Call us biased on this if you like, but heading down the Lower Animas is a Durango summer staple. Then, make a right onto CO-149 N and follow that for 22 miles until you reach Creede. Click here to see their availability, Siesta Motel If youre looking for some more budget-friendly accommodation options, then this motel is a geat choice. Be sure to take a peek at Denvers Tourism website for other ideas of things to do. Winter in Colorado is no joke. Dont let the views distract you on Berthoud Pass. I drive the 285>160 route almost weekly for the last few months. You can also fly from Denver to Durango, if all this seems to be too much. to La Plata County Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $195 for one-way flights and $295 for round trip, for the period specified. Can you tell me about guest ranch vacations in Colorado? - to help you get the most out of your next trip. Dunes, not to be missed with children. If you don't have time to board the train, it's worth it to at least pay a visit to the railroad museum in Durango. Brittany is an award-winning journalist based in Denver where she has lived and worked for more than a decade. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-75890404', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Pagosa Springs are the only 2 I hit along the route. Traveling with a dog or cat? A direct flight will only take about an hour in the air, which will save you a lot of time. These are both safe routes. Whichever option you choose, you find incredible scenery unlike anything else in Colorado. Oh well. The drive from Salida to Crested Butte takes approximately one hour and 45 minutes. The 160 to 285 would be the fastest. That made for about a 70-mile loop of incredible mountain views! Click here to browse other private rentals. However, if youre looking to check out something completely different but equally awesome in Colorado, you cant go wrong with a day trip to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Photo Credit: Jerilee Bennett. Red Mountain Pass. For a more complete guide on the hike, check out this Out There Colorado article. Travel along this high alpine road is strongly discouraged amid snow, freezing temperatures, and blowing snow. Michael Rosebrock / Shutterstock 7. By proceeding, you accept the use of cookies in accordance with our, Take the bus from Union Station Gate B4 to Grand Valley Downtown Transfer Station, Drive from Grand Valley Downtown Transfer Station to Montrose Airport, Take a shuttle bus from Montrose Airport to Telluride, Take a shuttle bus from Silverton, CO to Durango, CO, Take the train from Silverton to Durango, CO, Take a shuttle bus from Purgatory Plaza to Durango Transit Center, Fly from Denver (DEN) to Telluride Regional (TEX), Take a shuttle bus from Mesa Verde National Park to Purgatory Resort. This is a beautiful and quicker drive. It might sound like a bad deal, but these tickets can be a little bit cheaper than United's direct flights and it's still faster than driving. However, you can take the bus to Grand Valley Downtown Transfer Station, take the drive to Montrose Airport, take the shuttle to Telluride, take the taxi to Silverton, CO, then take the shuttle to Durango, CO. Alternatively, you can take the bus to Grand Valley Downtown Transfer Station, take the drive to Montrose Airport, take the shuttle to Telluride, take the taxi to Silverton, then take the train to Durango, CO. Rome2rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. If youve never gone mountain biking before, then this is a perfect place to try it out. Answer 1 of 6: My friends and I are coming from Europe to Denver Airport and we are supposed to go to Durango by car. Only 33 mushers will participate in the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Saturday, the smallest field ever to take their dog teams nearly 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) over . There was an error processing your request. This canyon has high walls and granite cliffs that have been carved out by the slow grind of time and the erosion forces of the Arkansas River. Semi trucks stuck on I-25. The steep, winding switchbacks can make your stomach turn on this high mountain pass, reaching an elevation of 11,307 feet. It's said to be one of the most dangerous roads in Colorado. The Strater Hotel Located in downtown Durango, this beautiful historic hotel is an excellent option for those looking for a bit of a splurge. One absolute must-do activity is hiking the, After hiking the perimeter trail, take a load off and relax in, Gates of Lodore Dinosaur National Monument, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Ultimate Colorado and Utah Road Trip Itinerary. The next best thing to do on a visit to Colorado Springs is to head up to Pikes Peak. Maybe there's a faster drive but we have not done that. The Million Dollar Highway is just a small portion of the 236-mile San Juan Skyway, itself a section of U.S. Highway 550, which runs 305 miles from Bernalillo, New Mexico, to Montrose, Colorado . This is the route Google Maps will give you. While skiers and riders will often go to great lengths to get to the mountains on a powder day, its important to drive carefully along this steep and winding alpine road. Every month, almost a million vehicles travel the 100 miles on Interstate 70 between Denver and Vail, Colorado. If youre not familiar, Monarch Pass leads to the natural snowy slopes of Monarch Mountain. Problem is no-one knows what the weather will be then. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a6e6fde05a476155cc84d0616c8a9c0f" );document.getElementById("b934630cd5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi! High season is considered to be October, November and December. Instead of following US-50 W all the way to Montrose, take a right onto CO-92 W for approximately 70 miles until you reach Delta. Answer 1 of 6: My friends and I are coming from Europe to Denver Airport and we are supposed to go to Durango by car. Ancient home of the Ancestral Puebloans, Mesa Verde hosts some of the most impressive and best-preserved Native American ruins in the United States. Perhaps most amazing about this historic site is that the rock pinnacles for which Chimney Rock gets its name frame multiple astronomical alignment points. It is well located, there are a number of plush rooms available, and the breakfast included uses dairy products sourced from the propertys own goats! Im traveling with a friend who has limited mobility. Head out of Creede the way you came in along CO-149 S for 22 miles and then make a left onto US-160 E for 17 miles. From hiking to climbing to jeep and segway tours, theres a whole heaping lot to do at this picture-perfect place. Lots of good food in Durango. 