About Montezuma Castle National Monument
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.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Summer: Hot. Temperatures range from 95°F (35°C) to 115°F (46°C). Nighttime temperatures can be much cooler, around 70°F (21°C). From July through September, heavy rains called monsoons are common in the afternoons. Winter: Cool. Highs average around 55°F (13°C); lows may be in the teens (-10°C). Snow is rare, but…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Arizona. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Entrance Fees
This entrance fee covers one adult, aged 16 and over, for entrance to Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments for 7 days.
Operating Hours
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.
Activities
Current Alerts
All park trails are closed for 30 minutes following any lightning strikes five miles or less from the park. This includes Montezuma Well and the trail to see Montezuma Castle. Please check the forecast ahead of your visit.
At this time, staff are unable to check or receive phone messages left at the visitor center. All calls to the park are being routed to Tuzigoot National Monument. You can also reach the park at moca_tuzi_info@nps.gov if you need to contact the park.
Getting There
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.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Entrance Passes
$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.
Topics & Themes
Things To 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…
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…
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…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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