The lovely town of Durango, Colorado is nestled on the shores of the Animas River, where the U.S. Highways 160 and 550 meet. The city is very walking-friendly, as it covers only around 5.6 square miles of land.

What is more, many of the unique shops, restaurants, adventure tour headquarters, and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad are located in the downtown district along Main Avenue. Where Main Avenue and 14 th Street meet southward all the way to where Main Avenue and 5 th street merge is considered downtown Durango.

Here are some tips to help you get around...

Ride the Durango Transit

The Durango Transit system consists of busses (called The Lift) and trolleys that run in three convenient lines weekdays from seven in the morning to seven at night. The Lift lines connect at College Drive and Main Avenue, Fort Lewis College, and Albertson’s. Any sign bearing the red Durango T logo is a bus stop, and the fare is typically 50 cents. The historic Durango Trolley runs along Main Avenue from Days Inn to College Drive ( 6 th Street) in 20-minute cycles from 7 a.m. to 10:40 p.m. each day. Late nighters can catch the Late Night Weekend Bus Friday and Saturday nights from 11 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. The Late Night Bus will transport riders anywhere within Durango city limits north of the U.S. Highway 160/550 intersection. Remember, the last Late Night Bus leaves downtown Durango at 2:10 a.m. – don’t be left behind. Call the Durango Transit at 970-259-5438 for more information.

Durango Parking

Parking is available at the Durango Airport on a short and long-term basis. Long term fees are $5.00 per day. Short-term parking costs $1.00 for every thirty minutes beyond an initial free thirty minute period. More information is available by calling 247-9501.

Parking in Downtown Durango consists of street parking and permit spaces. Municipal lots are available free of charge in the evenings after 5 p.m. and all-day on Saturday, Sunday, and U.S. holidays. Parking is by permit only during weekdays. Permits can be purchased at City Hall, the Bank of Colorado, Wells Fargo, or the First National Bank of Durango for a fee of 15 dollars per month.

Municipal lots can be found on 2 nd Avenue in Durango on the 600, 700, and 800 blocks. The largest lot is a car park at the 700 block of Camino Del Rio.

Street parking is controlled by parking meters. Be aware that some meters are limited to half-hour, 2-hour, and 10-hour time limits. Trolley tokens may be used for payments to parking meters, which may be offered freely by local businesses as a courtesy to patrons. Tokens may be purchased in bulk at City Hall or participating banks for $9.00. A nine dollar roll contains ten dollars worth of tokens. Do not park alongside yellow curbs except for evenings after 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Parking alongside yellow curbs is permitted on Sundays all day with no fee. Curbs painted green are never available for parking. These are bus and trolley passenger stops.

If you receive a fine for violation of parking regulations in Durango, you may pay your fine at City Hall. A box is available for fine payment outside. Questions about parking concerns or fees may be directed to the Parking Division office at City Hall.

Stroll Pedestrian-Friendly Streets

Put on your walking shoes and have at it! The town of Durango is gorgeous, with a quaint, safe, and visually appealing downtown district and a sprawling river walk along the Animas River, you don’t even need a car to see and experience much of Durango. The Animas River Trail is nearly five miles of paved river walk along the Animas River in Durango. The north end can be accessed near the intersection of 32 nd Avenue and E. 2nd Avenue, and the south end of the Animas River Trail lies in the proximity of the Durango Mall. You can enter the trail at 9 th Street and near the Durango Recreation Center as well.

Ride the Durango Train

Another great way to see southwest Colorado is the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

The historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has been in operation for over 120 years and continues to offer train rides year-round. Ride to Silverton and enjoy the scenery along the way. Catch a ride into the national forest and spend the day fishing, hiking, or just enjoying the solitude. To learn more about the historic Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Click Here.

Book your tickets four to six weeks in advance for this popular trip. Visit their website to schedule your ride to or from historic Silverton or to see a list of events at http://www.durangotrain.com.

Durango Guided Tours

Enjoy a guided tour of Durango. Durango is an outdoor adventure waiting to happen. Depending on your personal adventure tastes, you can take a guided tour to see the areas around Durango and satisfy your longing for something out of the ordinary. Guided tours are a great way to learn about the Four Corners regional history, culture, and to see the natural splendor that characterizes southwestern Colorado. Outdoor experts can take visitors fishing, up the steep and rugged Rocky Mountains in a Jeep or Hummer, hunting, on a snow mobile expedition, rafting, or out to the historical Native American sites surrounding Durango. You can schedule your very own adventure with Durango.com.

Durango Mountain Shuttle

If you are staying in Durango, but want to take a trip to Durango Mountain Resort, then simplify your life and take the shuttle there and back. No need to worry about directions or parking, the Durango Mountain Resort shuttle fare is only $3 for a one-way pass. Call the Durango Mountain Transport at 970-382-8002 to learn daily departure times

Durango Rental Cars

Rental car services are available at the Durango Airport, as well as at the Albuquerque International Airport. Rental agencies serving the Albuquerque international airport include Advantage, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty. Rental agencies from Durango’s regional airport include Avis, Dollar, Budget, Hertz, and National. For more information on auto rental, visit the Durango.com car rental in Durango page.

Durango Airports

Durango also has a regional airport with jet aircraft service, the Durango-La Plata County Airport. The airport is served by four airlines. Frontier Airlins and United Airlines both serve Durango through Denver Hubs, while Delta offers flights Salt Lake City, and US Airways offers flights through Phoenix. The airport is situated to the southeast of Durango. It is accessible from Durango by taking U.S. 550 South and then taking U.S. 160 East approximately 5.5 miles to Highway 172. From Hwy. 172, the airport is located on Airport Road, also known as C.R. 309, a right turn off of Hwy. 172.