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Major city · United States

SilvertonSilverton, Colorado

Stay 1–2 nights: arrive by the Durango train or drive US 550, walk Greene Street, and use a jeep for the passes. Skip if you want nightlife or a big menu.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Sep for hiking and driving; Feb–Mar for Silverton Mountain
avoid Nov–Apr for road trips (snow and closures); Jul–Aug afternoon thunderstorms
Airports
DRO · MTJ · DEN
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Silverton is a former mining town at about 2,800 m (9,300 ft) in San Juan County, reached by the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad or by car on US 550, the Million Dollar Highway. The historic core is walkable in an hour; the real draw is the surrounding high country, the train and a small expert ski area. One or two nights is enough, and the altitude is the main thing to plan around.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Silverton, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeUS$3–6
  • Sit-down mealDinner mainUS$18–35
  • Street or quick mealBreakfast or lunch plateUS$12–20
  • BeerDraught beerUS$6–9
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekUS$20–40
  • Budget bedHostel or shared bunk, a night, per personUS$45
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$170
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$260

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$110 · Mid US$180 · High US$320

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge RailroadMillion Dollar Highway (US 550)Historic Greene Street and Blair StreetSilverton Mountain ski areaHardrock Hundred endurance run
Airports
DRO Durango–La Plata County (Closest airport, about 80 km south; rental car needed, roughly 1 h 15 min by road (check)) · MTJ Montrose Regional (About 110 km north over Red Mountain Pass; winter closures possible (check)) · DEN Denver International (About 560 km; 6–7 h drive via Montrose or Durango (check))

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Silverton: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

1°C

−14°C

7 rd

Feb

3°C

−12°C

7 rd

Mar

7°C

−8°C

8 rd

Apr

11°C

−4°C

7 rd

May

16°C

1°C

7 rd

Jun

22°C

5°C

6 rd

Jul

24°C

8°C

12 rd

Aug

23°C

7°C

13 rd

Sep

19°C

3°C

8 rd

Oct

13°C

−2°C

6 rd

Nov

6°C

−8°C

6 rd

Dec

1°C

−13°C

7 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town is small enough to cross on foot in minutes; allow extra time at this elevation. For the passes and ghost-town roads, rent a high-clearance jeep from a local outfitter — ordinary cars are fine on US 550 itself but not on the side routes.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Ouray

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive US 550 north over Red Mountain Pass

Hot springs and a compact main street; the pass itself is the sight.

Durango

go

Door to door: 1.5 h by car; 3.5 h by train

Drive US 550 south over Coal Bank and Molas passes, or ride the narrow-gauge train one way

The train is the classic link; book seats ahead in summer.

Telluride

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h

Drive via Ridgway and CO 62, or the seasonal jeep route over Ophir Pass

Long for a return day; better as the next stop.

Mesa Verde National Park

overnight

Door to door: About 3 h

Drive south via Durango, then west

Cliff dwellings need a full day and a separate ticket.

Cortez

overnight

Door to door: About 3 h

Drive via Durango and US 160

Base for Mesa Verde and the Four Corners area.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Greene Street and downtown

Historic hotels and inns, walkable to the depot, shops and most restaurants.

Blair Street

One block east of Greene; a few historic buildings with rooms and a bar-restaurant.

US 550 edges of town

Motels and RV parks with parking; better if you arrive by car with gear.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
US$90–140 excl. bed
Mid
US$140–220 excl. bed
High
US$220+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Historic inn double room1 × 2 nights × US$230US$460
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$180US$720
Durango & Silverton train, round trip2 × US$130 · checkUS$260
Jeep rental, one day1 × US$250 · checkUS$250
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$25US$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$174
Trip total≈ US$479 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,914

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeUS$3–6
Breakfast or lunch plateUS$12–20
Dinner mainUS$18–35
Draught beerUS$6–9
Jeep rental, one daycheckUS$200–350
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekUS$20–40

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A small, low-crime mountain town. The real risks are altitude sickness, summer lightning above treeline and winter driving over the passes: acclimatise, start early and check road conditions.
  • Altitude: the town sits near 2,800 m; sleep the first night low if you can, drink water and skip alcohol on arrival.
  • Afternoon thunderstorms in summer above treeline; start hikes early and be off exposed ridges by early afternoon.
  • US 550 over Red Mountain Pass can close in winter storms; check Colorado road conditions before driving north.
  • Restaurants and shops keep short and seasonal hours; call ahead in the shoulder season.
  • Cell coverage is patchy outside town.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Colorado Road Conditions
511

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

SilvertonSilverton, Colorado

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Colorado Road Conditions511

Embassy

No consulates in town; nearest are in Denver.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Durango & Silverton train, round trip: about US$130, 3.5 h each way (check)
  • Silverton → Ouray by car: about 1 h over Red Mountain Pass
  • Silverton → Durango by car: about 1.5 h over two passes

Say or show

  • Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
  • Is the pass open? — Is the pass open?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • I need water. — I need water.

Altitude first: if you feel a headache and nausea on arrival, rest and descend if it worsens.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Silverton. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep for hiking and driving; Feb–Mar for Silverton Mountain · avoid Nov–Apr for road trips (snow and closures); Jul–Aug afternoon thunderstorms · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for DRO and MTJ: last rental-car desk hours, winter pass closures, taxi fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Greene Street, Blair Street, the depot, the north end of town.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (depot, Silverton Mountain, jeep outfitters) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Altitude and storm fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources