Visiting Mesa Verde, 4 Corners, etc (Denver, Durango: where to stay, hotels, transfer to)

[chilaili]

This probably isn't in the right forum, but I can't find a travel one here. I need info on where to stay and how to get to Mesa Verde and Four Corners. Eg; is Durango the nearest place with accommodation or are there any nearer?

I want to do a long weekend trip, driving down from Denver, 1st/2nd week of June, staying in comfortable, 2-3 Star motels/hotels with somewhere good to eat close by.

Any and all helpful advice most welcome!

[tfox]

Cortez is closer to the 4 corners and MV, but while you're in the area you ought to visit Durango too while you're there.

[chilaili]

Can you recommend any hotels in either city?

[Colomonter]

Originally Posted by chilaili

Can you recommend any hotels in either city?

I would recommend the Holiday Inn Express in Cortez. Staying in Cortez will put you almost equidistance between the Four Corners and Mesa Verde and it will be less expensive and less busy than Durango. You can go onto their web site and see photos, availability, etc.

Also, from Cortez you can take a short trip 8 miles North on Colorado 145 to the great little town of Dolores (where I grew up) if you want to see a much different landscape than the Cortez area.

[dgoboy204]

Originally Posted by Colomonter

Staying in Cortez will put you almost equidistance between the Four Corners and Mesa Verde and it will be less expensive and less busy than Durango.

I would agree w/Colomonter. Cortez is likely to be less expensive that time of year and easier access to where you want to be.

If you want to check out Dgo too, you might try the Holiday Inn - its 2 blocks from Hwy 160 West (to Mesa Verde) and 2 blocks from Main Ave downtown (lots of good places to eat). Holiday Inn - 970.247.5393 For more info on lodging in Dgo, try Dgo Central Reservations (970.247.8900) or www.durango.org

Wait, oh yeah, there is also the Far View Lodge inside Mesa Verde National Park www.nationalparkreservations.com

Good luck and best wishes!

[I_LUVNM]

I agree with Colomonter, tfox and Dgoboy, Cortez would be better for Mesa Verde and the Four Corners monument. I would go visit Durango for lots of activities to do like the train ride, strolling downtown, all the fab restaurants, raft rides too among other things. You might stay in Holiday Inn one or two nights in Durango and do stuff there and then transfer to Cortez Holiday Inn and do the rest from there. Durango Holiday Inn has Applebees right there. You can easily walk to downtown from there, which is great since parking in downtown Durango can be an Olympic challenge. Visit the Durango Chamber of Commerce on Camino Del Rio and Santa Rita Drive for lots of brochures, info and more on the area and stuff to do. Have fun!
For time:
Train take a day to ride.
Mesa Verde takes about half a day to see but if you go on all the hikes, count on at least one day.
Raft rides take a few hours.
Four Corners monument you can see and take a few pictures and leave in a couple of hours at most.