Do you recommend buying tickets for the Mesa Verde tours the day before? Could we show up in the morning, say at 10 am and get to see Cliff Palace and Long House?

If you can get there first thing [8 am] you should be able to get tour tickets form both places. By 10, the lines can be long and since the tours take time and are physically not near each other, you need to have time to see one and then get to the other.

IT also depends on time of year; you didn't mention when you planned to visit Mesa Verde. FYI - Long House and the other ruins in that area are not open after Labor Day.

One last thing, I know that in the past you could get tickets for tours the afternoon before, but I am not sure that is still the case. Also, FYI, the drive into Mesa Verde from highway 160 to the Visitor's Center where you would get your tickets takes about 40 minutes each way. So if you plan on getting your tickets the day before, or just being at the ticket area early - be sure to allow for that time to get to Visitor's Center.
Debi

About 10 years ago we made the mistake of arriving late and experiencing the long lines that Debit described. We ended up doing a self-tour of Spruce Tree House and a few hikes.

We returned last month mid-afternoon and bought same day tickets for the last tour of Cliff Palace and next day tickets for Balcony House, so it is possible to buy tickets the day before.

We will be there next wednesday or thursday. Would it be less crowded on a weekday?

Weekdays to tend to be a bit less crowded, but it is still busy in the area - was in Durango last night for dinner and the streets were still very busy at 9:30 pm when we got out of dinner.

Making reservations for dinner is also a good idea and leave time to find parking place - it is hard to park downtown.

One last thing -- there is major construction on the main road WITHIN Mesa Verde. There are signs to EXPECT DELAYS posted just outside the exit from Highway 160. That is going to add to the time to get to Visitor's Center.

Debi