Although Durango is nestled in the southwest corner of the Rocky Mountains, it is more accessible than many other small mountain towns in Colorado. Located at the intersection of Highway 160 and Highway 550, the town offers multiple routes in and out, along with amenities such as buses, a regional airport, and inter-city transportation. When considering a move to Durango or a change of neighborhoods, it’s important to evaluate the transportation and accessibility options in each area.
Southwest Colorado & Regional Hub
Durango, the largest town in Southwest Colorado, is a central point for surrounding cities and towns such as Bayfield, Silverton, Mancos, and more. A critical resource for our area is the Durango - La Plata County Airport, servicing Denver, CO; Dallas, TX; Phoenix, AZ; and Houston, TX (seasonally). As previously mentioned, Durango is centrally located with Highway 550 running north/south from Montrose, CO to Bernallio, NM (just north of Albuquerque, NM) and Highway 160 traveling east/west just short of 500 miles between Cortez, CO and Springfield, MO. Providing access to many other routes, including US interstates, these roads can get you to where you want to go. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad once served as a primary form of transportation in the 1880s between Durango and Silverton as well as Durango and Alamosa via the Denver & Rio Grande Railway segment which founded Durango.
Bustang provides transportation from Bayfield and Durango to Mancos, Cortez, Dolores, Telluride, Montrose, Olathe, Grand Junction, and a few additional stops at affordable rates. This “Outrider” line allows for easy travel with onboard amenities such as WiFi, restrooms, luggage storage, bike racks, and more.
Public Transportation
Durango Transit is run by the City of Durango and offers six routes throughout the city including the historic style Main Avenue Trolley. Single ride, daily, weekly, and annual passes are available. Destinations include CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital, Fort Lewis College, North Main, and many neighborhoods, and is based at the Durango Transit Center on the corner of 8th Street and Camino Del Rio.
The Opportunity Bus and DuranGO! are on-demand transit services available through the Durango Transit for door to door service in town & Three Springs. The Opportunity Bus specifically caters to the elderly population, people with disabilities, and others who may not be able to drive themselves to appointments or the store. DuranGO! is available to anyone commuting or as a designated driver. Other on-demand services include Durango Cab, Buckhorn Limousine, Animas Transportation, Uber, and Lyft.
With electric vehicles becoming more popular, Durango is starting to grow the amount of public charging stations. If you have an electric vehicle, knowing where these are and the distance from your home to them is an important detail.
Durango also has annual bike to work and float to work days where choosing these alternative commuting options (versus driving) is celebrated. With these and the many transportation options Durango, Colorado has to offer, it is an accessible place to visit and call home! Please let The Durango Team at The Wells Group know if you have any questions about getting around town.
