least scary drive from denver to durango

The longer one (I-25 south, US160 west) involves faster driving and more traffic. The Colorado Trail is a 485-mile point-to-point backpacking route in Colorado. Click here to see their availability. Which route is the best? I will be making this trip next week and look forward to seeing all this. The San Juan Skyway & Million Dollar Highway | Visit Durango, CO Take a tour from Durango and let someone else drive! 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. While its unlikely that traffic jams will ever disappear, avoiding peak travel times allows for an easier and stress-free commute. Dont let snowy roads put a damper on your adventure plans. I-70 has some gorgeous spots and does top out at about 11,000 ft when you pass through the tunnels near Loveland Pass. Alternatively, you may use. Prices and availability are subject to change. This trail is close to town and extends to a decent length of 4.3 total miles long. Colorado Road Trip - Denver, Mesa Verde, Durango and more 4:17 pm arrive in Durango. What are the roads like, and what do I need to know about driving in Colorado? It serves as one of the main routes to Colorados ski country including Vail, Aspen, Winter Park, Keystone, and Breckenridge. Breckenridge, Vail, Steamboat, or Estes Park for summer? These are both safe routes. You can't get to Durango by train, but if you're looking for an old west experience, hop aboard the Silverton Silverlight Express. The reason why it's so long is because there is no direct bus service between the two cities. Traffic on I-70. Its a lengthy stretch, but it also takes you through some of Colorados most spectacular wilderness areas, adventurous mountain towns, and exciting cities. Should probably count on 7 - 7.5 hrs - not easy to make really good time in the mountains. Do I have to wear a face mask on public transport in Durango? This trail can be completed either as a loop or an out-and-back from the trailhead across La Garita Street near the gas station. You can also go to Colorado Springs and Canon City and Salida then 285 to 160. Not much to recommend for food along the way. It is a 7 hour plus drive, not counting any stops. 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. 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. The shorter one (US285 south and US160 west), more scenic, has more mountains. The shortest way is to take Route 285 through to Route 160, which will take you past Buena Vista. I will try to go the route thru the Great Sand Dunes. Denver to Durango - 7 ways to travel via train, bus, car - Rome2rio Your Guide to a Million Dollar Highway Road Trip - Reader's Digest Colorado wildfires: Several fires explode across Front Range The direct drive from Colorado Springs to Durango is 313 mi (503 km), and should have a drive time of 6 hrs 20 mins in normal traffic.. Of course, theres an endless list of things to do and places to see in and around Denver. If concerts and shows arent your scene, no problem! Among these are the collegiate peaks which are, unsurprisingly, named after some of the United States most famous colleges and Oxford randomly. Lots of good food in Durango. A great trail option for beginners, especially if youre around during wildflower season, is. Heading back to Denver takes one last straight-shot drive of one hour and 20 minutes along I-25 N. Just 70 miles along that highway and youll be back in the city at journeys end! The route has an elevation gain of 9,000 ft and ascends through five climate zones to the 14,264-ft summit of Mount Evans. Alternatively, Outdoorsy is an option if you prefer to rent an RV or campervan. 'A little scary': Iditarod begins with smallest field ever There will be some mountain driving whichever route you take, but there's no need to be scared. 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. You will catch C4-70 outside (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 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! 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. From there youll make a left onto CO 291 S which will take you into Salida after eight miles. Thank you :) 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. Aspen vs Vail vs Breckenridge: Which Colorado Town to Visit? Heavy snow slams Northeast; storm cleanup begins in South A great trail option for beginners, especially if youre around during wildflower season, is Brush Creek. Lodging for 2 nights in Estes park in mid May, Where to stay near Union Station if using Red Rocks shuttle. But. Denver airport - 407 miles - about 7 hours drive depending on weather conditions Albuquerque airport - 244 miles - about 4:10 hours depending on weather conditions There are Greyhound buses that travel between the city of Albuquerque and Durango, but once again self-drive will be the easiest way to get there. That said, if you do hike Mount Princeston, still come prepared for a long days hike as well as a little rock scrambling. Thai place in Poncha Springs and Lost Cajun in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Hwy-347 turns off north from US-50 toward the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park 8 mi (12.8 km) east of Montrose, but this town also marks the start of one of the best-loved roads in the country, the Million Dollar Highway, a classic stretch of two-lane blacktop that forms a swirling ribbon through the San Juan Mountains, the wildest . If youre passing through outside of ski season, Monarch is still worth a stop thanks to the Monarch Crest Scenic Tramway thats open from May through the fall. How long is the drive from Colorado Springs to Durango?. You can also rent ATVs and off-road vehicles in town if you prefer to not take your own car. If youre looking to stretch your legs and get a good hike in while in Creede, the locals recommend checking out the Up and Over trail. He lives in Colorado and also works as a fly fishing guide and instructor when not editing or writing. The Strater Hotel Located in downtown Durango, this beautiful historic hotel is an excellent option for those looking for a bit of a splurge. When visiting Colorado Springs, 100% the number one thing to do is check out the Garden of the Gods. Thai place in Poncha Springs and Lost Cajun in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? All three cross Wolf Creek Pass on US160, which is truly scary only if your brakes fail on the way down. No trip to the area should skip it in my opinion. To the best of our knowledge, it is correct as of the last update.Visit Rome2rio travel advice for general help. Thank you :) The winter-weary Northeast and upper Midwest were digging out Saturday from heavy snowfall while cleanup began in battered parts of the South and Midwest after a sprawling storm system produced . It stretches from Denver to Durango across the Southern Rockies and can be hiked in 25-35 days. Talk about a flexible experience! It's a fairly long drive from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Duncan is a writer for The World Was Here First. