Enjoying time away from the daily routines of life is always a treat, and when you make Durango, Colorado your vacation destination of choice, you’re in for an unforgettable journey! Situated along the Animas River in the Southwestern portion of Colorado, Durango is a delightful place to kick back, relax, and enjoy some fully customized downtime alongside family and friends. With so many things to see and do in Durango, Colorado, you’ll find yourself within easy reach of places like Mesa Verde National Park and the San Juan National Forest. A trip to Durango is an opportunity to embrace some serious Old West charm, but if you’re looking for a modern take on shopping, dining, and entertainment, that’s available as well. Just about everywhere you look in Durango, you’re treated to incredible scenery and whether you’re one for outdoor fun or in-town thrills, tailoring your getaway according to your personal sense of travel style is a breeze.
Getting To Durango for Your First Trip This Way
Before your adventures in Durango can truly get underway, you’re going to need to plan your route to your final destination. Fortunately, making your way to Durango for a first-time journey is typically a breeze no matter what your point of origin might be. Most visitors choose to fly into the Durango La Plata County Airport (DRO) which is a comprehensive and full-serve regional airport. There are many non-stop flights that come in daily from Denver as well as Houston, Phoenix, and Dallas/Fort Worth. In total, this airport is connected to over 300 U.S. cities making it a convenient place to land any time of year. Once you arrive, you’ll find endless things to see and do in Durango, Colorado, ensuring your trip is as memorable as it is exciting. Making flying in even more inviting is the fact that DRO is located just 15 miles southeast of downtown Durango. That means that as soon as you touchdown, you won’t have to wait long for the fun to begin!
If you do have a little time to spare and you’re hoping to arrive with a scenic drive into town included, there are plenty of places to land nearby that offer up sightseeing options. Consider flying into Albuquerque, New Mexico (ABQ) and you can pick up a rental car and drive 3.5 scenic miles into town at your own preferred pace. Flying into Denver International Airport (DEN) is another great option when the weather is right, but doing so will extend your road trip into Durango to about 6.5 hours. Each of these airports offers an extensive lineup of rental car kiosks on-site so whether you prefer to work with Avis, Budget, Advantage, Hertz, National, Thrifty, or a rental company in between, you likely won’t have any trouble getting behind the wheel and on your way to vacation fun in no time.
Getting Around Is Easier Than You Might Think
Once you’ve successfully made your way to Durango, Colorado, you’ll be delighted to find that getting around is just as simple as getting here. Generally, Durango is considered extremely pedestrian-friendly due to the center of town spanning just 5.6 square miles of land. If your plans are keeping you relatively central, you can leave your rental car behind and simply walk or bike your way through a stay checking out all the best restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues along the way. If you’re looking to make your transportation options even more convenient, it’s good to note that the Durango Transit System includes buses and trolleys that run from 7:00 am until 8:40 pm daily. There are also late-night buses to catch on Fridays and Saturdays that typically run until about 230 am as an added convenience. If you do choose to rent a car to get around, downtown Durango has convenient metered parking options that range from anywhere from 30 minutes to upward of 10 hours at a time depending on where you’re exploring.
Explore History While You’re in Town
For many first-time visitors to Durango, the adventure gets underway downtown. This is a terrific starting point for your journey as it has a variety of shops, restaurants and museums to explore and is also the central Historical District. It’s a great place to take time to admire restored architecture that speaks to a bygone era and adds a truly one-of-a-kind aesthetic touch to your surroundings. One of the historic stops in Durango that you won’t want to miss on your first visit this way is the Strater Hotel. Dating back to a construction date of 1887, the Strater Hotel is a sight to behold, spanning four stories and backed with history and legacy alike. You can step inside to admire the gorgeous Victorian décor and architecture which extends to its many rooms as well. On the second floor, there’s a plaque that marks the iconic Louis L’Amour room where the author is said to have written part of his Sackett series. The hotel is also home to the Diamond Belle Saloon where you can drop by to enjoy dinner served up by dance hall girls, witness a cowboy “gun fight,” and make the most of live musical entertainment too!
A first trip to Durango is also a chance to dive further back in time when you add a stop at nearby Mesa Verde National Park to your itinerary. This incredible destination is just 48 miles West of Durango and is a unique window on the passage of time. When you arrive, you’re going to want to make sure you’re booked on a guided tour of the ancient cliffside dwellings to gain more insight into the area’s incredible past. Many visitors also pair their tour with time for wildlife watching because Mesa Verde National Park is home to everything from elk and gray foxes to black bears, mule deer, and marmots too. If you turn your eyes upward as you make your way across the rich terrain, you might just spot a great horned owl if you’re lucky.
