As the National Park Service readily admits, this is not a castle, and Montezuma never set foot in what is today an 840-acre site that protects the best-preserved Native American cliff dwellings in North America. (The reason for its name was that early settlers assumed the structure was associated with the Aztec ruler Montezuma. However, he was born a century after the structure was abandoned.)

Montezuma Castle is an impressive five-story, 20-room dwelling built by the Sinagua more than 600 years ago. It is set inside a large alcove in the limestone cliffs above Beaver Creek, in the Verde Valley along I-17 between Flagstaff and Phoenix.

Spring and fall are the best times of the year to visit. Summers are very hot, though winters are mild.

There are no camping facilities, but campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks are available elsewhere in the area. The park has a picnic area as well. Overnight lodgings are available in Camp Verde, which is about 5 miles south of the park.

The park is located 3 miles off I-17. Access is by car. There is no public transportation, but commercial tours are available from Flagstaff and some surrounding communities.