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-13326355', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Denver to catch a 10 flight. day 2 driving 3.5 hours. 16 Best Things to Do in Colorado in Summer, Travel From Madrid to San Sebastian by Train, Car, and Plane, How to Travel From Rome to Naples by Train, Plane, Bus, or Car, The Top 10 Things to Do in Durango, Colorado, How to Travel From Denver to Las Vegas by Bus, Car, and Plane, How to Travel From Montreal to Quebec City by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane, How to Travel from Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane, The Best Places to See Fall Colors in Colorado, How to Travel from Los Angeles to Denver by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane, Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. Brittany is an award-winning journalist based in Denver where she has lived and worked for more than a decade. The social distance requirement in Durango is 2 metres. Apart from being the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, Crested Butte is where mountain biking got its start in Colorado. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. You have permission to edit this article. Used Dodge cars for sale in Berthoud, CO under $799,952 Main Avenue Historic District in Durango, Colorado is a 34acre historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. BTW also Mapquest gives the route Casa said but mentioned 5 hours. 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. Long, steep ascents and descents, particularly around the San Juans. The shorter one (US285 south and US160 west), more scenic, has more mountains. That made for about a 70-mile loop of incredible mountain views! (easiest one, no scary mountain driving haha), and if you can suggest good places to stop and eat? Photo Credit: Jerilee Bennett. If you'll have the time try to visit both Colorado Springs (Pike's Peak, Garden of the Gods etc.) Not quite what youre looking for? Stops and things to do on Denver to Durango drive or road trip - Wanderlog Its also important to watch out for mandatory chain and traction laws on I-70, especially during the winter months. updated Jul 14, 2022 How long is the drive from Denver to Durango? The views of the Rocky Mountain landscape here are impressive at any time of the year, but this is an especially good stop if visiting during the winter when you can enjoy the contrast between the calming hot spring waters and the snowy peaks and surroundings. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Michelin Guides, Hemispheres, DuJour, and Forbes. One of the last places to stop between Denver and Durango is Chimney Rock National Monument, which features the ancient remains of a native Pueblo settlement dating back 1,000 years. But those in the know, slow down and stop in four . Durango is in southwest Colorado. One snowstorm resulted in more than 300 crashes in the Denver metro area, with 93 of those occurring within a 3-hour period. Creedes title of The Last Boom Town comes from its legacy as a silver-mining town, which you can learn about in this PBS short documentary. It is impossible to get from Denver to Durango -- at least in any reasonable way -- without some mountain driving. You can also fly from Denver to Durango, if all this seems to be too much. Only United Airlines operates multiple direct flights a day from Denver International Airport (DEN) and Durango La-Plata County Airport (DOR), which is just 15 miles from downtown Durango. You know what? Not much to recommend for food along the way. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Colorado, United States. The round trip cost would be $106.55 to go from Denver, CO to Durango, CO and back to Denver, CO again. Situated in a beautiful, historic building, they have a range of gorgeous rooms on offer and a great bar and restaurant on site. Colorado State Patrol is increasing its watch along the Western Slope, where it says the roads have become the most dangerous place to drive in Colorado during July. Some of the road trip highlights include stops in Frisco, Ouray, Buena Vista, or Pagosa Hot Springs, each of which offers plenty of outdoor adventure. jaramarzulli.com Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa Semi trucks stuck on I-25. If not, the area works just fine as a pretty place to drive through. If you are headed to the mountains on the weekend, plan ahead for more traffic than usual. If youre looking for an all-in-one Colorado destination, Durangos definitely the place to be. Have any questions about any of these stops? Plus, your guide will provide insightful interpretations on each of the archaeological sites as well as the history of the Ancestral Pueblo people. Additional terms apply. One reason you might choose to take the I-25 route from Denver to Durango would be if youd rather minimize the mountain driving on winding, less-maintained roads. Driving To Durango | Visit Durango, CO | Official Tourism Site Not much to recommend for food along the way. Can I get to Rocky Mountain National Park without a car? If you're planning a road trip, you might be interested in seeing the total driving distance from Denver, CO to Durango, CO. You can also calculate the cost to drive from Denver, CO to Durango, CO based on current local gas prices . Each flight takes about an hour, so this is definitely the fastest way to get from Denver to Durango. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. 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. Its also helpful to pack warm layers, snacks, water, and a flash flight for unexpected delays and emergencies. 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. When beginning your Denver to Durango road trip, you have two routes to choose from. Drive from Durango to Denver 6h 33m $60 - $90 Shuttle to Durango, fly Take a shuttle bus from Durango Transit Center to Purgatory Plaza Fly from Durango (DRO) to Denver (DEN) 5h 16m $223 - $531 Shuttle to Telluride Regional, fly Take a shuttle bus from Durango, CO to Silverton, CO Fly from Telluride Regional (TEX) to Denver (DEN) 6h 12m $437 - $865 One absolute must-do activity is hiking the Ouray Perimeter Trail. Assuming you choose the route through the mountains on 285, youll still be on a paved highway for practically the entire timedepending on your chosen stopsso theres no major need for a high-clearance, 4-wheel drive sort of vehicle.