Good to know
- Tickets
- Free. There is no entrance fee.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 hours for the museum and the half-mile trail.
- Best time
- Spring and fall for mild weather. Summer afternoons can be hot.
- Getting there
- The monument is in the town of Aztec. Durango-La Plata County Airport is about 1 hour away by car; Albuquerque is about 3 hours.
Where to stay nearby
Advertisement
Ad space · 728 × 90
Aztec Ruins National Monument questions
Is Aztec Ruins connected to the Aztecs of Mexico?
No. Early settlers misnamed it. The site was built by ancestral Pueblo people and has no link to the Aztec empire.
Can you go inside the ruins at Aztec?
Yes. The self-guided trail passes through several original rooms with low doorways and into the rebuilt Great Kiva.
Is Aztec Ruins worth visiting after Mesa Verde or Chaco?
Yes. It is small and easy to reach, and its intact rooms and Great Kiva make a good pairing with either park.
