Durango, an enthralling city in southwest Colorado, is known for its outside adventures, quirky sights, and beautiful landscapes. It’s additionally an ideal base for implausible day journeys, due to its prime location.
I lived in Colorado for round two years and traveled all around the state, together with many street journeys to close by states. This expertise means I do know loads in regards to the high day journeys you possibly can take from Durango, and I’m pleased to share some implausible concepts with you.
The Finest Day Journeys From Durango Colorado
Whether or not you wish to go to nationwide parks, ski resorts, or different cities, there are a lot of nice day journeys from Durango. Take a look at my high suggestions under.
Telluride
Telluride is considered one of my high picks in the entire U.S. and particularly in Colorado. It’s well-known for its beautiful mountain views, nice ski slopes, cute downtown, and tons of outside enjoyable.
Irrespective of whenever you go, Telluride has one thing particular to supply. Spring and fall are excellent for climbing, summer season is nice for fly fishing within the rivers and kayaking within the lakes, and winter is all about top-notch snowboarding and snowboarding.
As a result of Telluride is such a top-notch ski resort, it’s vital to brush up in your snowboarding or snowboarding abilities beforehand. You don’t wish to miss out on the implausible slopes there, as they’re among the greatest worldwide.
It’s only a 2-hour and 10-minute drive from Durango, and it’s value it. Whether or not you go in spring, summer season, fall, or winter, you’ll love the city, the outside actions, and the unbelievable views.
And in the event you’re on the lookout for a scrumptious meal and drinks, don’t hesitate to cease by Telluride Brewing Firm for his or her tasty beers and bar meals.
Mesa Verde Nationwide Park
Mesa Verde Nationwide Park is sort of a hidden treasure in Colorado. It doesn’t get as a lot consideration as Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park or Nice Sand Dunes Nationwide Park, but it surely’s value exploring. One of many cool issues about this park is that it’s not as crowded because the others, so you possibly can take pleasure in a extra secluded expertise. It’s only a 1 hour and 25-minute drive from Durango, making Mesa Verde a super vacation spot for a day journey.
The park is known for its historic Puebloan cliff dwellings, archaeological museum, petroglyphs, and wealthy historical past. It’s excellent for historical past buffs who wish to find out about historic civilizations and in addition provides nice climbing alternatives for outside fans. It’s an ideal mix of training and recreation.
For climbing followers like me, I recommend beginning your day with the Petroglyph Level Path, a 2.5-mile hike with beautiful views and historic petroglyphs. Afterward, a go to to the museum gives much more insights into the world’s historical past and tradition.
Purgatory Resort
Purgatory Resort is a close-by ski vacation spot from Durango, only a fast 30-minute drive to the north. It’s one of many high day journeys from Durango and a very good selection for snowboarding. Whereas it might not have the identical fame as different Colorado mountains like Vail, Breckenridge, or Telluride, it nonetheless gives a implausible expertise.
The resort boasts a mean snowfall of 260 inches yearly and provides a powerful 1,600 skiable acres with 107 trails. However what stands out to me about this resort is its family-friendly ambiance. As a brand new mother or father, I admire their efforts to make households really feel welcome, together with free snowboarding for youngsters underneath 12, which is a superb perk.
Along with snowboarding, Purgatory hosts varied occasions year-round, making it a fantastic quick street journey vacation spot irrespective of the season. A few of my favourite occasions outdoors of winter embody Carve Wars in the summertime, the place gifted artists create spectacular wooden carvings, and the Bike Hill Climb, the place bikes race up the mountain.
Total, Purgatory is a must-visit for its handy location, beautiful mountain views, and numerous vary of actions for all ages.
Grand Junction
Grand Junction is a small city in western Colorado, near the Utah border. It’s a couple of 3-hour and 40-minute drive from Durango however value a day journey for its implausible wine, nice eating choices, water sights, scenic views, and because the gateway to the Colorado Nationwide Monument.
