Where to Stay in Durango: My Honest Take After Two Very Different Stays

One stay was right on the Animas River, walking distance to everything. The other was outside town, quiet, and practical. Here’s what each one is actually like.

If you’re wondering where to stay in Durango, the honest answer depends on what kind of trip you’re on.

I’ve stayed in Durango twice, and both times were completely different experiences. Once I stayed right along the Animas River, close enough to walk to Main Avenue in a few minutes. The other time we were just passing through, and stayed outside downtown near the highway, close to Walmart and the everyday side of town.

Neither stay was perfect. Both taught me something about who each area actually suits.

So instead of just listing hotels, I want to walk you through both stays honestly, and then help you figure out where to stay in Durango based on the kind of trip you’re planning.

So, Where to Stay in Durango?

In short, it comes down to one decision. Do you want to be able to walk everywhere, or are you fine driving a few minutes for a quieter, cheaper stay.

Durango really only has two options in that sense. You stay in or right next to the historic downtown, where the train, Main Avenue, restaurants and shops are all within walking distance. Or you stay outside downtown, closer to the highway, where things are more spread out but also more practical if you are on a longer road trip.

I’ve done both. Here is exactly what each one was like.

My Stay Near the Animas River

For one of our visits, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Durango Downtown-Animas River, right on Camino Del Rio, a short walk from Main Avenue.

So would I stay there again. No.

Everything I experienced in Durango itself, the town, the people, the atmosphere, was genuinely positive, and that’s the impression I associate with the city. This hotel was the exception. The front desk was unfriendly, offered no real help when we raised issues, and showed no interest in acknowledging that something was wrong. That alone colored the whole stay, and with hotels like the Strater or the General Palmer just a few minutes away, there is simply no reason to put up with that.

My Stay Outside Downtown

On our second visit, we were only passing through Durango on a longer road trip, so we stayed at MainStay Suites Durango, south of downtown near Highway 160 and the Walmart Supercenter.

This is not the stay I’d recommend if Durango is a real stop on your itinerary. It’s the stay I’d recommend if Durango is a stopover on the way to somewhere else.

Downtown or Outside Durango, Which Should You Choose

If it’s your first time in Durango, stay downtown. Full stop.

Everything that makes Durango worth visiting, the historic streets, the steam whistle, the local shops, the Animas River walk, is within a few minutes of downtown. Staying outside town means driving back and forth every time you want to be part of that atmosphere, and honestly, that atmosphere is the whole point of stopping in Durango.

Staying outside downtown only makes sense in a specific situation. You’re passing through on a longer road trip, you need to restock supplies, or you simply need an early highway exit the next morning. That’s exactly what our second stay was, and it did the job.

Who Should Stay Where

Stay downtown or right along the Animas River if you:

• are visiting Durango for a day or more, not just passing through
• want to walk to Main Avenue, restaurants and the train
• value atmosphere and history over price
• are traveling as a couple or with friends and want an evening out

Stay outside downtown near the highway if you:

• are only in Durango overnight on a longer road trip
• need to restock groceries or supplies before continuing
• are traveling on a tighter budget
• plan to leave very early the next morning

FAQ: Where to Stay in Durango

Is it better to stay downtown or outside Durango?

For most visitors, downtown is the better choice. Durango’s appeal is largely walkable, and staying outside town means driving back and forth for everything. Outside downtown only makes sense if you’re passing through or need easy highway access.

Are hotels near the Animas River walkable to downtown?

Yes. Hotels along Camino Del Rio near the Animas River, like the Holiday Inn Express Durango Downtown-Animas River, are typically a short walk from Main Avenue and the historic downtown.

Where should I stay if I’m just passing through Durango?

If Durango is only an overnight stop on a longer road trip, the area near Highway 160 and the Walmart Supercenter south of downtown is practical and easy to reach, though you’ll need a car for everything.

Final Verdict: Where to Stay in Durango

If you’re deciding where to stay in Durango, let the purpose of your trip decide for you.

If Durango is a destination in its own right, stay downtown or right along the Animas River. You’ll be close to everything that makes the town worth visiting in the first place.

If Durango is a stopover on a bigger road trip, staying outside downtown near the highway is a perfectly reasonable, practical choice.

I’ve done both, and I’d make the same choice again each time, based on what kind of trip I was actually on.

Check availability in Durango here* and book early for fall. Happy travels.

Check Out My Other Colorado Travel Guides

Is Durango Worth Visiting: My Honest Take After Two Visits
The Million Dollar Highway: Ouray, Silverton and Durango in One Epic Day
Where to Stay on the Million Dollar Highway: Ouray or Durango?
How I Spent 3 Days in Telluride: My Perfect Fall Itinerary
Best Things to Do in Telluride: My 9 Favorites Plus 1 Hidden Gem
Crested Butte and Kebler Pass in Fall: The Largest Aspen Forest in North America
Colorado Travel Guide: Best Road Trips and Mountain Towns

 

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