Where to Stay on the Million Dollar Highway: Ouray or Durango? (Updated 2026)
Two towns, two completely different reasons to stay. Here’s how to pick the right one.
Figuring out where to stay on the Million Dollar Highway comes down to one question: do you want to wake up where the road starts, or where it ends? Both are great choices. Both give you a completely different experience. We picked Durango both times, and I’d pick Ouray next time. Here’s why.
Let’s get into it.
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What’s In This Guide
Where to Stay on the Million Dollar Highway: My Quick Answer
Stay in Ouray If…
Stay in Durango If…
How It Fits Into the Road Trip
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where to Stay on the Million Dollar Highway: My Quick Answer
We stayed in Durango both times. Next time, I’d stay in Ouray. Both are right. It depends on what you want from the evening and the next morning.
Durango is the bigger town with more restaurants, craft beer bars, and the historic train station where the Durango and Silverton Railroad departs. If you want to ride the train, stay here. Ouray is the tiny Swiss style village with hot springs, a box canyon waterfall, and the advantage that you wake up right where the Million Dollar Highway begins. Two bases, two completely different experiences.
Stay in Ouray If You Want Hot Springs, Box Canyon Falls, and a Fresh Start on the Highway
Ouray at a Glance
Elevation: 7,792 feet
Vibe: Tiny mountain village, Victorian main street, surrounded by canyon walls
Unique: Natural hot springs in the center of town, Box Canyon Falls Park
Best for: Relaxing before the drive, morning start on the highway, couples
Restaurant choice: Limited but charming, local brewery with rooftop terrace
Ouray is the kind of place you drive into and immediately think: I should be sleeping here tonight. The town sits at 7,792 feet, enclosed by rock walls on three sides, with a Victorian main street and natural hot springs right in the center. It’s tiny, quiet, and the nickname “Switzerland of America” makes sense the moment you arrive.
The practical advantage: if you stay in Ouray, you start the Million Dollar Highway fresh the next morning. No driving to get there, you’re already at the start. The light in the early morning on the first switchbacks out of town, with the red rocks above and the valley below, is different from the afternoon light. Better.
Plus: the Ouray Hot Springs in the evening after a day on the road, with mountain peaks above you and the stars coming out. We didn’t do it. I wish we had.
Check availability in Ouray here*
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Stay in Durango If You Want the Train, More Restaurants, and a Proper Town Evening
Durango at a Glance
Elevation: 6,512 feet
Vibe: Lively college town, Main Avenue with restaurants and bars, river trail
Unique: Home of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Best for: Families riding the train, dinner options, end of a long driving day
Restaurant choice: Much larger than Ouray, craft beer bars, diverse dining
Durango is the natural endpoint. After the switchbacks and the altitude and the intensity of the Million Dollar Highway, Durango feels like arriving. The Main Avenue is alive with restaurants, craft beer bars, bookstores, and outdoor shops. The Animas River runs through town with a walking trail lined in golden trees. And somewhere in the background, you keep hearing the whistle of the steam engine.
If you want to ride the Durango and Silverton Railroad, stay here. The train departs from the historic station on Main Avenue, and booking a night before or after the ride makes the logistics much simpler. The full round trip to Silverton takes a day, so having your hotel right there matters.
We stayed in Durango both times. Good food, a local beer, early to bed. After the adrenaline of the highway, it was exactly what we needed.
Our Hotel Picks in Durango
General Palmer Hotel
Historic hotel right by the train station. If you want to take the railroad the next morning, this is where you sleep. Victorian charm, central location on Main Avenue.
Hampton Inn Downtown Durango
Central, reliable, near Main Avenue. A solid option when the historic hotels are booked.
DoubleTree by Hilton Durango
Beautiful location right on the Animas River. The river setting in fall is gorgeous.
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How It Fits Into a Colorado Fall Road Trip
If you’re coming from Telluride like we did, you’ll arrive in Ouray first, via the Dallas Divide. From there you have two options:
Option A: Stay in Ouray. Explore the town, do the hot springs in the evening, sleep. Next morning: drive the Million Dollar Highway southbound with fresh eyes and morning light. Stop in Silverton, continue to Durango or your next destination.
Option B: Drive through to Durango. Stop in Ouray, drive the highway, stop in Silverton, arrive in Durango for the evening. Longer day, but everything in one shot. This is what we did. It worked, but the day was intense.
If I could do it again: Option A. Wake up in Ouray, hot springs first thing, then drive the highway fresh. Durango can be the next night, or you can turn around and head back north.
Tip: In fall, both Ouray and Durango are well visited, especially on weekends. Book ahead for late September and early October.
► Read our full guide to the Million Dollar Highway
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Book Your Stay in Durango*
Book the Train
The Durango and Silverton Railroad sells out in fall. Book the train*.
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Where to Stay on the Million Dollar Highway: Frequently Asked Questions
🏠 Ouray or Durango for one night?
Ouray if you want hot springs, a tiny mountain village, and a fresh morning start on the highway. Durango if you want the train, more dining options, and a bigger town to unwind. We did Durango both times and would try Ouray next.
📅 Can I stay in Silverton?
You can, but options are very limited. Silverton is a tiny historic town at 9,318 feet with minimal accommodation and few restaurants. It works as a stop on the drive, but Ouray or Durango are better bases for an overnight.
☀️ What are the Ouray Hot Springs like?
Natural thermal pools right in the center of town, fed by underground hot springs, with views of the surrounding peaks. Locals say the evening light is the best time. We didn’t make it ourselves but it’s at the top of the list for next time. Check hours and prices on the Ouray Hot Springs website before you go.
💰 Is Ouray or Durango cheaper?
Durango has more options across more price ranges, including chain hotels. Ouray is smaller with fewer choices and prices can be higher in peak season. Both are significantly cheaper than Telluride or Aspen.
Final Thoughts on Where to Stay on the Million Dollar Highway
Two towns, two completely different evenings. Ouray gives you hot springs under the stars and a fresh start on one of the most dramatic roads in North America. Durango gives you the train whistle, Main Avenue at sunset, and a cold beer after a long day. We did Durango twice. Next time: Ouray first, Durango second. The perfect version of this stretch might be two nights.
Check availability in Ouray* | Check availability in Durango*. Happy travels.
Check Out My Other Colorado Travel Guides
The Million Dollar Highway: Ouray, Silverton and Durango in One Epic Day
How I Spent 3 Days in Telluride: My Perfect Fall Itinerary
Crested Butte and Kebler Pass in Fall: The Largest Aspen Forest in North America
Breckenridge in Fall: Aspen Alley, Boreas Pass and Where to Stay
Colorado Travel Guide: Best Road Trips and Mountain Towns
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