Denver to Mesa Verde National Park
 

Hello - I have 5 days to travel and would like to work my way to Mesa Verde National Park to spend a day and one half to two days.
I'd like to break up the driving by seeing other sites on the way there and on the way back if possible. Can someone suggest what I might be able to see?
I looked into The Great Sand Dunes which is 4 hours from Denver which would put me there a 2 pm. Is that enough time from 2 to closing 6? to see the park? Then another 4 1/2 hours to Mesa Verde again getting there in the afternoon. It will be Wednesday by the time I get into the park. How much time do I need to go on two tours and hike some?
Any suggestions for a trip itinerary would be much appreciated. I am a senior and cannot drive more that 4 hours a day.

Thank you!

If you want to limit your drive time each day to 4 hours and you want to spend a couple days at MV and be back in Denver 5 days after your departure from Denver, I think you will run short on time. Driving only 4 hours a day, your drive time alone without stopovers is going to take you almost 4 days considering it will take you over 7 hours in each direction between Denver and the entrance of MV and the entrance to the cliff dwellings is another distance not figured in.

You need to make reservations for 2 nights in Far View Lodge in MV.

Thank you for your replies. I have made reservations at the Far View Lodge.
I plan to start the trip on Sept 11 drive to Great Sand Dunes and spend the afternoon - stay overnight and continue the trip - google maps now gives me a route that will take nearly 5 hours to MV? Wondered if there was another route I could take that was shorter. By the time we get to Cortez it is afternoon. So realistically We won't tour MS till Wednesday, Thurs. I don't think we can make the full drive back to Denver in one day.
Where can I stay on the way Back?
Won't get me back to Denver until Saturday.
Does this sound right?

Any suggestions on where to stay other than the Sand Dunes area if I drive a another hour further?

The fastest way back is probably Highways 160 - 285. Stay overnight in Salida, a nice little town.

The distances are what they are. It would be great if you could squeeze another day or two into your trip to spend in the Mesa Verde area.

thank you I will try to squeeze in another day!

With a five day and four hour drive limit, you are pushing the limits of possibility. First, I find the google drive times to be optimistic for mountain driving. Add 25%. Second, there is no place to stay in or around the Great Sand Dunes park. Your best bet is Alamosa, a college town, prior to Wolf Creek Pass. Probably a good idea to be well rested prior to tackling Wolf Creek Pass.

You should be able to make M Verda the next day. Drive directly there and spend two nights.

For the fourth night I would try for Gunnison. If time permits you could do a quick look at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. From Gunnison it about a five hour run back to Denver via Leadville and I-70.

I would sleep in Montrose and take the time to see Black Canyon NP. It doesn't take too long if you don't hike.

Great Sand Dunes are a must if you are going in that direction.

From Mesa Verde, consider taking the Million Dollar Hwy (Durango to Silverton etc.) then going on to Gunnison for the night. The next day head for Denver.

Depending on when in the year you will be taking this trip, it's better to visit the Sand Dunes in the morning, when it's cooler and the sand is not hot.

I'll be travelling the week of 9/11 hoping it will be cooler then!

Where are you coming from?

I'll be visiting family in Denver the weekend before the trip. Still on the fence about just going to the Great Sand Dunes and "something else" nearer to Denver or just make the trip to Mesa Verde and return to Denver without any side trips. I just have the 5 days.

Rather than the sand dunes for a trip go up to RMNP. Or even just drive into the mountains--ave lunch in Frisco and look at the scenery near there. There is a LOT to do just a couple of hours from Denver.

Go out to Morrison for lunch and visit Red Rocks.

Thank you Gretchen,

I should have been more specific. I had 3 children who went to the University of Colorado in Boulder and have made many trips to the area and have taken day trips to RMNP and the outlying area many times - also Red Rocks - also skied breakenridge,vail,beaver creek,aspen,snowmass, a basin,keystone. Went to Colorado Springs, Idaho Springs, Glenwood Springs,Evergreen, Georgetown, some others.
But I have never been further south - south/west and would like to travel somewhere for the 5 days.
When I went to Moab 5 years ago we did not have time for Mesa Verde (should have done it then). Just don't know if it is worth the trip.
Is the Sand Dunes not worth the time.
Can you suggest other places?

Oh, no, we enjoyed the Dunes. Just didn't know you had done so much other.Too bad about MV.

What about Pagosa Springs?

Should I drive from Denver to Pagosa springs and then head to Mesa Verde. How long a drive is that?

It's 276 miles from Denver to Pagosa Springs, which is only 94 miles from Mesa Verde.