Answer 1 of 21: Hi, I will be in Denver late Oct. had wanted to ride on Durango to Silverton train. Drop-dead gorgeous and nestled into the heart of the San Juan mountains, visiting Ouray 100% feels like youre being transported to Switzerland. The reason why it's so long is because there is no direct bus service between the two cities. Thank you. 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. For more information, see our privacy policy. updated Jul 14, 2022 How long is the drive from Denver to Durango? The distance between Denver and Durango is 372 km. The Perfect 1, 2 or 3 Days in Montpellier Itinerary, The Perfect 1, 2 to 3 Days in Toulouse Itinerary, The Perfect 2 to 3 Days in Nice Itinerary, The Perfect 5 to 7 Days in Finland Itinerary (Winter or Summer). There is also breakfast included each morning. The 160 to 285 would be the fastest. Most crashes on the pass occur at the switchback curve near the Wolf Creek scenic outlook area. Colorado wildfires: Several fires explode across Front Range With a route that passes south on US Highway 285 through Pike-San Isabel National Forest and continues down to the Great Sand Dunes and the Rio Grande headwaters, the Denver to Durango drive is one of southern Colorados most scenic. 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. You'll ride on a historic, coal-fired train that travels the same tracks as the miners, cowboys, and settlers who came to the Wild West did more than 100 years ago. And as this road trip tends to take only about six to six and a half hours, its easy to pull off in a single day with plenty of time for some stops near the highway. Theres a lot of great terrain here for skiers of all skill levels in the wintertime, with everything from black diamond tree runs to easy, gradual glades and trails on the slopes that descend from Monarch Pass. Silverton is an old mining town nestled between Red Mountain and Molas, two San Juan Mountain passes. If you drive that route without stops it app.takes 6 hours. Jillian Dara is a freelance journalist and fact-checker. Having seen and read descriptions of the Million Dollar Highway, I'd like to avoid the drive south between Ouray and Silverton. Good coffee is also scarce along that route until you get to Durango. Portions of I-70 often close due to severe weather conditions. Roundtrip One-way Multi-city 1 traveler Economy Leaving from Going to Departing Returning Add a place to stay Add a car Direct flights only Cheap Flights from Denver Intl. Can you please describe the San Juan Skyway/Million $ Hwy/Red Mtn. The road distance is 537.8 km. Driving Time from Denver, CO to Durango, CO - Travelmath Take US Hwy 285 south from Denver for approximately 173 miles. Check out our Denver to Aspen drive & Denver to Moab road trip articles! 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. I took a GPS with me to attach in the rental car. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Takes 6hrs plus stops and is both easy and scenic. If we could only recommend two things (as has been established as the pattern of this post), then the first wed recommend is a rafting trip on the Lower Animas river. The arch and many of the other geologic formations here are the results of heat and pressure having formed volcanic ash into hard rock over millions of years. 10 Best Stops on the Denver to Aspen Drive via Vail. Grand Junction To Dinosaur When it comes to traveling through heavy snow, strong gusty winds, and blistering cold temperatures, heres our list of some of Colorados most dangerous roads to watch out for this winter. He lives in Colorado and also works as a fly fishing guide and instructor when not editing or writing. Taking I-25 adds something like 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic, and will take you past the flatter, more populated areas of Colorado Springs and Pueblo. The museum opened on February 23, 2011 in what was once a power plant. Services like gas stations and restaurants are in good supply at Salida, Saguache, and other areas along the way. Editors Note: Never speed. The shorter one (US285 south and US160 west), more scenic, has more mountains. What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms when I arrive in Durango? All three cross Wolf Creek Pass on US160, which is truly scary only if your brakes fail on the way down. 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. If you're going on a road trip from Colorado Springs to Durango, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with Pagosa Springs and top places to visit like . Our next recommendation is to take a guided tour at Mesa Verde National Park. 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. Keep in mind though, it's an incredibly long ride because you'll need to travel out of your way to switch buses in Grand Junction. Last updated: 1 Mar 2023 First, head Southwest on US Hwy 285 S, which you'll stay on for about 130 miles. You will catch C4-70 outside (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Which route is the best? I drive the 285>160 route almost weekly for the last few months. Yep, its that simple. Powerhouse Science Center, formerly the The Durango Discovery Museum, is an interactive science center located in Durango, Colorado. The round trip cost would be $106.55 to go from Denver, CO to Durango, CO and back to Denver, CO again. 