Montezuma Castle Visitor Center — Attraction in Camp Verde

This entire setup is absolutely ludacris. They are in no way prepared for the number of visitors they receive. We personally have never been to a National Park THIS congested.

The parking lot is TINY and has ZERO RV or large rig parking. As you turn down the Montezuma Castle road there is a sign that reads no large rigs between 10-2. Not to mention the parking spaces themselves are not normal depth. Even normal Pickup trucks had to park horizontally across spaces because they stuck out too far. We drive a 24’ skoolie and can fit in a normal parking space but there as we drove the mile down into the facility the parking lot was FULL. Like actually zero spaces full.

There’s a large sign at the visitor center parking lot that reads if the parking lot is full please try again later….. so this happens often. There is also NO turn around so you can’t just keep doing laps until someone leaves you have to drive all the way back up Montezuma road to turn around.

A nice gentleman came out to tell us we could park along the side of the road just passed the “no parking anytime signs” off the shoulder.

Walking up to the center there’s a massive line to get inside that stretches outside along the wall towards the bathrooms. The desk inside is a very short distance away from the door so they’ve placed a stop sign outside to keep everyone from crowding the door.

The gift shop os full of surprises and sun but it is SO PACKED it’s not even worth it. They added another checkout merchandise booth towards the back but there’s always a line and it stretches across the entirety of the entrance to get outside to the trail.

The museum portion was very interesting. We hadn’t seen a timeline showing Europe and the US at the same time in a VC center yet so we enjoyed that but it was SO LOUD in the museum and packed in the back corner that you couldn’t focus on anything you were reading.

If I could recommend anything move some stuff outside…. Move the stamp table for National Park books outside to elevate some congestion or maybe put a movie outside to spread people out.

The trail and ruins themselves are incredible. The second best we have seen after Gila National Park. The trail is a short paved walk to the ruins and around the river. It is very peaceful and absolutely stunning. The volunteers along the trail were very friendly and full of information about the Verde Valley and Montezuma castle. That was a nice touch to have them along the trail and they seemed to really enjoy it.

It’s just GETTING INTO the park that is a HEADACHE. The crowds seemed to die down about 3:00 with last entry being 4. Next visit I will either be the first person in in the morning or wait until 3:00 in...

This visitor center did not seem adequate for the amount of traffic that comes through its doors. There is no RV parking! But even without RV's in the lot, the very small lot was still completely full! There was even a sign at the entrance that read 'If parking lot is full, please try coming back again later'. Luckily we had time on our side and were able to wait 45 minutes before coming back, but I understand not everyone attempting to visit has that luxury. The lot is also more of a teardrop shape that doesnt promote circling around. Upon trying to enter there was a long line at the door. Once inside the center it was crazy environment with how many people were bumping into one another which seemed to get on just about everyone's nerves.

All of this being said though, the museum portion was very informing and offered a unique perspective on major events that were happening in Europe during the same time period as what was happening at the National Monument and around North America. The gift shop seemed well stocked having a variety of items at reasonable prices as well as the staff were very kind...

$10 per person, the gift shop is the real gem it has some great stuff and honestly wasn't too expensive all proceeds go to the park, they have a clean bathroom, and a water bottle fill up station just outside which I highly recommend people use as you need water, the trails are all pretty well maintained and marked. Noticed some wrapped trees because ignorant people who can't keep their hands to themselves decided to vandalize the trees! People be respectful. The castle itself is fascinating and can be viewed from afar actual entrance was stopped in the 50s....because guess what people decided to vandalize things. Anyways your ticket also gives you entrance to the Well which unfortunately we didn't have too much time for, but over all...