One Day In Durango, Colorado (Easy Day Trip Itinerary!)

Durango is a gorgeous city situated at the intersection of mountains and desert. From outdoor attractions and national parks to museums and breweries, there’s tons to do here.

Stopping through on a road trip and wondering what to do? I’ve visited this mountain town numerous times, sometimes for an extended trip, others times just passing through.

This is a one day itinerary based on some of my favorite activities in Durango. Read on for everything to know about spending one day in Durango, Colorado.

Old red brick building in downtown historic Durango with mountain views in background during summer. Historic Strater Hotel, Downtown Durango, Colorado. — One day in Durango, Colorado

River rafters on wide calm river with mountains in background on cloudy summer afternoon. River rafting the Animas River, Animas River Trail, Durango, Colorado. — One day in Durango, Colorado

Table of Contents

One Day In Durango, Colorado Itinerary

Breakfast In Downtown Durango

This will be a busy day in Durango, so start off with a big breakfast.

There are a handful of really good dining options right in the downtown area. A few favorite are Oscar’s, Rupert’s, Michel’s Corner Crepes, and Durango Diner.

No matter which you choose, you’ll need to get an early start because the next item on this itinerary departs at 9:45 am.

Option 1: Ride The Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway

During your day in Durango, head out on the area’s most iconic attraction, the Durango Silverton Train.

This bucket list-worthy trip takes you on a historic steam train along the winding Animas River while overlooking the San Juan National Forest.

Their half-day route takes you to Cascade Canyon. You’ll be on the train for 2 hours each way, with a 1 hour layover in beautiful Cascade Canyon. The views along the way are spectacular, as well as the layover location.

If you’re up for a longer ride, the most popular route is the Durango-Silverton route, which stops in the tiny mining town of Silverton. The total excursion requires 9 hours.

For lots more information, check out my detailed guide: Durango Silverton Train: Everything You Need To Know.

Tip: If you don’t have time for either route, you can still stop by the Durango Depot to watch passengers depart. It’s exciting to see the steam train up close! Plus, the train station is centrally located in the downtown area, so it’s easy to get here. There’s also a free museum on site, D&SNG Museum, with tons of information on the area’s railroad history.

Train winding through rocky and pine tree-filled mountains along the narrow Animas River on sunny summer day. Cascade Canyon, Durango Silverton Train, San Juan Mountains of the Rocky Mountains, Durango, Colorado. — Durango Silverton Train – Cascade Canyon Route

Animas river flowing through mountains on sunny summer day. Cascade Canyon, Rocky Mountains, Colorado. — Durango Silverton Train – Cascade Canyon Route

Option 2: Whitewater Rafting On The Animas River

As an alternative option to the train, consider whitewater rafting.

The Animas River around Durango is perfect for rafting. The Lower Animas is ideal for beginners and families with Class I-III rapids, whereas the Upper is more adventurous with challenging Class IV-V rapids.

Tours range from 2 hours to full day excursions, so you’ll have plenty of options to fit your schedule.

There are many reputable rafting companies in Durango, browse available tour options here: Durango River Rafting Tours.

No matter which company you choose, this is a great way to add some adventure to your vacation.

Group of rafters in white water on Arkansas River in summer. White water rafting near Buena Vista, Salida, Colorado, Arkansas River. — Whitewater rafting in Colorado

Walk The Shops Downtown

Following the train ride or rafting tour, check out downtown Durango.

The downtown area is a Nationally Registered Historic District thanks to late-19th and early-20th century architecture built to support the area’s numerous mining booms. This was a fairly large city then and even more so now, so there’s lots to check out.

Spend some time walking and browsing the boutique shops, bookstores, art markets, and museums. Additionally, there’s numerous bars and restaurants in the area, perfect for a drink or quick bite to eat.

The highest concentration of attractions can be found along historic Main Ave, roughly from the Durango Depot to 14th Ave.

Tip: If you have extra time, consider going for a walk along the Animas River Walk or checking out the Durango Art Center.

Large outdoor mural of ranch in southwest Colorado, mural in downtown Durango, Colorado. — Historic downtown Durango

Large statue of Native American smiling and waving. The Durango Chief Statue, Durango, Colorado. — Historic downtown Durango

Visit A Brewery & Grab Dinner

After a long day exploring Durango, unwind with a craft beer from one of the city’s numerous breweries.

Steamworks Brewing Company, Ska Brewing Co., Animas Brewing Company, and Carver Brewing Co. are your options here.

Most offer a long lineup of beers, from light pilsners to hoppy IPA’s, alongside a delicious food menu. For good beer and a laid-back dinner, you can’t go wrong with these options.

If you want dinner elsewhere though, check out Lola’s Place, Eolus Bar & Dining, 636 Main Ave, or Grassburger. These are just a few favorite options in the downtown area.

Live Music At Strater Hotel

Those spending the night in town, wrap up your day in Durango with some live music.

With just one night here, I recommend going to the Strater Hotel, this is a large historic hotel with a handful of bars and restaurants, most of which have live entertainment nightly. For cocktails in an intimate setting, The Office Spiritorium is my go-to. The Diamond Belle Saloon is always a good time too.

Where To Stay In Durango

Those spending the night during their one day in Durango, I recommend staying in the downtown area for close proximity to restaurants, shops, and nightlife. Because Durango is so large, there are a good variety of lodging options for all budgets. Below are a few popular choices:

For more information and ideas, check out Top Hotels In Durango: Best Places To Stay.

Getting Around Durango

This itinerary centers around downtown Durango, you do not need a car during this day trip.

Lyft and Uber are available here, although limited.

If adding itinerary stops outside of Durango, you will need a car.

Getting To Durango

By Car

Despite Durango’s remote location, most will arrive by car.

Many highways surrounding Durango are mountain roads. Double check that the forecast is clear of rain or snow before heading to Durango, especially if following US-550, portions of this highway have very steep drop-offs with no guardrails (snow is common in Colorado mountains from October – early June).

Check out road conditions at Colorado Department of Transportation.

The nearest major city is Albuquerque at 3.5 hours away. Denver is just over 6 hours away, Salt Lake City about 6.5, and Phoenix a little over 7 hours.

By Train

It’s possible to reach Durango by train if coming from Silverton.

The train runs daily routes between the two towns during summer, however all routes start and end in Durango. Even so, you can book a one-way ticket from Silverton to Durango, spend the night in Durango, then return to Silverton the next day with another one-way ticket.

For more information, check out my guide Durango Silverton Train: Everything You Need To Know.

By Plane

Durango’s airport is the Durango – La Plata County Airport, located 20 minutes from downtown.

This is a regional airport serviced by United and American Airlines. Shuttles from the airport to downtown can be arranged in advance.

As you can see there’s a lot that can be done with one day in Durango. I hope you’ve found this helpful in planning your day trip and have the best time!

Any questions? Please leave a comment below or reach out on social media.

Looking for more information? Head on over to Historic Downtown Durango or check out my additional Durango and Colorado guides below!

One Day In Durango, Colorado (Easy Day Trip Itinerary!)