Plan Your Trip
Getting to Silverton
Silverton is one of Colorado's most remote towns — and getting there is part of the experience. You have two main options, and both are spectacular.
By Train from Durango (Recommended)
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is the most iconic way to arrive — a 45-mile steam train journey through the Animas River gorge that has been running since 1882. The train departs from Durango's historic depot on Main Avenue and takes 3.5 hours to reach Silverton.
This is not a scenic tourist train that happens to end somewhere interesting. The gorge is genuinely inaccessible by road — the only way in is the train. What you see from those windows cannot be experienced any other way.
Book well in advance — summer weekends and fall foliage season sell out months ahead at durangotrain.com.
Full Railroad Guide →By Car — The Million Dollar Highway
US-550 from Durango north to Silverton is known as the Million Dollar Highway — one of the most spectacular (and dramatic) mountain roads in America. Steep grades, tight switchbacks, sheer drop-offs without guardrails, and jaw-dropping scenery. The drive takes about 1 hour from Durango.
⚠️ Important:This road is stunning but demands respect. In winter it can be closed or require chains. In summer it's open but narrow. If you're not comfortable with exposure and mountain driving, take the train instead — it's genuinely better anyway.
Driving Distances to Silverton
- Durango49 mi · ~1 hr via US-550
- Ouray24 mi · ~45 min via US-550 south
- Telluride50 mi · ~1.5 hrs via CO-145
- Cortez (Mesa Verde)85 mi · ~1.5 hrs
- Denver348 mi · ~6 hrs
Getting Around Silverton
Silverton is tiny — you can walk every street in under 20 minutes. Once you're here, you don't need a car for town itself. But if you want to explore the backcountry roads (Stony Pass, Cunningham Gulch, etc.), a high-clearance vehicle or 4WD is essential.
There's no Uber or rideshare in Silverton. The only way out is the train, your car, or a rental.
Road Trip Essentials
The drive to Silverton — especially the Million Dollar Highway — deserves proper preparation.
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