pm to Donkus
Durango is nice. More options. Mancos and Cortez are smaller, but I find them quite charming. Mesa Verde is one way in and one way out. And it’s 30 or 45 minutes. They’ll describe the ladder used to access the cave in case you want to back out. It’s not bad, but probably not for someone with claustrophobia or vertigo.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 6:47 pm to OldHickory
Durango is the move… stay at the strater hotel
Posted on 7/22/26 at 7:30 pm to AZTiger7072
quote:is two hours of driving each way
Durango
Posted on 7/23/26 at 8:51 am to Donkus
I camped in the park when we went. I would try to stay in Mancos. I have a buddy that lives there and it is a nice little town. I think there is a couple hotels.
Durango to Mesa Verde is further than I want to drive and has a decent amount of traffic.
Cortez is a dump and so are all those southern Utah/northern Arizona towns. When I travel out that way I plan to not stop between Moab/Durango/Flagstaff unless I am camping.
August down there will be hot af during the middle of the day. Try to schedule the dwelling tours early or late. They are awesome and you should try to do all of them.
Durango to Mesa Verde is further than I want to drive and has a decent amount of traffic.
Cortez is a dump and so are all those southern Utah/northern Arizona towns. When I travel out that way I plan to not stop between Moab/Durango/Flagstaff unless I am camping.
August down there will be hot af during the middle of the day. Try to schedule the dwelling tours early or late. They are awesome and you should try to do all of them.
Posted on 7/23/26 at 1:37 pm to Donkus
quote:
The Far View Lodge within the NP is an option as well.
Book this, it is a long drive once you get inside the park
Posted on 7/23/26 at 8:20 pm to wickowick
I stayed at Blue Lake Ranch just outside of Durango last year. It is very quiet and relaxing. Kennebec café is not far away and definitely worth a visit.
The fresh cooked breakfast at Blue Lake was very good. It is way off of the beaten path, so plan to bring most everything you need with you other than breakfast.
The fresh cooked breakfast at Blue Lake was very good. It is way off of the beaten path, so plan to bring most everything you need with you other than breakfast.
Posted on 7/24/26 at 9:34 am to cgrand
quote:
is two hours of driving each way
It’s far less than an hour to entrance of Mesa Verde from Durango. Then you DO have at least 30 more minutes to Cliff Dwellings once inside the park, but it’s not 2 hours.
Posted on 7/25/26 at 9:27 am to hogfly
Far View Lodge in the park is awesome. Usually the wild horses come hang out by it at night. It’s worth at least one nights stay.
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