RV sites recommendations around Mesa Verde NP in May

[Chuck___]

I am retired now at 63. First time to planning a trip south to Mesa Verde NP 2020 in May. Have a 34 foot 5th wheel. Look for RV site suggestions. Like full hook-ups if possible. Don't need to stay a the RV Hilton type resort. Just looking for a clean, safe and possibly quite place to stay for four nights. Some were you would go back to.

Merry Christmas from Oregon

[pianotuna]

Bring warm clothing for May.

[Thom02099]

Two Hands wrote:
Stay in the park! There are about 15 full hookup sites. Just reserve early.

^^^^^ This.

Morefield Campground in the park is highly recommended if you really want to have the full experience of Mesa Verde. H E R E - Mesa Verde is the link for the camping information, and H E R E - MV Map is a map for Mesa Verde. You will definitely need reservations for Morefield, so make them early. They use the 180 day window for reservations IIRC.

Stayed there in October 2017, in a FHU site in Morefield. Senior Discount for getting in the park, but no discount at Morefield. $50/night for FHU as I recall. Here are some things I learned.

As previously recommended, stop at the Visitors Center and if you want to go on a tour, that's the place to be. Just make sure you get there before they close, which was around 4:30 when I was there. They can also advise you what specific tours will be available (read as open due to weather or other restrictions). IIRC, you can also get tickets at the Chapin Mesa Museum. The best places to visit require the tour tickets.

Distances in the park are deceiving. It's 4 miles from the Visitors Center to Morefield, and another 11 miles to the Farview Lodge area. Another 5 miles to the major cliff dwelling areas, with 2 loops that are each 6 miles in distance. And that's all just on the Chapin Mesa, the "lower" of the 2 mesas. There's also Wetherill Mesa, the "upper" of the mesas, and it's another 12 miles to the cliff dwellings.

Fuel. There's fuel in the park. It was outrageously expensive when I was there. Depending on the direction you're coming from, fill up in either Cortez or Mancos. The fuel just outside the park is also as ridiculous in price. .50 to $1 more/gallon at these than it was in Cortez.

Time. Give yourself plenty of time. There are plenty of photo ops, and a variety of hikes if that interests you. You can easily spend 3-4 days there and still have things to see and do.

Weather. Late Winter/early Spring this past year saw some record snowfalls in that area, from 800% to 1200% above normal. We had major snows around Memorial Day in northern Colorado, and they had even more down there, so consider your timing and keep an eye on late season storms.

[Edd505]

KOA in Cortez NM is a short drive to Mesa Vere, they are having a May Special, I stayed there a couple years ago and took a grandson to the NP.

[TenOC]

Two Hands wrote:
Stay in the park! There are about 15 full hookup sites. Just reserve early.

And the site we were on was very large.

[Lwiddis]

X2, spoon.

[spoon059]

No recommendation for site, but just want to say that Mesa Verde is GORGEOUS and I can't wait to go back. We stopped there on a cross country trip when I was 13 (26 years ago) and I still remember it being such an impressive piece of land! ENJOY!

[2oldman]

Chuck .. wrote:
ust looking for a clean, safe and possibly quite place to stay for four nights.

The hookup sites will be quite, but most of the sites are generator-allowed and not always quite.

[Chuck___]

I never spend time in the military or law enforcement. Said that, if it was not for people like you I wouldn't be here today enjoying a safe relax full retirement at 63. If I ever have the privilege of meeting you someday I would like to buy you a cup of coffee and thank you for you service.

Next time you are at a football game, parade or special event and the Nation Anthem is about to be played or one of you fine service people walk by with the flag, look around, I will be the one with many others standing up with my hand over my heart giving "EARNED" respect to you fine service personnel.

Merry Christmas from Oregon

[BarryG20]

There are also two other rv cg's right outside the park both are literally across the street from the park entrance

https://www.ancientcedarsmesaverde.com/camping/

http://mesaverdervresort.com/

We have property down there so I have never stayed in either one of them so cant really say much about them except that they are close to the park. Our property is up back behind them a couple miles. The first one I have to drive by to get to our property as the road runs along their property line and it looks ok it certainly fills up in the tourist months and park visitor center is pretty much directly across the highway from it. The second is maybe at best a mile east on the highway but due to the way it sits and is laid out I cant see it very well from the highway at least beyond that it is there and open.

While staying in the park is probably optimum do know that the road going to the campground is steep, curvey, slow going and somewhat narrow, obviously many rvs get up to the campground and is safe but just fyi. The visitor center is right at the entrance so if your timing is good you will want to stop there on your way in as it will be a 15-20 minute drive to get back down to it though there are other areas where you can get tour tickets in the park.

[Two_Hands]

Stay in the park! There are about 15 full hookup sites. Just reserve early.