The park should be ashamed of this campground. Sites are too close together. don't camp close to the bathroom because the lights never go out at night in defiance of dark sky protocols. Trash dumpsters are impossible to use. Transport your trash to the nearest overlook, instead.
sites are very, very close together. Prepare to be disappointed.
Sites are particularly small….bring your pup tent.
This campground was darn-near empty when we were there (due to COVID there were no dwelling tours), but we weren't complaining because we could do whatever hike or check out whatever dwelling we wanted to without the hassle finding parking or waiting for space to open in the walkable dwellings.
Without a doubt this was a highlight of our trip. It would have been much more amazing to see the cliff dwellings close up, but we can do that another year!
The campground itself was nestled up in some trees. There was little to no cell service, but at the store/ laundry area there was WiFi and "some" service. Our understanding was that they close the gate around sunset (the road is reallllly twisty and windy, so drive slow/ safely!)
There is a hotel beyond the gate that has spectacular views, but we didn't stay there so not sure what the details are.
This is a must stay (and if it's still COVID times, don't be discouraged about no tours!! It's still SOOOO worth it!!!)
This national park is so special and mesmerizing. I was sad the tours of all the villages were closed due to covid (I visited in September 2020, I have plans to return 2022 to do some tours). Most of the park you can see from driving and parking different spots, but there are also lots of hiking trails.
Shower tickets are included with your reservation (one of the few national parks with showers included in your reservation). They also offer a pancake breakfast at the store in the morning.
This is a beautiful and special place. Plan to stay a while so you can take it all in.
The campground is large, mostly flat. Limited trees where I was and unable to use hammock but other sites vary. Nice facilities at top of campground but too far to walk IMO for a shower so drive up.
Fantastic Rangers were stationed throughout the part and were clearly passionate about the park, it’s history and it’s preservation. Lots of cool wildlife roam throughout the campground, namely dear and wild horses. Clean plumbed toilets and access to potable water throughout the campground.
Some spots are tight and moldy maintained, but it doesn’t matter because the night sky is the cherry on top. What incredible star gazing.
Laundry and showers are a short 1/4 mile drive away, did not use but saw plenty of people utilizing the facilities.
Pros:
Cons:
All in all, it made a good home base for exploring Mesa Verde (and is really the only option)
A good campground with a lot of amenities at the entrance!
It was a nice and cozy campground. The sites are evenly spaced. They have huge deer that could walk through your site so store your food properly. Bathrooms are single person use. Other than that it was a nice spot to camp
This campground was very well maintained and the amenities were thoughtful, including bathrooms in convenient places that had potable water refill stations at them and bear boxes for when you were too tired to lock the food away in the car. The shower facility was very nice. The on-site shop didn't gauge you on ice and firewood prices. The staff was very friendly. I was impressed with how compliant even the weekend crowd was with quiet time. Overall it was a great experience!
Campground was clean. Sites are a mix of shade and privacy, but in general are pretty close to each other. Bathrooms were okay. Lights are on a timer at night. Tent only loop was more crowded than combine tent RV+tent loops. Showers were free at camp store.
The trees were a-shaking with cicada activity. I enjoyed staying here. I got a tip that deer were roaming through campsites so definitely keep your goodies locked up. The spot I chose was right by a water spout, bathroom, and wifi router. Even then the connection wasn't too strong.
Our first time staying actually inside of a national park. We were not disappointed. The sites are level with good water pressure. The registration process was super easy. Bring inside the park made exploring very easy. The only draw back, and it wasn’t a negative from my prospective was we had zero cell reception at our camp. Get unplugged!
Easy registration process. Great water pressure, Zero cell phone reception at camp sites! Unplug it! Being inside the park made the exploring super easy.
The Zuni Loop was the only area open when we were there. We tent camped.
Positives: showers were open, lots of deer, night sky, so close to the interior of the Park, bear boxes, flushing toilets and running water in bathroom sinks.
Negatives: smallest campsites I've ever seen > made it challenging to set up. We were told all toilets (3) in that loop were open, but they actually were not (the one closest to us was still locked until the 2nd or 3rd night). Not much privacy as the sites pretty much sat right on the road.
Conclusion: would not return. Would much rather stay in the state park near Mancos which had HUGE shaded sites.
A sweet spot, the deer come into the campground in the morning to join you for coffee! Clean, campsites are fairly well isolated from one another.