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! Prices starting at $219 for return flights and $109 for one-way flights to Durango were the cheapest prices found within the past 7 days, for the period specified. Signup today for free and be the first to get notified on new updates. Lodging for 2 nights in Estes park in mid May, Where to stay near Union Station if using Red Rocks shuttle. The United States Census Bureau reported a population of 16,887 in the 2010 census. 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. After hiking the perimeter trail, take a load off and relax in Ourays Hot Springs. The most straightforward choice for the least amount of time on the road is to simply take I-70 West out of Denver, which is the only main highway you need to follow on this drive until making an exit at Highway 9 just 10 to 15 minutes before you arrive at Breckenridge. The small town of Bailey is about 25 minutes from Tiny Town at the bottom of a steep incline just as 285 bends and begins to trace a path along the North Fork of the South Platte River. Not far from the New Mexico border, Durango is actually closer to Albuquerque than Denver, with 215 miles between them. Although its a small mountain town, its bursting at the seams with history, scenery, and adventure opportunities. Plus, Durangos wild west and mining history give it such a distinguished and quirky character. It is the route CasaAzul mentioned. One snowstorm resulted in more than 300 crashes in the Denver metro area, with 93 of those occurring within a 3-hour period. Theres not many other places where you can hike through desert-like dunes with snow-capped mountain peaks as your backdrop. In fact, winter weather is often the blame for the majority of delays and crashes. 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. Each flight takes about an hour, so this is definitely the fastest way to get from Denver to Durango. Denver Area Road Trip Turn right on CO State Hwy 112 W for 13 miles until you reach Del Norte. The drive from Denver to Durango via 285 South covers about 337 miles and usually takes just over six hours, give or take some time depending on traffic and weather conditions. Thai place in Poncha Springs and Lost Cajun in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? These springs are perfect for an evening soak when the day starts to cool and you want to settle down to reflect on the days adventure accomplishments. The cheapest way to get from Denver to Durango is to drive which costs 75,000-120,000 and takes 6h 33m. Outdoor seating areas are especially nice for sampling the beverages and entrees at either one. Hi Diane, The drive from Denver to Aspen takes about 4 hours (if there isn't a lot of traffic). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Join our mailing list for discounts, special events, and more. Were Michael and Maggie, an Australian and American couple travelling the world. United Airlines offers flights from Denver Airport to Durango Airport. This somewhat low-key park is simply jaw-dropping. 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. Another route, is to take US285 sw from Denver toward Buena Vista and then south to Great Sand Dunes. Now I am thinking of taking another route. Driving from Denver to Durango takes about six and a half hours. 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. Success! It is impossible to get from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? From: 1 traveler 2 travelers 3 travelers 4 travelers 5 travelers 6 travelers. Once you reach Creede, known as one of the last Silver Boom towns in Colorado during the late 19th century, you have quite a few options before heading back down to South Fork. Which route is the best? We're working around the clock to bring you the latest COVID-19 travel updates.This information is compiled from official sources. 5.5 hours of driving without stops. There are some different ways to approach a stop at the Great Sand Dunes, as visitors are generally welcome to simply take in the views of the dunes from the comfort of paved roads and maintained public areas, or they may strike out on foot and hike on the sands of the national park. It is a 7 hour plus drive, not counting any stops. 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. Browse Dodge vehicles in Berthoud, CO for sale on Cars.com, with prices under $799,952. There will be some mountain driving whichever route you take, but there's no need to be scared. Book at least 2 weeks before departure in order to get a below-average price. Duncan is a writer for The World Was Here First. A Google mapping exercise will offer you two routes, one about a half-hour longer than the other.