Getting There

By Car -- Cortez is located at the junction of north-south U.S. 491 and east-west U.S. 160.

As it enters Cortez from the east, U.S. 160 crosses Dolores Road (Colo. 145, which goes north to Telluride and Grand Junction), then runs due west through town for about 2 miles as Main Street. The city's main thoroughfare, Main Street intersects U.S. 491 (Broadway) at the west end of town.

By Plane -- Cortez Airport, off U.S. 160 and 491, southwest of town (tel. 970/565-7458), is served by Great Lakes Airlines (tel. 800/554-5111 or 970/565-9510), with direct daily flights to Denver.

Budget (tel. 800/527-0700 or 970/564-9012) and Enterprise (tel. 800/325-8007 or 970/565-6824) provide car rentals at the airport.

Visitor Information

Stop at the Colorado Welcome Center at Cortez, Cortez City Park, 928 E. Main St. (tel. 970/565-4048), open daily from 8am to 6pm in summer and from 8am to 5pm the rest of the year; or contact the Mesa Verde Country Visitor Information Bureau, P.O. Box HH, Cortez, CO 81321 (tel. 800/253-1616), or the Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 968, Cortez, CO 81321 (tel. 970/565-3414).

Fast Facts

The local hospital is Southwest Memorial Hospital, 1311 N. Mildred Rd. (tel. 970/565-6666), which has a 24-hour emergency room. The post office is at 35 S. Beech St.; contact the U.S. Postal Service (tel. 800/275-8777) for hours and additional information.

Special Events

American Indian Dances and Cultural Programs, mid-May to late August; Indian Arts and Culture Festival, Memorial Day Weekend; Ute Mountain Round-Up and Rodeo, early June; Arts and Crafts Fiesta, mid-June; Wine & Art Festival, early October; Parade of Lights, early December.