Mesa Verde/Durango Co-where to stay?
Wanting to goWest this year, to the Mesa Verde and Durango area. Wife wants to see the cliff dwellings, and son wants to ride on the steam train. Been there many years ago, but was in a tent....where ...
Forum Discussion
I agree with 4runnerguy on the Haviland Lake campground. Although not on the D&S NGRR, you can drive about 3 miles south of the campground to CR200 and head toward the Rockwood depot. Where the road crosses the RR track is a great location to see and photograph trains going to and from Silverton.
As Heisenberg said, Junction Creek is also a Forest Service campground with electricity. Nice campground, but a little more difficult to access for those with very long RVs.
If you can't get an electric site at Morefield CG in Mesa Verde and prefer a public CG to a private park, try McPhee Reservoir's Juniper CG near Dolores. It is only 10 miles from Cortez and has electric hookups and flush toilets for much less than the private parks (especially if you have a Federal senior pass and pay 1/2 price). And staying at McPhee gives you direct access to lake fishing and a short drive to stream fishing in the Dolores River. Better yet, it puts you right next door to the best Anasazi Museum in the West (in my opinion!).
PS: A&A Mesa Verde RV Park is now called "Ancient Cedars @ Mesa Verde." There is also Mesa Verde RV Resort. Both are ~$39-40/night for a full-hookup site, the same price as Morefield Park CG in Mesa Verde for a gravel, electric-only site. Both private parks give discounts to Good Sam, AAA, and other groups, but, being operated by Aramark, Morefield gives no discounts, even to seniors with a Federal pass. In contrast, McPhee Recreation Area is $25/night for a paved, electric-only site and $12.50/night for seniors with a pass.
As Heisenberg said, Junction Creek is also a Forest Service campground with electricity. Nice campground, but a little more difficult to access for those with very long RVs.
If you can't get an electric site at Morefield CG in Mesa Verde and prefer a public CG to a private park, try McPhee Reservoir's Juniper CG near Dolores. It is only 10 miles from Cortez and has electric hookups and flush toilets for much less than the private parks (especially if you have a Federal senior pass and pay 1/2 price). And staying at McPhee gives you direct access to lake fishing and a short drive to stream fishing in the Dolores River. Better yet, it puts you right next door to the best Anasazi Museum in the West (in my opinion!).
PS: A&A Mesa Verde RV Park is now called "Ancient Cedars @ Mesa Verde." There is also Mesa Verde RV Resort. Both are ~$39-40/night for a full-hookup site, the same price as Morefield Park CG in Mesa Verde for a gravel, electric-only site. Both private parks give discounts to Good Sam, AAA, and other groups, but, being operated by Aramark, Morefield gives no discounts, even to seniors with a Federal pass. In contrast, McPhee Recreation Area is $25/night for a paved, electric-only site and $12.50/night for seniors with a pass.
