Denver to Telluride + Ouray - Best Route & RV Parks

We also spent nearly a week last summer in our trailer at Ridgway State Park. You can choose RV sites with full hookups or electric only, depending on which campground you select. We chose the electric-only campground because we liked being above the lake in the pinon-cedar forest instead of being below the dam on the river. Very nice campgrounds with paved back-ins and pull-throughs, flush toilets, and convenient water and dump at half the price of a KOA.

We would also highly recommend a campground south of Telluride that the Forest Service has completely redone. It is called the Cayton Campground, has 30-amp electric, water, dump, and flush toilets (very popular, so you will definitely need reservations). It is located a few miles south of Lizardhead Pass on CO 145 at the intersection with the Bolam Pass Road. Bolam Pass is a very scenic and relatively easy road to the pass from CO 145 in a truck, but is almost impossible from the east (Durango Mountain Resort on US 550) in anything but a high-clearance 4x4, an ATV/OHV, a trail bike, or a mountain bike with a very fit rider. We traveled over it from the east end last summer in our Nissan Frontier (without our trailer obviously) and I wouldn't do it again.

If you have, or plan to rent, a 4x4 to take on the many jeep roads in the area around Ouray/Telluride, start with ones like the Ophir Pass Road (turn east off CO 145 just north of Trout Lake) and Engineer Pass (Silverton to Lake City). If you don't have a 4x4, two scenic drives we would recommend for a 4x2 pickup or sturdy toad would be the Last Dollar Road between Sawpit and Dallas Divide and the Owl Creek Pass Road from US 550, just south of Ridgway State Park, to Cimarron on US 50 between Gunnison and Montrose. From Cimarron, you can easily loop back on 50/550 to either Ridgway or Cayton.

It's gorgeous country, so you can't go wrong unless you find yourself on a jeep road that is more than you can handle (ie., I suggest staying off Black Bear and Imogene Passes!). And, if you stay at Cayton CG, you can easily do Mesa Verde on a day trip. If you go to Mesa Verde, we highly recommend stopping at the Anasazi Museum just west of Dolores. It has great hands-on, interactive exhibits that most kids will be fascinated by. Have a great trip, wherever you decide to stay and whatever you decide to do!

We will be spending time this summer in Ouray at the KOA. Not sure just yet how much time as we don't have the summer plans in place as of yet. My wife grew up in the Springs/Woodland Park area of Colorado, but I came there as an adult, after we were married. We lived in Ouray for about 10 years. Telluride has always been a yuppie place to me, but to my wife who first visited Telluride as a child in the 50s, it has undergone great changes.

I have worked private personal security in the Telluride area and they have some interesting folks that hang out there, especially in the winte ski season.
Living there is totally out of my pay grade.

We vary where we stay when back for the summers to Ouray. Have stayed at the 4J campground in town, at Timber Ridge Cg on the north side of town (has sold and the name has changed), at the KOA north of Ouray a few miles and at Ridgway State Park. Most long term stays we use Montrose, 35 miles north. Rates are about half of staying in Ouray. Last summer we spent a week at the Grand Junction KOA, then a week at Ridgway SP, then a week at Ouray KOA and then a month at Montrose KOA (formerly Montrose RV Resort, still with the same owner and excellent place to stay)

Others have mentioned what to do in the Ouray area, the Fourth of July is special there as well. Fun to watch a town with a winter population of about 600, swell to over 10,000 on the 4th. As a gift shop owner in Ouray, we loved it. The mountains, the gold/silver rush history is what this part of the state is all about. Great lakes, rivers and streams, hot springs, spectacular peaks, the mountain Jeep trails, etc. I have been working on my Jeep getting it ready to tow it to Colorado. May just drop it off at a friend's in Ouray, while we go on north to Montana, perhaps Canada and maybe Alaska for some time. Then run the trails on the way home before the snow flys. LOL

As far as a route, I much prefer Monarch Pass on Hwy 50 to cross the Rocky Mts. Route 285 out of Denver works to get me out of there as well. Even though I enjoy the Glennwood Canyon area of Interstate 70, we tend to avoid that route most of the time. Coming from the east, we normally cut south west at Limon Colorado to the Springs area, then west of Hwy 24 to meet up with hwy 50 and west to Montrose and south to Ouray. If coming from the south, we head west at Pueblo on Hwy 50 to Montrose.

