Nestled just four miles inside the iconic Mesa Verde National Park, Morefield Campground offers Coloradans a prime opportunity to truly immerse themselves in a landscape rich with ancient history and stunning natural beauty. As the only campground within the park, it provides unparalleled access to the legendary cliff dwellings and vast trail systems that make Mesa Verde a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For those looking for a convenient and amenity-rich base to explore this incredible corner of Southwest Colorado, Morefield Campground is an excellent choice, catering to a wide range of camping preferences from spacious RVs to comfortable tent setups.
Many local Coloradans understand the value of a national park experience, and Morefield Campground facilitates this by placing you directly within the heart of the action. While some guest feedback points to areas for improvement regarding the cleanliness and maintenance of certain facilities, the core offerings—including the highly appreciated hot showers and the convenience of a well-stocked camp store—remain significant advantages. The ability to select your own site upon arrival is a notable perk, allowing campers to find the perfect spot that suits their needs, whether it's for shade, space for a gazebo, or proximity to specific features.
Morefield Campground's setting in a beautiful, high-elevation canyon, abundant with Gambel oak and native flowers, enhances the natural experience. It's common to see local wildlife, like deer and wild turkeys, wandering through the loops, adding to the charm. Despite minor maintenance concerns in some areas, the overall consensus is that Morefield provides a good base for exploring Mesa Verde, making it a recurring choice for many visiting this unique and historically significant park.
Morefield Campground is conveniently located at Mile Marker 4, U.S. 160, within Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330, USA. This places it approximately four miles past the park entrance, ensuring campers are already deep within the park's scenic landscapes upon arrival. The address indicates its position directly on the main road (U.S. 160) that leads into the park, making it easily identifiable.
The campground's internal roads are laid out in various loops, winding through the high-elevation grassy canyon. These roads are generally well-suited for both RVs and cars, allowing visitors to drive around and select their preferred campsite after checking in. While the park roads, including those leading to and from Morefield, involve some elevation changes and curves typical of mountainous terrain, they are paved and generally well-maintained for vehicle traffic of all sizes.
For those arriving from outside the region, the park entrance is located off U.S. 160 between the towns of Mancos (about 9 miles west) and Cortez (about 15 miles west). Durango, a larger city with more comprehensive services and an airport, is approximately 40 miles to the east. The direct location within the park significantly reduces daily travel time to major attractions like the cliff dwellings and trailheads, which are further into the park. This accessibility within the park boundaries is a key benefit, allowing campers to maximize their exploration time.
Address: Mile Marker 4 U.S. 160, Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330, USA
Phone: (800) 449-2288
Mobile Phone: +1 800-449-2288
For reservations and the most up-to-date information on operating hours, site availability, and current conditions, particularly during the shoulder seasons or due to weather, it is highly recommended to call the reservation line or visit the official Mesa Verde National Park concessionaire website. Reservations, especially for full hookup sites, are strongly advised due to the campground's popularity.
For Coloradans, Morefield Campground at Mesa Verde National Park presents a unique and highly suitable camping destination. Its primary appeal lies in its exclusive location within the national park itself. This means that locals seeking to delve deep into the rich Ancestral Pueblo history and explore the stunning landscapes of Mesa Verde can do so with unmatched convenience, minimizing travel time to and from the park's archaeological sites and trailheads. This is a significant advantage, allowing for more time spent exploring and less time commuting.
While some minor maintenance issues in the restrooms have been noted by previous visitors, the presence of excellent, clean hot showers is a highly valued amenity that elevates the camping experience. The convenience of having essential services like a camp store, laundromat, gas station, and even a café within the campground village means that Coloradans can enjoy a comfortable stay without needing to leave the park for basic supplies. This level of amenity is often a pleasant surprise for those accustomed to more rustic national park campgrounds.
The "pick your own site" policy adds a personal touch, empowering local campers to find the perfect spot that caters to their specific needs for shade, space for outdoor gear, or proximity to facilities. Furthermore, the opportunity to witness native wildlife like deer and wild turkeys roaming freely through the loops adds to the authentic Colorado outdoor experience. For families, history enthusiasts, or simply those looking for a comfortable and well-situated base to explore one of Colorado's most culturally significant and naturally beautiful areas, Morefield Campground remains an excellent choice, ensuring a memorable and convenient adventure in their home state.
Onsite services
RV camping
RV electric hookup
RV sewer hookup
RV water hookup
Camping fee
Good for kids
Free parking lot
Dogs allowed
After you check-in, you get to pick the site you want by driving around and putting your tag on a post. This was nice so that we were able to select a site that fit both our tent and our shade gazebo. Unfortunately, the campground bathrooms are in dire need of repair and cleaning. The pit toilets at our previous campground were nicer than these. I didn't want to touch anything in these bathrooms. There was no soap and no way to dry one's hands. If that's the model being used, then provide and maintain a hand sanitizer option. The lighting outside the bathroom also didn't seem to align with the park's dark sky certification. On the upside - we greatly appreciated the showers! They were much better maintained than the facilities in the campground and it's always appreciated when we can control the water temp and adjust the shower head for our kids. It's also nice to have them designed in a way that doesn't get everything you own wet. Overall, it was a good experience and we'd stay here again if visiting Mesa Verde.
Overall, a nice campground in a beautiful location. But we did notice some areas for improvement: 1. The campsites themselves need more maintenance. Many of the campsites were very overgrown, to the point where the tables and fire pits were almost swallowed by high grass. This seems less than ideal given ticks as well as fire danger. 2. The flush toilets are nice, but one of the men's restrooms had no soap. 3. The showers are great to have, but need to be better maintained and cleaned. Most of them don't drain well, and the signs that talk about not using the showers for solid waste aren't exactly reassuring... 4. We had the pancake breakfast one day. Nice to have the option, but they ran out of forks and we had to eat our pancakes with a spoon. That should not happen.
Great campground wasn't crowded but plenty of folks coming and going. Campfire program at night is cool however be prepared for a mixed bag, They don't tell you the program until you are there so it's a little awkward if you choose not to stay. The night we went was more like someone's thesis than a campfire program. Only the star gazing is planned in advance. Otherwise we had a great time. Store staff was friendly and the showers were big clean and are free. Nice to have flushing toilet in the campground instead of vaults.
Morefield Campground is located within the park and is first come first serve. We were there the week of May 26 and it was probably at 50% capacity so plenty of room for everyone. The nightly ranger programs happen in one of the campground parking lots so you can easily walk over there. The campground also has several trailheads along its borders. The camp store, laundromat, showers, and bathrooms are all pretty nice. Would absolutely stay there again, and recommend that you do!
The best part about the camp sight was the location, it was great being on Mesa Verde. We were tent camping and the facilities were not good. The bathroom didn’t have paper towels or a hand dryer and didn’t have soap in the men’s room. The potable water didn’t work and the facilities were generally in need of some maintenance. The staff didn’t fix the problems when I brought them up their attention. The showers were nice and they had plenty of washers and dryers. The pancake breakfast was good, unfortunately they only had one person working so it took a long time to get food and we couldn’t get free refills on our unlimited pancake breakfast.