Outdoor Adventures to Enjoy with Wildlife Watching Included
Durango is an oasis of opportunity for those who love wildlife and when you want to make sure you see as much as possible during your first visit this way, the Durango, CO tourist attractions you’ll want to explore with binoculars in hand are vast and varied. Durango is home to the San Juan peaks which tower 14,000 feet above the ground, but it’s also home to the Animas River Valley. The diverse terrain lends itself to a robust wildlife population that’s able to thrive here and for those who can’t wait to observe, lacing up the boots and hitting the trails is a must.
If birding happens to be your activity of choice, setting your sights on the lakes and river systems that are integrated into Durango’s parameters is usually the best way to start. Places like the Animas River and Lake Nighthorse easily earn their reputation for excellence among bird-watching enthusiasts here working as thriving habitats for mallards and ruddy ducks as well as broad-tailed hummingbirds and black-chinned hummingbirds too. If you add a stop at the La Plata Canyon to your must-visit list, you’ll have options to explore a 10-mile mountain ravine where there’s a good chance you’ll spot everything from mountain lions and lynxes to big horn sheep, mountain goats, bobcats, and elk along the way. Plan a picnic and bring the binoculars to La Plata Canyon if you’re interested in spotting American kestrels, downy woodpeckers, red-tailed hawks, and bald eagles too.
Where to Find Unforgettable Outdoor Thrills
Many first-time visitors are drawn to Durango because they’ve heard it’s a place where you can enjoy thrilling outdoor adventures like climbing and bouldering in abundance—and they aren’t wrong! In fact, Durango is a world-class destination among climbers with specialties of all kinds with good reason. If this is what brings you this way, you’ll want to focus your itinerary on places just outside of town that offer up some amazing challenges and views too. The outskirts of Durango are home to everything from weathered limestone and softer sandstone to craggy granite to conquer. You can set out in search of places with heart-pounding overhands or rugged grips depending on your preference. Many first-time visitors to Durango make their way to Turtle Lake in the name of climbing adventures where bouldering is at its best and your efforts are rewarded with gorgeous views too. Sailing Hawks, located North of Durango, is part of a popular mountain trail system and is another top-rated climbing spot in the area.
If you’re heading to Durango for the first time intent on spending as much time as possible on the scenic hiking trails here, you’ll find the options are inviting and exciting at every turn! When you really want to get into the backcountry terrain, make time to explore La Plata Canyon with your backpack on and hiking boots laced up tight. The La Plata Canyon Trail spans just about 10 miles total and is a route to Kennebec Pass which connects with the much longer Colorado Trail spanning 486 miles. Many hiking enthusiasts enjoy pairing time on the La Plata Canyon Trail with time on the Bedrock Creek Trail which adds another 8.4 scenic miles to the adventure.
Top Durango, CO Tourist Attractions Not to Miss
While hiking, climbing, and biking are top activities to enjoy during a first-time visit to Durango, this beautiful destination has even more to offer that you won’t want to overlook while you’re in town. Make sure to make time on your agenda for a ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad which offers up some of the best views of the San Juan Mountains from the comfort and unique design of a historic steam engine. When you want to infuse some creative inspiration into your Durango stay, be sure to add a stop at the Durango Arts Center to your itinerary. This delightful destination hosts unique exhibitions year-round in addition to their permanent collection and theater performances. Over at the Animas Museum, first-time visitors to Durango can learn more about the area’s past from tribes that called the area home through to how pioneer life inevitably changed the landscape. After all of your exploration, sightseeing, and adventures in Durango, you’ll also want to treat yourself to some quality time at the Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa in town where you can unwind in healing waters and enjoy gorgeous mountain views too.
Book Your Durango Getaway in Style Today
When you’re ready to turn your Durango, Colorado travel plans into a reality, make sure you have amazing accommodations in place that suit your travel style by partnering with Durango Colorado Vacations. Our portfolio of Durango cabin rentals is vast and varied, ensuring our guests not only find a home away from home that’s spacious and inviting but comes packed with inspired amenities as well. While our team takes care of the cozy details that matter most, you’re free to focus exclusively on making the most of your trip ahead. Reach out today to learn more about our many vacation rentals near Durango CO that are available and how we can help you customize your stay. We can’t wait to help you make it a trip to remember and look forward to seeing you in Durango, Colorado soon!
