montezuma-castle | AZ | Find park

A 5-story masonry dwelling sits in a cliff alcove.

Montezuma Castle was built in an alcove about 90 feet up a cliff. This protects the dwelling from flooding.

Sun shines on the window sill in a masonry wall; trees in fall color are seen outside the window.

Visitors to Montezuma Castle usually only get to see the dwelling from the outside. This view shows what the Sinagua might have seen.

Two masonry walls with a dark doorway in a short cliff ledge.

The Sinagua used space efficiently - here a storage room sits in a short cliff space below the main Castle.

Two cliff dwellings and a tree with yellow leaves above a pond.

Montezuma Well provided a stable source of water to the Sinagua.

a blue sinkhole surrounded by algae, reeds, and cattails in a desert landscape

From the overlook, visitors can view some of the dwellings alongside Montezuma Well.

Physical Address:

2800 Montezuma Castle Road

Camp Verde, AZ 86322

Mailing Address:

P. O. Box 219

Camp Verde, AZ 86322

contact-details

Phone Number: 9285673322 Voice

Email Address: moca_tuzi_info@nps.gov
Description:

Fees

Entrance Fees

Entrance - Per Person: $10.00

This entrance fee covers one adult, aged 16 and over, for entrance to Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments for 7 days.

Entrance 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.

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.

park designation:National Monument

Directions:

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.

For detailed directions, please visit this link.

Directions

Operating Hours:

Montezuma Castle

Montezuma Well and Montezuma Castle National Monument are open every day with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, December 25th, and January 1st. Please note that the park gate is one mile from the visitor center and closes at 4:45pm. The park also closes early at 1:45 pm on December 24th and December 31st.

Exceptions:

Closed Thanksgiving Day (November 27, 2025 - November 27, 2025)

Closed December 25th (December 25, 2024 - December 25, 2024)

New Year Day (January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025)

Weather Information:

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 late June through early August, 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 possible. For detailed information, visit the National Weather Service: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=34.61151944900047&lon=-111.8389592099997#.Vi_FZX6rSUk