Home › National parks › Mesa Verde
Mesa Verde National Park: reservations, fees, camping and weather
Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado: what you need to book, what it costs, and when the weather is mildest. Checked November 2026.
Do you need a reservation to enter?
No entry reservation is mentioned on the park's fees page.
Fees and passes
$30 per private vehicle May 1–October 31, $20 November 1–April 30 (7 days); $15 per person on foot or bike.
Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance at every national park. US citizens and residents get free entry on national park fee-free days.
Camping: how to book
Camping and permits differ by area; reservable sites and permits are booked on Recreation.gov. Many Recreation.gov campgrounds open on a rolling window months ahead and sell out within minutes; if yours is full, set up a cancellation alert.
Official planning pages
The park's own pages for the things that change: conditions, closures, camping and permits.
Key dates
- Wed 11 Nov 2026 National parks fee-free day: Veterans Day Confirmed
- December 2026 · exact dates not announced 2027 national park fee-free days announced Expected
Weather by month
| Month | Camping weather | Avg high | Avg low | Precip. | Snow | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor · 4 | 40°F | 20°F | 2.0 in | 18.1 in | 9 h 50 m |
| February | Poor · 19 | 43°F | 23°F | 1.7 in | 12.0 in | 10 h 44 m |
| March | Fair · 59 | 51°F | 30°F | 1.4 in | 8.0 in | 11 h 50 m |
| April | Great · 91 | 59°F | 34°F | 1.1 in | 5.0 in | 13 h 05 m |
| May | Great · 100 | 69°F | 43°F | 1.1 in | 0.6 in | 14 h 07 m |
| June | Great · 100 | 81°F | 52°F | 0.5 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 40 m |
| July | Great · 82 | 86°F | 59°F | 1.4 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 26 m |
| August | Great · 94 | 84°F | 57°F | 2.0 in | 0.0 in | 13 h 33 m |
| September | Great · 100 | 76°F | 50°F | 1.8 in | 0.0 in | 12 h 20 m |
| October | Great · 100 | 63°F | 39°F | 1.4 in | 1.5 in | 11 h 08 m |
| November | Fair · 55 | 50°F | 29°F | 1.2 in | 5.6 in | 10 h 05 m |
| December | Poor · 5 | 40°F | 20°F | 1.5 in | 14.2 in | 9 h 34 m |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Mesa Verde NP, CO weather station (7,142 ft). Higher trails are colder; temperatures usually drop about 3–5°F per 1,000 ft. "Camping weather" is our simple score: best with highs of 62–82°F, nights above freezing and under 3 in of precipitation. It rates weather only, not road closures, snow on trails or crowds. Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th. About NOAA normals ↗
Questions
Do I need a reservation to enter Mesa Verde National Park?
No entry reservation is mentioned on the park's fees page.
How much does it cost to enter Mesa Verde?
$30 per private vehicle May 1–October 31, $20 November 1–April 30 (7 days); $15 per person on foot or bike. Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
When is the weather mildest at Mesa Verde?
Using NOAA averages at the park's weather station, average highs are between 60°F and 85°F in May to June, August to October. July is warmest (about 86°F) and January has the coldest nights (about 20°F).
Sources: Mesa Verde fees and passes (nps.gov), NOAA station data. Rules change; always check the official park site before you go.
Tell us where and when. A planner gets back to you within 24 hours with a day-by-day plan, the exact booking dates and links, and help booking. From $49.
Get lottery and booking-window reminders
A heads-up before the big permit lotteries open (Half Dome, Mt Whitney, Angels Landing and more), free park days and seasonal permits. A few emails a season. Unsubscribe anytime.
We only use your email for this newsletter. Privacy