Mesa Verde Country® is at the heart of National Parks and Monuments in the Southwest
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.
Daily flights also connect Cortez to Denver International Airport.
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 Four Corners Daytrips and Mesa Verde Country® Daytrips pages to discover all the adventures awaiting you in Mesa Verde Country®. We even have a 7-Day Itinerary for your consideration!
| FROM CORTEZ TO: | MILES | HOURS |
| 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 |