Falling in Love with Southwest Colorado: Durango & Telluride

We recently spent a week travelling through southwest Colorado and fell in love!

While we would have been thrilled to be anywhere but Phoenix and its 110+ degree temperatures in July, this was the perfect getaway.

We spent half of our trip in Durango and the other half in Telluride.

Southwest Colorado is ridiculously beautiful and an outdoor lover’s paradise. It’s the first time any of us have visited the state and certainly left a positive impression.

We’re excited to travel back to Colorado next summer to explore the front range!

How much we spent on our southwest Colorado road trip

Our southwest Colorado road trip was fairly expensive compared to our typical vacations, especially being that it was only a week long.

We spent $3,681 for 7 nights and 8 days, which averages out to $526 per night or $460 per day.

Most of the major mountain towns in Colorado are expensive during the summer months, which makes sense. The weather is mild and the scenery is breathtaking. However, Telluride was much more expensive than we’d expected both for lodging and food.

Additionally, we didn’t use the benefits of travel hacking to save a lot of money on this vacation. The only perk we used was the annual $50 hotel credit we get with our Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which saved us a little money on our stay at the Ice House Hotel in Telluride.

Could we have spent less? Absolutely! However, travel is one of our value-spending areas. We don’t mind spending a little more to upgrade our experience.

For example, we almost always book suites or hotels that have a separate bedroom when travelling with our daughter. She goes to bed before 8pm, and with separate living and sleeping spaces, we don’t have to. It’s always more expensive, but something we believe is worth the cost.

We could also save money by dining out less or visiting fewer local breweries, but that is all part of the fun of travel for us, especially for shorter trips like this one.

(Note: Credit card link above is my referral link. Earn a bonus of 60,000 points, worth $750 towards travel, after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. I’ll also receive 15,000 bonus points… so thank you).

How we spent $3,681 on our week long trip to southwest Colorado:

Spending a week in southwest Colorado with kids

Southwest Colorado is filled with natural beauty and endless opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Since we were travelling with our young child (and inexperienced hiker), our trip was a bit more subdued than it might have been if we were travelling as a couple. However, we all still had a great time.

If you are travelling with older kids or adults, this area has so many hiking, biking, and water adventures that looked amazing.

Southwest Colorado region

One of our favorite activities during this vacation, and something that almost everyone could enjoy, was driving along the San Juan Skyway.

The San Juan Skyway is a scenic 236-mile driving route that loops through the San Juan mountains, connecting the mountain towns of Durango, Telluride, Ridgeway, Ouray and Silverton.

The section between Ouray and Silverton is referred to as the “Million Dollar Highway,” which is known to include some of the most breathtaking views of the skyway… and to be one of the most dangerous roads in America.

We skipped this section of the drive, primarily because I am not brave when it comes to hairpin turns on exposed cliffs. We also learned the road was under construction during our trip, which solidified our decision to avoid it.

However, the two-hour drive along the skyway that we did take between Durango and Telluride was absolutely stunning. It was one of the most beautiful drives we’ve taken in a long time.

Durango

We really liked Durango! The downtown has a great vibe and is the perfect size for walking around. Although not quite as scenic as Telluride, the surrounding mountains and numerous hiking trails were still beautiful. It’s a welcoming town where we felt like we fit right in.

A few of our favorite things to do, see, and eat in Durango:

Walk along the Animas River Trail

This 7-mile paved trail runs along the Animas river through downtown Durango. The Animas River Trail was so peaceful to walk along, with plenty of small parks and places to stop and enjoy a beer or coffee. We liked watching the white-water rafters float by on the river, an activity that we’d love to do when our daughter is older.

Hike the Colorado Trail

The Colorado Trail is a 567 mile recreational hiking trail that spans from Denver to Durango. The trail is reasonably easy and mostly shaded near the Durango trailhead, which made for an enjoyable day-hike for our family on a hot summer day.

Eat lunch at James Ranch Grill

The 100% grass-fed burger and fries I had at the James Ranch was hands-down my favorite meal of our trip! The entire ranch was gorgeous and idyllic. The food was fresh and delicious. Plus, I loved learning about the James family’s efforts to raise and grow quality food sustainably, while being responsible stewards for the land.

Grab a beer (and something to eat) at Carver Brewing

Carver Brewing claims to be the first brewpub in the Southwest, and they lived up to the hype. We stopped in for an affordable lunch and a beer, and walked out with a couple 6-packs. As craft beer fans, we typically choose IPAs, which tend to dominate the scene. Carver brewing had a couple really good IPAs. However, my favorite type of beer (when done right) is actually a Brown Ale, and theirs was excellent.

Get caffeinated at Durango Coffee Company

For a fancy coffee and living room ambiance, stop into Durango Coffee Company and rest your feet for a bit.

Take a ride on the Durango to Silverton narrow gauge railroad

This is something we did not do on our trip, but heard rave reviews about. Ride this historic train along the Animas river up to Silverton, taking in the gorgeous scenery along the journey. We opted out of this activity because we didn’t want to spend several hours sitting after the 8+ hour car ride up to Durango. But, it’s worth a look.

Telluride

Telluride is a stunning mountain town! Nestled in a box canyon below towering mountains on three sides, the downtown is adorable and walkable. The fresh air, charm and breathtaking beauty made the expensive price tag of this portion of our trip worth every penny.

Although beautiful, prepare to boost your travel budget when visiting Telluride. Home prices downtown started in the $2 million range and pretty much everything in town is priced accordingly.

A few of our favorite things to do, see, and eat in Telluride:

Take the free gondola up to Mountain Village

For epic views and a ride to the top of the mountain (above 10,000 feet) take the free gondola from downtown Telluride up to San Rafael Station and Mountain Village. Up there you can hike, bike, dine, sleep and ski… or just enjoy the views for a bit before returning to the base of the mountain.

Hike Bear Creek Trail

Bear Creek Trail is one of the most popular trails in Telluride for a reason. You’ll enjoy nature and spectacular views as you wind along the box canyon past creeks and waterfalls. We didn’t quite make it the full four miles of this hike with our 6 year-old, but enjoyed the experience regardless.

Take a leisurely stroll along the San Miguel River

Following the river that runs through downtown Telluride, the San Miguel River Trail offers a healthy dose of nature and serenity just moments from the bustle of downtown.

Grab a beer at Telluride Brewing Company

Chill vibe, great IPAs and another crave-worthy brown ale on the outskirts of town. Just be careful drinking at this elevation.

Indulge in some Detroit-style pizza at Brown Dog Pizza

One of the most affordable options in town and a safe bet for families and pizza-fans. Frankly, most of the restaurants in Telluride underwhelmed us. They felt overpriced for the quality and/or quantity of food they served. This was the one restaurant in town we’d look forward to returning to on a future trip to Telluride. We’d also do a lot more cooking at the condo if we ever go back.

Where or what did you fall in love with this summer?

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