Concise Guide to Montezuma’s Castle and Well in Arizona

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rizona is filled with beautiful sights, some are natural wonders, like Havasupai Falls, and others are man-made like the incredible cliff dwellings seen at Montezuma’s Castle & Well. In this brief guide to Montezuma Castle, I’ll share some details about these national historic sites and also take this opportunity to remind you that travel is not all glamorous like you

see on Instagram. So you’ll also read a travel story…I give you the day I got heat sickness and vomited in front of strangers. Ta daaaaa. But also Montezuma’s Castle and Well in Arizona!

Where is Montezuma’s Castle National Monument?

Located in the Arizona desert between Flagstaff and Phoenix, you’ll find this iconic “castle” that is one of the of the best things to do in Arizona with kids.

In actuality, this Arizona National Monument is made up of two separate sites — the Castle and the Well. Montezuma’s Castle is located at Montezuma Castle Rd in Camp Verde, Arizona. The Well is at Forest Service Road 618 in Rimrock, Arizona (a bit more north along Route 17.

How do you get to Montezuma Castle?

From Flagstaff, to get there it’s about 45 minutes to an hour and from Phoenix, it’s an hour and a half. Each site is along Route 17, which travels between the two cities.

To get to Montezuma Well, travel along Route 17 until you get to exit 298 from Flagstaff or exit 293 from Phoenix. There are lots of signs and GPS’s recognize the site so that should help!

For Montezuma Castle National Monument, take Route 17 until exit 289 from Flagstaff and Phoenix. Again, follow the signs and you can’t miss it. It is located down a HUGE hill so if you find yourself traveling up a hill and not down, you may be turned around.

What even is Montezuma’s Castle and Well?

This limestone cliff dwelling is of the Sinagua culture from about 800 years ago. It is 20 rooms tall and until the 1950’s visitors could climb up to it via ladders. The scale of this place is insane. It definitely makes you think about the craftsmanship and ingenuity of the architecture.

As amazing as the Castle was, from a science perspective the Well is super interesting. The spring receives an influx of 1.5 million gallons of warm water daily, regardless of drought, and then travels through 150 feet of rock to an outlet irrigation ditch, developed by the Sinagua people.

What is there to do?

At Montezuma Castle, the main path is a 1/3 mile loop that takes you past the dwellings and through some lovely vegetation and along a creek. Definitely be sure to stop at the signs to read about the history of the Sinagua peoples and their architectural wonder!

Note that currently, ranger-guided tours are canceled.

At Montezuma Well, bird-watching is a big hit as the area sees 200 species of birds each year. There is another 1/3 mile trail that leads around the Well and back to a historic irrigation ditch.

A word to the wise to obviously check out the Well but be cautious of the heat. The main Well area has little shade and it gets HOT in Arizona (read about the time I almost passed out in northern Arizona here). The irrigation ditch has a path near it that is shaded and it is much cooler than the path around the Well.

How much does it cost to visit?

Montezuma’s Castle is a national monument (one of the best Arizona National Parks and Monuments) and you will need to pay an entrance fee of $10 per adult (16 years old and over). It’s good for 7 days and works at Tuzigoot National Monument too, which is in Clarkdale, Arizona a bit more northeast of Montezuma areas.

However, Montezuma’s Well has free admission! It really is a fun spot to check out and it’s really interesting to learn about the indigenous culture.

You can use your America the Beautiful park pass here as well!

What to bring to Montezuma’s Castle & Well

Here are a few essential items that I would bring with you! If you learned anything from my glamorous travel story, it’s that you need lots of water and the proper gear to deal with intense Arizona heat.

The paths aren’t really hikes so you don’t need strict hiking boots, but good walking shoes are a must. Don’t forget an insulated water bottle and camelbak (so you can carry your drinking water as a backpack), sunscreen, and a hat!

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Isn’t travel just the most glamorous thing?

Take it from me and learn from my mistakes, do not get dehydrated. Upon leaving the irrigation ditch area (a lovely cool spot), I started to get light headed. I tried to sit down but instead was overtaken by heat sickness. I proceeded to throw up at the side of the trail on the way back to the car…in front of strangers. Yes, hello world. Isn’t travel so glamorous??

Anyway, my lovely boyfriend ran to the car to get me water and essentially carried me back. Everyone was very nice and tried to help but boy was I embarrassed. One of these days I’ll learn that Arizona in the summer is hot.

Drink water and Gatorade the day before you go on an adventure. Wear a hat. Bring your water with you. Apply sunblock.

My Travel Essentials

• Travel Insurance – Going on an international trip? Don’t forget travel and medical insurance with SafetyWing.
• Travel Card – If you’re new to travel hacking, fear not! My favorite card for beginners gives you $750 in rewards when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus lounge access, 10x points on hotel bookings, and free TSA pre-check!
• Get Your Guide – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
• Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
• Anti-pickpocket bag – Worried about having your valuables swiped? PacSafe makes the best travel bags with zippers and straps that lock and with mesh steel enforced fabric.
• Give the Gift of Travel – This is the perfect gift for travelers in your life! Tinggly allows you to gift experiences around the world, perfect for birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries.
• Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!

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