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Southwest Colorado: Mesa Verde to Telluride: 5-Day Plan You Can Actually Drive
Last updated:
The 5-day version for September: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight.
5
days
260 km
distance
7.6 h
driving
13
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- ~12.2 hours of daylight in September.
- Use the high mountain corridor only after confirming US 550 and CO 145 are open and safe. Monsoon debris flows, wildfire, early snow and construction can close or delay passes; booked cliff tours, trains, hot springs and adventure providers remain optional.
Before you go · check live details
This is a planning draft. Check these changing details for your dates before booking or travelling.
Some route advice is currently available in English.
- Confirm an insured car, fuel, every overnight and current pass conditions.
Check COtrip immediately before each transfer. US 550, Red Mountain Pass and CO 145 can close or hold traffic for flooding, debris, snow, avalanche work, wildfire, construction or crashes; do not continue into a closure.
Check source ↗ - Check mountain weather, wildfire and closures; booked activities are optional.
Recheck park, road and town alerts. The Durango railway, hot springs, via ferrata, jeep roads, skiing, climbing and guided activities require separate tickets, suitable conditions and equipment and are never assumed.
Check source ↗
Day 1 Mesa Verde public archaeology day
- Transit
- none
- Finish
- ~15:00
- Temperature
- 11.5°C–26.6°C
- Rainy days
- ~6
- Daylight
- 12.2h
09:00
Use the museum, Mesa Top Loop, signed overlooks and self-guided public sites; entering most cliff dwellings requires a separate ranger-tour reservation.
300 min · Mesa Verde public archaeology day · Confirm current admission or parking where applicable
14:00
Far View Terrace Café visitmesaverde.com map ↗
Dine with views of mesas and canyons while enjoying diverse cafeteria-style meals.
60 min · Mesa Verde public archaeology day
open: May–October, 7AM-7PM
Overnight here
e.g. Far View Lodge · Morefield Campground
Day 2 Durango public heritage day
- Transit
- 1h39
- Finish
- ~16:40
- Temperature
- 5.5°C–19.3°C
- Rainy days
- ~8
- Daylight
- 12.2h
10:40
Durango public heritage circuit durango.org map ↗
Use the walkable historic core, river trail and public heritage stops; the narrow-gauge railway and provider excursions require separate tickets.
300 min · Durango public heritage day · Confirm current admission or parking where applicable
15:40
Bar D Chuckwagon bardchuckwagon.com
Enjoy Old West entertainment under the stars with cowboy songs and comedy.
60 min · Durango public heritage day
Overnight here
e.g. Doubletree Hotel · Rochester Hotel
Day 3 Silverton public mining-town day
- Transit
- 2h24
- Finish
- ~17:20
- Temperature
- 0.8°C–15.5°C ❄
- Rainy days
- ~8
- Daylight
- 12.2h
11:15
Silverton public mining-town circuit silverton.co.us map ↗
Use the public historic town, signed mining heritage and safe streets; mountain resort, jeep, rail and backcountry activities remain optional.
240 min · Silverton public mining-town day · Confirm current admission or parking where applicable
15:30
Silverton Gunfighters Association ebussilvertonws.ebusbuilder.com
Watch mock gunfights staged by local volunteers during peak season.
50 min · Silverton public mining-town day
16:20
Brown Bear Cafe search
Relish great food, especially the popular corned beef and hash.
60 min · Silverton public mining-town day
Overnight here
e.g. Canyon View Motel · Wyman Hotel and Inn
Day 4 Ouray public gorge and history day
- Transit
- 1h40
- Finish
- ~17:30
- Temperature
- 0.8°C–15.5°C ❄
- Rainy days
- ~8
- Daylight
- 12.2h
10:25
Ouray public gorge and history circuit ouraycolorado.com map ↗
Use the public historic core and currently open signed viewpoints; hot springs, via ferrata, ice park and jeep roads require separate access and conditions.
240 min · Ouray public gorge and history day · Confirm current admission or parking where applicable
14:35
Ouray County Historical Museum ouraycountyhistoricalsociety.org map ↗
Explore the history of this mountain community through minerals, Ute artifacts, and Victorian displays.
50 min · Ouray public gorge and history day
15:40
Box Canyon Falls ouraycolorado.com
Walk a short trail to see a 285-foot waterfall plunging into a narrow canyon.
50 min · Ouray public gorge and history day · $3 adults, $1.50 children (5-12 years), $2.50 seniors (65+)
open: 8AM - 8PM
16:30
The Coachlight Restaurant thecoachlight.com
Relish a family-owned restaurant's offerings of steaks, seafood, chicken, pasta, fish, and ribs since 1968.
60 min · Ouray public gorge and history day · $10-$40
open: 4PM - late
Overnight here
e.g. Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs · Christmas House Bed and Breakfast Inn
Day 5 Telluride public box-canyon day
- Transit
- 1h55
- Finish
- ~16:55
- Temperature
- 0.8°C–15.5°C ❄
- Rainy days
- ~8
- Daylight
- 12.2h
10:55
Telluride public box-canyon circuit telluride-co.gov map ↗
Use the public historic core, river path and safe signed viewpoints; gondola, ski, climbing, festival and provider access remain separately confirmed.
300 min · Telluride public box-canyon day · Confirm current admission or parking where applicable
15:55
La Cocina de Luz lacocinatelluride.com map ↗
Enjoy tasty Mexican food in a casual bar setting.
60 min · Telluride public box-canyon day
open: 8AM-9PM
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.
Sources (10)
- Mesa Verde public archaeology circuit — nps.govOfficial public source; original paraphrase
- Wikivoyage — Mesa Verde National ParkCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Durango public heritage circuit — durango.orgOfficial public source; original paraphrase
- Wikivoyage — Durango (Colorado)CC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Silverton public mining-town circuit — silverton.co.usOfficial public source; original paraphrase
- Wikivoyage — Silverton (Colorado)CC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Ouray public gorge and history circuit — ouraycolorado.comOfficial public source; original paraphrase
- Wikivoyage — OurayCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
- Telluride public box-canyon circuit — telluride-co.govOfficial public source; original paraphrase
- Wikivoyage — TellurideCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)