Driving from Denver to Telluride (Grand Junction, Montrose: vacation, title, best)

[.gif]

my family is planning on taking a vacation to telluride. what would be the best route to take from denver? are there any good towns to stop in and stay for a day on the way there? we are planning on staying in telluride for maybe four nights. does that seem like too long? i'm not sure if i'll get sick of it after a while. thanks.

[McGowdog]

Originally Posted by .gif

my family is planning on taking a vacation to telluride. what would be the best route to take from denver?

I'd probably go 285 to Poncha Springs, turn right and go up over Monarch Pass, through Gunnison and along Blue Mesa to Montrose. Then turn south on 550 till you get there. Do the Million Dollar Highway if you can. You may go on it once you get past Ouray. I can't remember.

are there any good towns to stop in and stay for a day on the way there? we are planning on staying in telluride for maybe four nights. does that seem like too long? i'm not sure if i'll get sick of it after a while. thanks.

Google maps gives different directions here. They recommend going across 70 to Grand Junction and south on 50 to 550. I think that's absurd. Either way, it's a day trip. If you go my way, you get to see Blue Mesa and that's where I'd spend some time, unless you'd rather do the touristy stuff along 70 or do something in Grand Junction.

[.gif]

Originally Posted by McGowdog

Google maps gives different directions here. They recommend going across 70 to Grand Junction and south on 50 to 550. I think that's absurd. Either way, it's a day trip. If you go my way, you get to see Blue Mesa and that's where I'd spend some time, unless you'd rather do the touristy stuff along 70 or do something in Grand Junction.

thanks for the advice! is it worth driving on the million dollar highway in the summer? i imagine in the fall it would be spectacular.

what about staying in crested butte or gunnison? how are those towns?

[McGowdog]

Just so long as the weather is good. I wouldn't be on it if it were raining and I imagine it's closed at some point in the late fall/early winter. It's a real Colorado experience, if you know what I mean.

Hopefully others here can comment on Gunnision or Crested Butte this time of year. I'd like to know more about them myself; as well as opinions on the I-70 route.

[HazeGray]

I stayed in Montrose when I drove down there a few summers ago. Honestly, I like Gunnison better, but Montrose broke up the drive better. I also wanted to spend some time at the Black Canyon (definitely worth a visit!).

Crested Butte is beautiful and worth the 30 minute detour from Gunnison.

On the way back, we went through a seasonal road (12?) from Crested Butte up through Carbondale (on 133 I think) and back up to 70 via 82 in Glenwood Springs. Sorry, it's been a while and I can't remember if those road numbers are correct.

I loved that trip, it was absolutely beautiful.