Entrance fees to Mesa Verde National Park have increased. The new fees are $20 for a private vehicle (up from $15); $10 per person (up from $7); and $15 per motorcycle (up from $10). The cost of an annual park pass remains at $40.
Fees are good for entrance to Mesa Verde National Park for up to 7 days. Entrance fees are not charged to persons under 16 years of age or holders of the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, Senior, Access, Military, or Volunteer Passes or the Annual 4th Grade Pass. These passes may be obtained at the park.
“We are committed to keeping the park affordable, but we also want to provide visitors with the best possible experience,” said Mesa Verde National Park Superintendent Cliff Spencer in a release. “The money from entrance fees is used to improve visitor facilities and amenities.”
Entrance fees have previously allowed for purchasing and installing water bottle filling stations and drinking fountains; providing additional visitor educational opportunities at Wetherill Mesa; construction of new restrooms; and stabilization work at Spruce Tree House and Cliff Palace cliff dwellings. Upcoming projects include rehabilitation of the Morefield Amphitheater, additional stabilization work at archaeological sites throughout the park, maintaining and updating infrastructure, and continue to provide additional visitor educational opportunities.
Mesa Verde National Park staff held a public Open House in September 2016, and also accepted public comment in August and September, regarding the fee increase. The majority of responses received by the park were supportive of the increase.
Mesa Verde National Park is a strong economic engine for the surrounding area. In 2015, more than 547,325 park visitors contributed $55.4 million to the local economy and supported 814 jobs related to tourism.
For more information about Mesa Verde National Park, see www.nps.gov/meve.
