Getting There

By Car -- Durango is located at the crossroads of east-west U.S. 160 and north-south U.S. 550.

By Plane -- Durango/La Plata County Airport, 14 miles southeast of Durango off Colo. 172 (tel. 970/247-8143), has direct daily nonstop service from Denver, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix, with connections to cities throughout North America. The airport is served by America West Express (tel. 800/235-9292), Delta (tel. 800/221-1212), United Express (tel. 800/241-6527), and U.S. Airways (tel. 800/943-5436).

Visitor Information

Contact the Durango Area Tourism Office, 111 S. Camino del Rio, Durango, CO 81302 (tel. 800/463-8726). The Durango Visitor Center is just south of downtown, on U.S. 160/550 opposite the intersection of East Eighth Avenue. June through October, it's open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 5pm, and Sunday from 10am to 4pm; the rest of the year, hours are from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday.

Getting Around

The city is on the banks of the Animas River. U.S. 160 lies along the southern edge, and is joined by U.S. 550 about 5 miles east of Durango. Just before U.S. 160 crosses the river, U.S. 550 branches north as Camino del Rio, and junctions with Main Avenue at 14th Street. Downtown Durango is built around Main Avenue from 14th Street south to Fifth Street. College Drive (Sixth St.) is the principal downtown cross street.

Transportation throughout Durango is provided by The Durango Lift (tel. 970/259-5438). The city bus has three fixed-route loops that operate weekdays, from about 7am to 7pm, year-round (does not operate on major public holidays), and there are also some evening schedules, including late night transportation Friday and Saturday. The fare is $1 per ride one-way. Also part of the Durango Lift is the Durango Trolley, which runs along Main Avenue every 20 minutes, from 7am to 10:40pm daily. Cost is 50¢. Bus and trolley schedules and route maps are available at the visitor center , and all are fully accessible for travelers with limited mobility.

Taxi service is provided 24 hours a day by Durango Transportation (tel. 970/259-4818). Car-rental agencies include Avis (tel. 970/247-9761), Budget (tel. 800/527-7000), Dollar (tel. 970/259-3012), Enterprise (tel. 970/385-6860), Hertz (tel. 970/247-5288), and National (tel. 970/382-8090).

Fast Facts

There's a 24-hour emergency room at Mercy Regional Medical Center, 1010 Three Springs Blvd. (tel. 800/345-2516 or 970/247-4311). The post office is at 3465 Main Ave.; contact the U.S. Postal Service (tel. 800/275-8777) for hours and additional information. For road conditions, call tel. 877/315-7623.

Special Events

Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, Memorial Day weekend; Animas River Days, early June; Music in the Mountains, at Durango Mountain Resort, mid- to late July; La Plata County Fair, early August; the Main Avenue Arts Festival, mid-August; the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Railfest, late August; the Durango Cowboy Gathering, late September or early October; and the Durango Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, November.