The home made fudge available at the Monarch Crest Gift shop is worth going that route just for the candy. The tram ride there on top of the pass is something our grandsons still talk about as they went with us last summer.

Have been to the Telluride / Ouray area many times. In fact, going back to Ouray this fall. (Lived in Estes Park for 8 years).

Not sure what your rig is but a couple of notes. Independence Pass has strictly enforced length limitations - think it is 35 feet. Have heard not so good stories about people who violated that and got caught (turned around, hefty fines, etc). Also check "Search" on here for Hwy 550 (aka Red Mountain Pass aka Million Dollar Hwy) and make up your own mind on this - not going to get it going again here.

Would suggest the KOA in Ouray over the 4J place in town (which we feel is tight and crowded). Or the state park. On the other side of To Hell U Ride down by Dolores is Priest Gulch which is a nice place and other one down in Dolores which we have not been to but have heard good reports. Telluride is a good day visit but very pricey.......we will drive there from Ouray this fall for a day.

Just my 1.5¢ worth.

jolooote wrote:
Telluride is a VERY upscale, fancy place just for the 'Pretty people'. They don't catter to the RV 'crowd'. Don't even think of buying gas near there. $$$$ There is a wonderful state park at Ridgeway. A very nice RV park in Montrose called Cedar Creek. Several RV parks near Ouray...pronounced "YourWay".

It is most certainly pronounced "U-Ray". Telluride is what it is. We stay in Ouray at the KOA, but there are many alternatives. Ridgeway is one. Montrose is a long way from Ouray and Telluride.

WW07

You don't say what kind of RV? I like the drive to Leadville, then Independence Pass to Aspen (great stop if only for a day). The RV camping at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a fantastic location. 550 is one of my favorites and once you are at Telluride, Durango and Mesa Verde are an easy visit. Aspen and Telluride are both very high end, but very lovely places. In the mud and gray off seasons the restaurants offer much less expensive special pricing on meals and rooms. But in the summer or winter seasons expect full (high) prices. My kids are grown so we take advantage of off season pricing. And because we like the back roads I don't take my MH but use my camper van instead. It has high enough clearance (I removed running boards, etc) to travel on "improved" gravel roads but not jeep only places. Hwy 133 from Carbondale down to 50 is a very scenic route that rivals 550 but is easier to drive. There is a great BBQ joint in the little village of Marble. The quarry there provided much of the pure white marble used for monuments in DC. The Montrose area has lots of RV parks and is central for day trips to a wide area of interesting locations including Telluride. The SW area of Colorado is my favorite area and then NM as the weather gets colder in the fall. Get off of I70 or I25. The drive is slower and less tense and all the routes offer great scenery.

rturner wrote:
We are planning a family (2 kids) RV trip from Denver to Telluride in Aug, debating between I-70 via Grand Junction (est. 360 miles) vs. I-25 S, stopping at Lake Pueblo State Park, then I-50 to Telluride (est. 420 miles).

What's the best route as far as sightseeing, local attractions, better RV parks?

What are some of the best RV parks with views/ kids activities in Telluride & Ouray?

You are looking at doing a trip from Boulder to Telluride – My kids lived in the town of Superior for 10 years and I have made that trip a number of times – so I’ll give you my insight from what I learned in my 10 years of doing that trip.

The first time we did the I-25 to Pueblo then across Colorado Rt 50 to Montrose and on over to Telluride – couple of thing I learned – I really dislike driving I-25 – Pueblo to Salida was OK just not that memorable – If you go this way you should stop and see the Great Sand Dunes NP – the drive from Salida to Montrose was fun and then the drive from Montrose to Telluride is GREAT.

As an afterthought I’ve done the I-70 trip to GJ and sort of the same, Liked Vail and Glenwood Springs areas but the rest of the drive is just that a drive.

