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; www.cityofcortez.com), is served by Great Lakes Airlines (tel. 800/554-5111 or 970/565-9510), with direct daily flights to Denver.
Budget (tel. 970/564-9012) and Hertz (tel. 970/565-2001) provide car rentals at the airport.
Visitor Information
Stop at the Colorado Welcome Center at Cortez/Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce, 928 E. Main St. (tel. 970/565-4048 or 970/565-3414; www.cortezchamber.org), 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 (tel. 800/253-1616; www.mesaverdecountry.com).
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; www.usps.com) 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 Roundup Rodeo, Montezuma County Fair, late July; Food, Wine & Art Festival, late August.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