Whereas a day journey to Grand Junction lets you benefit from the eating places and outside actions like climbing or kayaking, I recommend spending a weekend there to totally expertise every thing the city provides.
One of many highlights of Grand Junction is the Colorado Nationwide Monument, resembling a smaller model of the Grand Canyon. It’s excellent for climbing, tenting, and admiring the beautiful crimson rock formations.
Another excuse to remain longer in Grand Junction is its thriving wine scene, with round 30 wineries to discover. It’s superb for wine fans trying to hop from one vineyard to a different whereas having fun with breathtaking views. I like to recommend heading to Carlson Vineyards Vineyard whereas within the space. It’s a fantastic place for wine tasting and appreciating the views, and so they have cats that roam the property which is enjoyable to observe.
And whereas on the town, make certain to attempt a burger and a few drinks at The Feisty Pint. It’s a must-visit spot you received’t remorse.
In the event you’re searching for a getaway to an enthralling city with a little bit of every thing, Grand Junction is the place to be.
Crested Butte
Crested Butte, one other pretty mountain city in Colorado, is a couple of 4-hour and 15-minute drive from Durango. It’s well-known for its wonderful ski slopes at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, overlaying 1,547 acres and getting round 236 inches of snow every year.
What I like about Crested Butte is its quieter ambiance in comparison with large names like Vail and Breckenridge. You received’t take care of large crowds right here, and the city maintains an area, small-town really feel. There aren’t any chain eating places, and companies are restricted, which inspires supporting native outlets and having fun with the pure magnificence round them.
Even in summer season, Crested Butte is beautiful, particularly with its vibrant wildflowers. They also have a wildflower pageant yearly. Total, it’s an enthralling city that’s value a go to any time of the 12 months for its outside actions, native vibe, and exquisite surroundings.
Nice Sand Dunes Nationwide Park
Nice Sand Dunes Nationwide Park typically doesn’t get as a lot consideration as Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park, but it surely’s a hidden treasure value exploring. Right here, you’ll discover the tallest sand dunes in North America, making a surreal expertise.
One in all my favourite issues in regards to the park is standing on high of the dunes and seeing the big mountains Colorado is known for within the distance.
Summer season provides a particular allure because the melting snow from close by mountains kinds a creek on the dunes’ base, making it really feel like a seaside. You possibly can sunbathe on the sand and funky off within the creek, a singular expertise in Colorado.
Even outdoors of summer season, the park provides nice tenting and stargazing alternatives year-round. Simply bear in mind to bundle up in the event you go to in winter, as it may get fairly chilly.
Pagosa Springs
Pagosa Springs is a quaint city in southwestern Colorado, positioned about 1 hour and 10 minutes from Durango. It’s an ideal quick street journey vacation spot for a day of rest and exploration.
Pagosa Springs is famend for its pure scorching springs, the place you possibly can take pleasure in heat, mineral-rich waters for a rejuvenating expertise. There are a number of scorching springs to select from, together with Therapeutic Waters, Overlook Sizzling Springs, and The Springs Resort.
I extremely suggest The Springs Resort & Spa for an distinctive expertise. If you wish to lengthen your go to, you possibly can ebook a room on the resort for a number of nights and totally benefit from the scorching springs and the charming lodge ambiance.
On high of the new springs, Pagosa Springs provides a picturesque setting for varied outside actions. You possibly can go climbing and kayaking through the hotter months, whereas winter brings alternatives for sledding, snowboarding, and mountain climbing. It’s a wonderful possibility in the event you want a brief drive and wish to discover a small city with loads of leisure choices.
Moab, Utah
Moab is one other implausible spot near Durango, only a 2-hour and 45-minute drive away. It’s excellent for outside lovers and exploring nationwide parks. Moab is known for its vibrant and distinct crimson rock formations and is residence to Arches Nationwide Park, whereas Canyonlands Nationwide Park can be close by.
