Durango - A Dozen Vacations in One Destination!

Durango, Colorado is a year-round destination. People come from all over to ride the world-famous Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, visit nearby Mesa Verde National Park, and ski the family-friendly slopes of Purgatory Resort - and those are just the highlights. The train is a remnant of the time when Durango was a mining town where silver and gold flowed from the mines of the La Plata Mountains.

Durango is one of the most scenic towns in the United States and the opportunities for exploration are endless: to the north, the San Juan National Forest and Weminuche Wilderness offer incredible hiking, fishing, camping and hunting opportunities; to the southwest, premier archaeological centers like Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep, and Chimney Rock provide an unparalleled peek into a past when the region was inhabited by Ancestral Puebloans; and right in downtown Durango, the colorful history of a mining town collides with fine dining and restaurants, shopping and live entertainment. And if that’s not enough to lure you in, the beautiful Animas River runs right through the middle of town, offering recreational opportunities from the doorstep of your hotel.

Hotels, B&B’s, Condos, Vacation Homes and more in Durango, CO…

Looking for lodging, hotels and accommodations in Durango, Colorado? Gateway Reservations offers Durango’s largest local selection of hotels, cabins, condos and vacation homes. We will help you compare rates, amenities, availability and then make reservations that make sense for you. You’ll have many options to choose from whether you’re looking for a peaceful cabin, a budget-friendly motel, or a deluxe vacation home or condo.

And, we’ll pair your perfect lodging with an itinerary packed full of your target activities: stay in Historic Downtown Durango and get a discounted train ride, perch your family at Purgatory Resort and get discounted lift tickets, or tour Mesa Verde National Park and stay inside the Park or nearby. We have something to match any budget—check out our discounted Durango Lodging packages!

l or motel. You can also choose from the various areas surrounding Durango, including hotels near Durango, in historic downtown Durango, condos at Purgatory Resort, vacation homes, cabins near Vallecito Lake, lodging in the Mesa Verde area, and much more!

 

Lodging Options

Durango Lifestyle and Recreational Activities

Durango is a geographically, culturally, and economically diverse area, and the thread that binds it all together is a community-wide commitment to an exceptional quality of life.

Durango is one of the West’s latest boom towns, boasting an eclectic economic mix made up of agriculture, industry, and tourism. Combine that with students from Durango’s Fort Lewis College and outdoor enthusiasts who come to enjoy Colorado’s high country adventures, and you can see why our small town has such a youthful, energetic buzz.

And while Durango does maintain the charming feel of a small town, it also offers arts, culture and entertainment that you’d often find in much larger towns; music abounds at annual festivals ranging from the internationally-renowned classical series Music in the Mountains, to the grassroots Durango Bluegrass Meltdown.

 

Activity Options

Durango Lifestyle and Recreational Activities

Looking for a unique way to experience Durango, CO? We have an inspiring variety of Durango vacation packages for every interest and every budget! Whether you are looking for a great deal on favorites like a Durango Train and Lodging package, or for unique adventures like jeep tours, rafting, zip-lines and much more – we have the perfect package for you. Enjoy great discounts on your lodging and activities when you book them together in an inclusive vacation package. Have something specific in mind? Call one of our friendly travel consultant at 800-828-4228, and we will be happy to customize a package to fit your unique needs.

Have something specific in mind? Call one of our friendly travel experts at 800-828-4228 and we will be happy to customize any package to fit your unique needs!

Discounted Vacation Packages

Durango Quick Facts

Location Southwest corner of Colorado in La Plata County, where Highways 550 and 160 intersect.

Silverton is one hour north, Pagosa Springs is one hour to the east, Cortez/Mesa Verde is one our to the west, Telluride is two hours northwest.
Weather/Elevation/Climate Transition zone between desert and semi-arid Average High/Low Temps for Winter 40/15 (Jan)

Average High/Low Temps for Summer 83/50 (July)
Population Approximately 18,000 in Durango city limits and 54,000 in La Plata County
Geographical Highlights San Juan National Forest, Weminuche Wilderness, Animas River, Vallecito Lake, Navajo Lake

Durango, Colorado History

From the 1910’s to the 1930’s Durango’s economy focused primarily on agriculture, ranching, and logging. The beginnings of a tourist economy sprouted as travelers began to discover the unique opportunities Durango provided as a vacation destination.

Like many other parts of the country during World War II, the Durango area contributed to the war effort in the 1940’s through agriculture, ranching, and mining. The 1950’s in Durango marked the beginning of another “boom cycle” as mining of uranium and oil exploration in the region increased. The Durango Smelter was refitted for the processing of uranium ore, and there was a flurry of building in the community to house the smelter workers, and the workers who supported the burgeoning natural gas industry. During the “boom” of the 1950’s, Fort Lewis College was moved from south of Hesperus where it had been a two-year agricultural school to its present location atop the mesa that abuts town. With its relocation, the college changed to a four-year, liberal arts curriculum.

In the 1960’s Purgatory Ski Resort was developed north of Durango. The presence of the ski resort and Fort Lewis College added additional elements to the local economy and spurred a growing tourism economy. From the 1970’s to present, the area has gone through a series of economic evolutions as Durango’s spectacular setting and limitless opportunities continue to draw people for recreation and the healthy, fulfilling life found here in the Rocky Mountains.