SO what do I suggest? First off out of Boulder drive back to Nederland and Peak to Peak – or if that is not you -- then head down 93 to Golden and take Rt 6 through the Canyon to Idaho Springs and then catch I-70 to Rt 91 to Leadville, think about spending the night here – couple of thoughts – Independence Pass to Aspen and Maroon Bells in the car or truck (Restricted highway) Quincy’s for dinner in Leadville – something we try to catch on most trips through Leadville – but if that is out of the question then maybe catch lunch at K’s in Buena Vista – special little spot not to be missed in the center of town, and the kids should enjoy the park and a chance to run and stretch – from here we head to Salida and then Rt 50 to Gunnison – hard to get to Gunnison and not make the run up to Crested Butte, but that’s just me. From Gunnison we usually go to Lake City but again I digress, over to Montrose and then to Telluride, and Ralph Lauren’s beautiful fences, Like some have said not much in the way of camping in Telluride – used to be a great little spot down the road called Dunton but someone bought the town and turned it into an upscale private RESORT.

Now why did we avoid the interstates and take all these Beautifully Scenic Roads – IMHO the trip needs to be as good or better than the destination, I did leave out a couple of things that most people try to catch while in the area – 4X4 trails to DIE for – Crystal Mill – Black Canyon of the Gunnison – Gunnison Lake – Silverton -- and 14’ers everywhere.

Hope this is of some help.

BOL,

I'd agree with the US 285 route. Salida is a great overnight stop (you may decide to go no further than Salida, once you're there!).

I would avoid Pueblo SP in August -- the heat will be oppressive and the scenery just isn't that great.

As noted, there's little to recommend in the Telluride area. Matterhorn NFS CG south of town does have a few sites with FHU, but as you can imagine, those book up early. Stay in Ouray and take a day trip to Telluride. We've never stayed in either one (we prefer to stay near Silverton), but both the KOA and Ridgway SP seem to get a lot of recommendations here. The scenery in Telluride is great, but the town is something we just go past anymore. It used to be a quaint little town somewhat similar to Ouray, but we went through there 15 years ago or so and noted many of the great little shops had been replaced by real estate offices.

I don't know how old your kids are, but the hot springs pool in Ouray is worth an afternoon. Great pool with slide for the kids and amazing views for the adults. There's also Box Canyon Falls near town. A trip into Yankee Boy Basin is a great way to see amazing wildflower displays. If you don't have 4x4, rent a jeep to get you further up the road. In the San Juan's, the best wildflowers seem to be right at or just above Timberline by early August.

We absolutely love Ouray, and go back there as often as possible. We also really enjoyed our time in Telluride, but our RV is too long for the only RV Park in town, so we generally stay in Ouray at the 4J RV Park, and Silverton at either Red Mountain RV park or Silverton RV park, and we do day trips to Telluride (and other places) in our Jeep.

If you're interested in some photots from both places, check these out:
http://christineboyce.com/roadtrip2012/Ouray.asp

http://christineboyce.com/roadtrip2011/Ouray.html

http://christineboyce.com/roadtrip2012/Silverton.asp

We have a modified Jeep, but you can do most of the trails in the area in a stock Jeep, and they can be rented in Ouray, Durango, Lake City, Telluride, etc... Or you can take the highway from Ouray to Telluride, which isn't a bad ride either.

We have 2 kids as well, and ours really enjoyed the short hikes up to the two different waterfalls in Ouray, the mine tour in Silverton, seeing the ghost town at Animas Forks, the gondola ride in Telluride, etc... Pictures of all of those can be found on the 2 links above.

Another route would be US285 from Denver to Poncha Springs and then US50 to US550 at Montrose and then south. Much shorter then I70 to Grand Junction and more scenic. There are many RV campgrounds along the way, both private and public. The area around Gunnison and Blue Mesa Reservoir is especially pretty, IMO.
I agree with others about a lack of campgrounds around Telluride and it is pricey.

Telluride is a VERY upscale, fancy place just for the 'Pretty people'. They don't catter to the RV 'crowd'. Don't even think of buying gas near there. $$$$ There is a wonderful state park at Ridgeway. A very nice RV park in Montrose called Cedar Creek. Several RV parks near Ouray...pronounced "YourWay".