Hi Folks,
This is our first TBF - coming from Asheville, NC with two small kids. Originally planned to fly into Telluride airport, but US Air only has seasonal service in the winter :mad.
With that, Telluride airport may not be an option…alternatives are Grand Junction and Durango. Questions:
Thanks!!!
Mike and Kerri :cheers
Check out Montrose…you can get there from most places with a connection in Denver, and it’s much closer!
We just booked our flights from Ohio into Durago through Denver on Midwest Air (also known as Frontier Air). Not sure if they may fly out of your area though.
We rented a mini van out of Durango with Alamo for a really good rate. Something like $215 for a week.
Hi there - 1st timers ourselves :wave We’re flying from Baltimore into Albuquerque on Southwest - its a fairly inexpensive RT flight, and we’ll rent a car to drive the 5 hours or so to Telluride. Will likely stay in the Durango area and then drive into Telluride. Much closer than Denver.
Excellent…thanks for the responses!
We look forward to seeing y’all there!
Gratefulgrass -
If you’re stopping in Durango JUST to find a hotel, I might suggest going to Dolores instead. It’s just a little farther if you go directly to Hesperas (either using the back road thru Farmington or head northwest from Aztec) and miss Durango completely. The motels are cheaper there.
HOWEVER, if you’re going to Durango to spend some time there, it’s a great town to party in. Mid-week there might not be a lot happening, but Main Street’s got some nice restaurants and shops, and the Brewery is usually fun. Look online for deals on the Strator Hotel. It’s centrally located, got a nice reservable hot tub room, cool “retro” rooms and free breakfast.
One other option is Grand Junction. (TEX) Telluride - Grand Junction (GJT) 130 Miles apart. About 3 hours though some beautiful Colorado Countryside.
We stayed in Durango at the Durango Lodge, its a diamond in the rough lol 
Close to walking distance to bars etc.
http://www.durangolodge.com/index.html
But if you are going to the fest everyday it is kind of far to drive everyday, you should def. camp It is kid friendly as well! :thumbsup
Hey John - thanks for the advice. We thought Durango might be a fun town to spend the night in, and it seems to be on the Silverton/Ouray route. I remember traveling along that road on a long ago family vacation, and thought it might be an awesome gateway (maybe a little further drive) into western CO and the Telluride experience. Since we’ll be driving from Durango on June 16, we figured a leisurely day is in store with an early afternoon arrival into Telluride, time enough to get settled, figure out where everything is, and head up the hill for an opening Night Grass w YMSB. We figured we’d go the other route on the return to catch Mesa Verde on the way back to Albuquerque. Any thoughts? Would it be better to stay in Silverton or Ouray? Two months from now we’ll all be settled into good vibes … :cheers
No, Durango is a fun town, and I’d have to agree that the Durango Lodge is a great find. But if the Strator is anywhere close on price, there’s a big step up in quality. Plus a MUCH better breakfast. The Best Western Rio Grande (NOT the other BW’s!!!) is also a great place, and they have free HAPPY HOUR!!!
If you are planning on Mesa Verde, plan at least a whole day to see it, more if you can. Check it out online first and you will see what I mean. There is a nice campground inside the park, if you have camping stuff with you. There are campgrounds down on the highway too, but to get into the park is about a 45 min. drive to actually get to the visitor center, and they are doing work on the road into the park.