Telluride, Colorado At a Glance
Best Time to Go
The tiny town of Telluride, with a downtown designated a National Historic District, is famed as a ski resort with Hollywood stars among the snowboarders. Ski season is the obvious best time to visit. If you are not a skier and just want to sample the scenery as well as hike, you’ll find bargain hotel rates during the off-season; just watch out for the Bluegrass Festival in June, the Jazz Festival at the beginning of August and the Film Festival at the start of September as hotels come close to ski season prices during those events.
Average Weather
Into each month a little rain falls; the most during March when almost three inches falls. The average temperature falls below freezing in November and stays that way through February even though on occasion, the temperature may soar into the 50s. June, July, and August are the warmest months with highs in the 70s but evenings dip into sweater weather.
Transportation
The Telluride Regional Airport is only seven miles from the town of Telluride. The airport is served by two airlines, Great Lakes Aviation and America West Express. Numerous shuttle and limo services operate from the airport, 1-888-212-TAXI reaches the Telluride Express. Budget Rent a Car and National Car Rental serve the area. Once you arrive in the town you’ll find almost everything within walking distance. Mountain Village is connected to Telluride by a free year-round gondola service.
In-Season Costs
You can easily spend between $200 and $300 nightly for a room in-season --- Telluride is a town of superlatives where four star resorts, historic inns, and hostelries featured in “best of” lists fill the town. If you keep an eye out for bargains you might find an occasional special offer for fewer than two hundred dollars nightly. Meals are predictably costly in Telluride; this is a town that caters to discriminating tastes. You won’t find middle America’s familiar array of mid-priced chains, you’ll find independent establishments where you can expect to spend around $10 for breakfast or $30 for dinner without wine or dessert.
Day Trips
Telluride is 120 miles northwest of Durango. The two towns are both on Hwy 145. If you visit during driving weather you can easily take a scenic tour of southwest Colorado. From Durango take the San Juan Skyway through the mountains, north along US-550 and then back via Hwy-145 and US-160. The Million Dollar Highway is the name assigned to the stretch of road north of Durango. It was given the name due to the gold-laden gravel that was used in its construction. Or, you can simply go to Durango for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Between May and October it runs at least four daily trips, from the depot at 479 Main Ave at the south end of Durango. All trips leave early in the morning. Call 970/247-2733 for prices, information, reservation, and schedules. Between late November and early May shorter daily trips run.
