Entrance Fee
$10.00
/ Entrance - Per Person
Park Hours (Today)
9:00AM - 4:45PM
Montezuma Castle Visitor Center: 9:00AM - 4:45PM
Miza AI
Plan your Montezuma Castle trip
About the Park
Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff, tells a story of ingenuity, survival and ultimately, prosperity in an unforgiving desert landscape.
Ready to explore Montezuma Castle National Monument?
Take the stress out of planning. Our AI will automatically sequence your stops, find the best hotels, and optimize your driving time in seconds.
What to See & Do
View Montezuma Castle
Visitors can view two cliff dwellings while visiting the park, Montezuma Castle and Castle A. An accessible, 0.3 mile trail loops around the site and features many views of both the dwellings and the creekside ecosystem they rise above. Interpretive signs offer insight into the lives of the people that built and thrived in this community.
Become a Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot BARK Ranger
Do you think your dog has what it takes to become an official Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot Bark Ranger? Stop by the visitor center to get certified. Certification allows you to purchase an exclusive BARK Ranger badge from the bookstore.
Visitor Centers
Montezuma Castle Visitor Center
This visitor center provides the entrance fee station, as well as bathrooms, a small museum, and the Western National Parks Association bookstore. Stop in first to get all the information you need!
Parking & Access
Getting Here
Montezuma Castle: Follow I-17 to exit 289 (90 minutes north of Phoenix, 45 minutes south of Flagstaff). Drive east (through two traffic circles) for approximately 1/2 mile to the blinking red light. Turn left onto Montezuma Castle Road. Montezuma Well: Follow I-17 to exit 293 (north of the exit for Montezuma Castle). Continue through the towns of McGuireville and Rimrock, following the signs for 4 miles to the entrance to the Well.
Official NPS directionsParking Lots
Montezuma Castle Parking Lot
A medium sized parking lot with 2 RV parking spots, first come first served. Please make sure you are 45 ft. in length or less before accessing our parking lot.
Open in MapsGetting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
Montezuma Castle: Follow I-17 to exit 289 (90 minutes north of Phoenix, 45 minutes south of Flagstaff). Drive east (through two traffic circles) for approximately 1/2 mile to the blinking red light. Turn left onto Montezuma Castle Road. Montezuma Well: Follow I-17 to exit 293 (north of the exit for Montezuma Castle). Continue through the towns of McGuireville and Rimrock, following the signs for 4 miles to the entrance to the Well.
Park Amenities
Entrance Fees & Passes
Standard Fees
Entrance - Per Person
$10.00This entrance fee covers one adult, aged 16 and over, for entrance to Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments for 7 days.
Annual & Lifetime Passes
Annual Entrance - Park
$35.00$35 annual pass, good for one (1) year. Will cover the entrance fee at both Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments. Available to everyone; good for card holder plus 3 adult guests. Can be obtained in person at Montezuma Castle National Monument, Tuzigoot National Monument, or online at Recreation.gov. Passes are NON-REFUNDABLE, NON-TRANSFERABLE, and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen.
Operating Hours
Montezuma Castle
Montezuma Castle is open daily. Please note that the park gate is one mile from the visitor center and closes at 4:45pm. Parking on the road or in front of the gate is not allowed at any time.
- Monday9:00AM - 4:45PM
- Tuesday9:00AM - 4:45PM
- Wednesday9:00AM - 4:45PM
- Thursday9:00AM - 4:45PM
- Friday9:00AM - 4:45PM
- Saturday9:00AM - 4:45PM
- Sunday9:00AM - 4:45PM
Photos
Sun shines on the window sill in a masonry wall; trees in fall color are seen outside the window.
Two masonry walls with a dark doorway in a short cliff ledge.
Two cliff dwellings and a tree with yellow leaves above a pond.
a blue sinkhole surrounded by algae, reeds, and cattails in a desert landscape
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Build your Montezuma Castle itinerary
Tell Miza your dates, pace, and interests—get a day-by-day plan with hikes, drives, and must-see stops.
Best Time
May-September
Trip Length
1 day
Searching for the best hotel deals near Montezuma Castle National Monument...
Planning Montezuma Castle National Monument
These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.