Durango, an enthralling city in southwest Colorado, is known for its out of doors 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 rather a lot concerning the high day journeys you’ll be able to take from Durango, and I’m completely happy to share some implausible concepts with you.
The Greatest Day Journeys From Durango Colorado
Whether or not you wish to go to nationwide parks, ski resorts, or different cities, there are various nice day journeys from Durango. Try my high suggestions beneath.
Telluride
Telluride is one in every 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.
Regardless of if you go, Telluride has one thing particular to supply. Spring and fall are excellent for mountaineering, 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 essential to brush up in your snowboarding or snowboarding expertise beforehand. You don’t wish to miss out on the implausible slopes there, as they’re a few of 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 out of doors actions, and the unimaginable views.
And for those who’re in search of 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’ll be able to get pleasure from a extra secluded expertise. It’s only a 1 hour and 25-minute drive from Durango, making Mesa Verde an excellent vacation spot for a day journey.
The park is known for its historical Puebloan cliff dwellings, archaeological museum, petroglyphs, and wealthy historical past. It’s excellent for historical past buffs who wish to find out about historical civilizations and in addition gives nice mountaineering alternatives for out of doors fans. It’s an ideal mix of training and recreation.
For mountaineering followers like me, I counsel beginning your day with the Petroglyph Level Path, a 2.5-mile hike with beautiful views and historical 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 could not have the identical fame as different Colorado mountains like Vail, Breckenridge, or Telluride, it nonetheless gives a implausible expertise.
The resort boasts a median snowfall of 260 inches yearly and gives 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 respect their efforts to make households really feel welcome, together with free snowboarding for youngsters below 12, which is a superb perk.
Along with snowboarding, Purgatory hosts varied occasions year-round, making it an excellent brief street journey vacation spot irrespective of the season. A few of my favourite occasions outdoors of winter embrace Carve Wars in the summertime, the place proficient artists create spectacular wooden carvings, and the Motorbike 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 out of doors actions like mountaineering or kayaking, I counsel spending a weekend there to totally expertise the whole lot the city gives.
One of many highlights of Grand Junction is the Colorado Nationwide Monument, resembling a smaller model of the Grand Canyon. It’s excellent for mountaineering, tenting, and admiring the beautiful purple rock formations.
Another excuse to remain longer in Grand Junction is its thriving wine scene, with round 30 wineries to discover. It’s perfect 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 an excellent place for wine tasting and appreciating the views, and so they have cats that roam the property which is enjoyable to look at.
And whereas on the town, be certain that to strive a burger and a few drinks at The Feisty Pint. It’s a must-visit spot you received’t remorse.
When you’re searching for a getaway to an enthralling city with a little bit of the whole lot, Grand Junction is the place to be.
Crested Butte
Crested Butte, one other beautiful 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, masking 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 cope with large crowds right here, and the city maintains a neighborhood, 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 actually have a wildflower competition yearly. Total, it’s an enthralling city that’s value a go to any time of the 12 months for its out of doors 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.
Considered one of my favourite issues concerning the park is standing on high of the dunes and seeing the massive mountains Colorado is known for within the distance.
Summer time provides a particular attraction because the melting snow from close by mountains kinds a creek on the dunes’ base, making it really feel like a seaside. You may sunbathe on the sand and funky off within the creek, a singular expertise in Colorado.
Even outdoors of summer season, the park gives nice tenting and stargazing alternatives year-round. Simply bear in mind to bundle up for those who go to in winter, as it may possibly get fairly chilly.
Pagosa Springs
Pagosa Springs is a quaint city in southwestern Colorado, situated about 1 hour and 10 minutes from Durango. It’s an ideal brief street journey vacation spot for a day of rest and exploration.
Pagosa Springs is famend for its pure scorching springs, the place you’ll be able to 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 advocate The Springs Resort & Spa for an distinctive expertise. If you wish to lengthen your go to, you’ll be able to guide a room on the resort for a couple of nights and totally benefit from the scorching springs and the charming resort ambiance.
On high of the new springs, Pagosa Springs gives a picturesque setting for varied out of doors actions. You may go mountaineering and kayaking throughout the hotter months, whereas winter brings alternatives for sledding, snowboarding, and mountain climbing. It’s a superb choice for those who favor 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 out of doors lovers and exploring nationwide parks. Moab is known for its vibrant and distinct purple rock formations and is residence to Arches Nationwide Park, whereas Canyonlands Nationwide Park can also be close by.
I get pleasure from Moab as a result of it’s nice for tenting and mountaineering, and it’s additionally fashionable for thrilling actions like rafting and ATV rides.
While you go to, I counsel staying in Moab and tenting to totally soak within the distinctive surroundings over a weekend. However for those who can solely go to for a day journey, that’s completely wonderful too. Simply be certain that to not miss Arches Nationwide Park, well-known for its purple rocks and wonderful arch formations.
Total, Moab gives an exquisite combine of outside adventures, lasting reminiscences, and implausible picture alternatives that you simply 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 situations and wonderful snowfall, with about 300 inches yearly. With 1,294 acres of skiable terrain, it will 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 too can go to in spring, summer season, and fall for mountaineering, biking, climbing, and fishing.
Taos is a implausible vacation spot year-round for out of doors actions and an opportunity to discover an enthralling New Mexican city. It’s situated about 3 hours and 50 minutes from Durango, making it an excellent choice to flee Colorado and uncover a small mountain city in a neighboring state.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is one in every 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 energetic ambiance, cool outlets, nice eating places, and vibrant artwork scene. Whereas it’s superior year-round, I counsel moving into October for the Albuquerque Worldwide Balloon Fiesta close by. Seeing all these scorching air balloons is like being in a film!
However even for those who can’t make it in October, Santa Fe continues to be superior. You may 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 purple and orange rock formations that look straight out of a Dr. Seuss guide. It’s an outside paradise, excellent for year-round visits, particularly throughout hotter months when you’ll be able to totally get pleasure from mountaineering and water actions.
The city is especially recognized for its beautiful antelope canyons and is residence to Lake Powell, probably the most lovely lakes within the U.S. When you love exploring purple rock landscapes, mountaineering, 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 reminiscences and photographs you’ll have from right here will probably be cherished eternally.
FAQs About Day Journeys From Durango
Proceed studying beneath as I reply a couple of continuously requested questions on one of the best 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.
Ultimate Ideas On The Greatest Day Journeys From Durango
There are quite a few day journey prospects from Durango. Whether or not you’re considering 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 totally different vibes, however I like them each.
So, whether or not you favor staying inside Colorado (our Denver information will hold you busy) or are open to venturing barely out of state, these locations promise pleasurable day journeys.