Loved this campground. We had a large site with deer walking through and the sunset was beautiful. We were able to choose our own site. Other campers were quiet and respectful. We took advantage of the pancake breakfast at the cafe in the morning. A total treat.
If this campground were somewhere more mundane, I’d give it fewer stars. Tents site we stayed in was surrounded by scrub, offering some visual privacy but not much sound barrier from the neighbors. Nothing special. Shower house was large, good enough after a few days on the road. Breakfast at the store was convenient, a nice treat after days of boondocking oatmeal.
The real reason to stay here is that it puts you so much closer to everything you came to Mesa Verde for. By staying at the campground you’ll save yourself at least a 45 minute drive each way to the top of the Mesa. Get to the overlooks and sites in the cool of the morning, before the crowds!
I didn’t expect much from Mesa verde. Much bigger than I thought for sure. It was busy but pretty nice. Decent campground. Nothing mind blowing.
The info we recieved was that this campground rarely fills up. We had no trouble finding a spot and once the heat of the day broke, we set off on a short and informative hike on the rim to watch the sunset.
Short hikes to transcendent points; clean showers; and they'll make you breakfast. If you find the perfect spot, it's sublime here.
Cool view of the rocky ridge line. Sites have nice pad for tents. Brush tucks you into a little nook. Full amenities just down the trail, connected to site loop.
It seems I’m in the minority here but we weren’t impressed with this campground. It wasn’t the worst campground we’ve ever stayed at but certainly not that great. We enjoy hiking and being outdoors. There are limited trails in the park. Our rv is 30’ and it was tight to say the least. We had to park next to our rv and it was a very tight squeeze between trees, with tree limbs scraping the top of our rv. The store in the campground wasn’t too pricey and was well stocked but the lodge/gift shop further into the park was outrageous. Staff at the campground was friendly and helpful. Don’t count on the WiFi (we didn’t need it) but for those working on the road, there’s no cell service and WiFi is very spotty.
This is a good-sized campground consisting of several different one-way paved loops for access. Most of the sites are back in but there are some pull throughs. There are a mix of tent and RV camping sites. Flush toilet restrooms are available and there are showers and a laundry a few miles away where the café, store, and gas station are located. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring that can also be used for grilling. One section provides full hookups but most of the sites are for dry camping. There are several dump stations with fresh water available in the park. The information on the campground indicates 30 feet as the maximum size but some sites will accommodate rigs to 40 feet. Most of the sites are pretty level and are typically grass but a few have gravel. The area consists of small oak trees but only a few sites have shade. Our Verizon and AT&T hotspots did not work in the campground. Cell service was spotty and that was true through the national park. There is wifi in the campground that was pretty good most of the time. Good enough for email but not usually enough for streaming.
I stayed here last Summer for one night. The camp sites give you an adequate amount of space so you don't feel too close to your neighbors. There are bathrooms a short walk from the sites, which is an added convenience. I got to see many deer during my stay and clear dark skies for stargazing and milkyway viewing. I loved being able to wake up in the park and only having a short distance to drive to the points of interest. I would definitely recommend.
At the end of April, we stayed here when they don't take reservations and open only one loop of the campground, kind of a soft opening I guess. The visitor center, store, etc. is closed the upside to this is it's uncrowded. The bathrooms are clean with flush toilets, each site has a picnic table and fire ring most have some shade. Certain sites offer more privacy than others, overall a nice place to stay.
Very peaceful campground in a beautiful national park. The campsites are nestled in among the low trees and brush, with pretty good privacy between most of them. There are a few hikes that lead right out of the campground with good views. And it’s convenient to see the sites in Mesa Verde. Peaceful.
This is a large campground in the National Park boundaries. It has camper, RV and tent camp sites as well as 17 group sites. There is a small store and a shower. Each site has a picnic table. You can also get tickets to the Parks attractions, but do this as soon as you get there as reservations can be a day or two out.
Maybe it was because I had spent days BLM camping- but Morefield seemed like a dream. Loved the atmosphere and amazing nights rest. The campsite offers decent privacy and great shower system with a general store. One of my favorite NP’s as well.
It is a must on your adventure. With the incredible views of the mountain and the history in them Will leave you wanting more. Great for all sorts of adventures!
I have to admit that the drive up and even more so back down was a white knuckle experience but worth it. Huge campground