I take pleasure in Moab as a result of it’s nice for tenting and climbing, and it’s additionally common for thrilling actions like rafting and ATV rides.
Once you go to, I recommend staying in Moab and tenting to totally soak within the distinctive surroundings over a weekend. However in the event you can solely go to for a day journey, that’s completely advantageous too. Simply make certain to not miss Arches Nationwide Park, well-known for its crimson rocks and wonderful arch formations.
Total, Moab provides an exquisite combine of outside adventures, lasting recollections, and implausible photograph alternatives that you just received’t wish to miss.
Taos, New Mexico
Taos is residence to New Mexico’s high ski resort, recognized for its glorious slopes. I like Taos for its nice winter circumstances and wonderful snowfall, with about 300 inches yearly. With 1,294 acres of skiable terrain, it might not be the most important within the U.S., but it surely’s excellent for skiers and snowboarders of all ranges.
Whereas winter is greatest for snowboarding, you can too go to in spring, summer season, and fall for climbing, biking, climbing, and fishing.
Taos is a implausible vacation spot year-round for outside actions and an opportunity to discover an enthralling New Mexican city. It’s positioned about 3 hours and 50 minutes from Durango, making it a fantastic possibility to flee Colorado and uncover a small mountain city in a neighboring state.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is considered one of my high cities within the United States due to its wonderful meals, sunny climate, charming downtown, and distinctive structure.
Each time I go to Santa Fe, I’m amazed by the vigorous ambiance, cool outlets, nice eating places, and vibrant artwork scene. Whereas it’s superior year-round, I recommend getting into October for the Albuquerque Worldwide Balloon Fiesta close by. Seeing all these scorching air balloons is like being in a film!
However even in the event you can’t make it in October, Santa Fe remains to be superior. You possibly can hike, try artwork, or hit the ski resorts in winter.
And you may’t miss out on the meals! Don’t miss La Choza for his or her tasty sangria and New Mexican dishes, and The Shed for his or her drinks and inexperienced chili.
It’s a 4-hour drive from Durango, however Santa Fe has a lot to supply it’s completely value it.
Web page, Arizona
Higher Antelope Canyon (Web page, AZ)
Web page, a small city in Arizona, is known for its wonderful crimson and orange rock formations that look straight out of a Dr. Seuss ebook. It’s an out of doors paradise, excellent for year-round visits, particularly throughout hotter months when you possibly can totally take pleasure in climbing and water actions.
The city is especially recognized for its beautiful antelope canyons and is residence to Lake Powell, some of the stunning lakes within the U.S. In the event you love exploring crimson rock landscapes, climbing, and spending time on the water, Web page is a implausible vacation spot.
It takes about 4 hours and quarter-hour to get from Durango to Web page but it surely’s completely value it. I’ve been fortunate to go to Web page twice, and every time, it felt like stepping right into a fairy story. It’s such a singular panorama, and the recollections and pictures you’ll have from right here will likely be cherished ceaselessly.
FAQs About Day Journeys From Durango
Proceed studying under as I reply a number of ceaselessly requested questions on the perfect day journeys from Durango, Colorado.
What’s Durango near?
Durango is near Cortez and Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
What’s the closest large metropolis to Durango Colorado?
The closest large metropolis to Durango, Colorado is Albuquerque, New Mexico. It’s only a 3 hour and 40 minute drive away.
What’s between Durango and Colorado Springs?
The cities of Pueblo, Alamosa, and Pagosa Springs are in between Durango and Colorado Springs.
Closing Ideas On The Finest Day Journeys From Durango
There are quite a few day journey prospects from Durango. Whether or not you’re all in favour of exploring nationwide parks, bustling cities, quaint cities, or ski resorts, the choices are plentiful.
Whereas all these selections are implausible, my high picks are Telluride and Santa Fe. They’ve completely different vibes, however I like them each.
So, whether or not you favor staying inside Colorado (our Denver information will preserve you busy) or are open to venturing barely out of state, these locations promise fulfilling day journeys.