2:05 pm Pagosa Springs (Colorado) stay for about 1 hour. Click here to browse other private rentals. It ends in Durango, Colorado. It is home to Fort Lewis College. The train route links Silverton and Durango, and you can even book a seat in a private car. So, stop by if you can. Well, youve come to the right place. day 2 driving 3.5 hours. Its a stop with good lodging options and plenty of services, and there are also two great options for wine and beer tasting, respectively, in Aspen Peak Cellars and Mad Jacks Mountain Brewery. I drive the 285>160 route almost weekly for the last few months. Have any questions about any of these stops? But. Camping, backpacking, and hiking opportunities abound in this area once the snow melts in the summertime. While the quickest route between these two cities would take a fast driver 12 hours to complete without stopping, we suggest taking it slow and enjoying everything there is to see on the way. ', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC), Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Durango, Holiday Inn & Suites Durango Downtown, an IHG Hotel, Denver to Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts, Glendale Los Angeles County CA USA to Durango CO USA, Petrified Forest National Park to Durango CO USA, There is a social distancing requirement of 2 metres. The scenic section that we refer to as the Million Dollar Highway is the 25-mile section between Ouray and Silverton, then from Silverton to Durango the scenic road technically becomes the San Juan Skyway. Where to go at the end of November, Early December?!?! This calculation assumes that your vehicle gets an average gas mileage of 25 mpg . Adding to all the chaos, Colorado drivers arent exactly known for their set of skills out on the roads and youll find more of those drivers in the Denver metro area than anywhere else. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. 4WD and AWD vehicles must have snow tires or all-weather tires with 3/16 inch tread depth. Having a wonderful time here. Along this route youll be graced with beautiful views of the town as well as encounter a few sizable waterfalls that make for perfect Instagram backdrops. Pass in SW CO? Youll also get to take on thrilling class III rapids at Durangos exciting whitewater park. After spending the night in the alpine town of Vail (yes, on the drive over from Rocky Mountain National Park across I-70, we hit several patches of snow and temperatures falling below zero, even at the end of May! But those in the know, slow down and stop in four . 10 Best Stops on a Denver to Moab Road Trip. This protected archaeological site of San Juan National Forest is best experienced by joining one of the daily guided walking tours offered by the U.S. Forest Service management staff. What kind of rental car do I need & are there places I should not drive a rental car? This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. If you'll have the time try to visit both Colorado Springs (Pike's Peak, Garden of the Gods etc.) Dont let snowy roads put a damper on your adventure plans. Book at least 2 weeks before departure in order to get a below-average price. First, head Southwest on US Hwy 285 S, which you'll stay on for about 130 miles. Exceptions may apply, for full details: Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC). It is the route CasaAzul mentioned. and leave at 3:05 pm. Pack your hiking boots and a rain jacket as well if you plan on stopping at hiking trails or national parks and monuments like the Great Sand Dunes and Chimney Rock National Monument in the San Juan Forest. Thank you :) A Google mapping exercise will offer you two routes, one about a half-hour longer than the other. I-70 is a major east-west Interstate highway in the United States that runs from Maryland through Colorado into Utah, stretching for 2,151 miles. Well, thats it for this epic Colorado summer road trip. Drive to Colorado Springs on Interstate 25 and on through Pueblo to Walsenburg where you'll take Hwy 160 west. Although its fine to just drive through this small town, if you have an extra day or two on your trip, we recommend spending it in Pagosa Springs. I'd judge the least "scary" of the three to be I-25/US160. This 235 mile loop takes you through old mining towns, spectacular scenery, and exhilarating twists & turns. Or, Highway 285 to 160 is more scenic and has mountains but is not scary. Cheyenne . This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in India. Cars are unable to make it up the pass during winter weather on a regular basis. What are the roads like, and what do I need to know about driving in Colorado? Silverton is an old mining town nestled between Red Mountain and Molas, two San Juan Mountain passes. That's because Mapquest knows you drive fast Tet, lol!!! What is the national COVID-19 helpline number in Durango? Architectural structures left behind by the ancestral Puebloans include pit houses, great kivas, and great houses, according to the U.S. Forest Services website. You could also travel on Route 24 to pass through Colorado Springs, before connecting and driving west on 160, which will add about 30 minutes to your trip. Head west on US-50 W for 60 miles, and then turn right onto CO-135 N which will take you to Crested Butte after 27 miles. Running between Ouray and Silverton, the mountain road caps off at 11,018 feet with grades as steep as 8%. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-75870242', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Denver to Durango -- at least in any reasonable way -- without some mountain driving. No problem finding gas and basic supplies, just not much "good" food or coffee. Photo Credit: milehightraveler (iStock). If you are headed to the mountains on the weekend, plan ahead for more traffic than usual. This drive is most densely populated with residential areas and small towns for about the first hour or so, but the rest is nothing but mountain passes, wide-open valleys, and National Forest areas, with the occasional town to break things up. 10 Best Stops on the Denver to Aspen Drive via Vail. If playing it safe during times of the year with bad weather is your goal, it might make sense to take the longer route down I-25 and on to US 160 at Walsenburg. One of the defining features of the Penitente Canyon area is a natural arch, sometimes called La Ventana (the window in Spanish), which anyone seeking to venture further into this area should prioritize.