Telluride · Travel
Getting to Telluride: Airports, Shuttles, Drive Times & Parking
Getting to Telluride is the part of the trip people underestimate. There is a local airstrip (TEX) just outside town, but most guests still fly into Montrose (MTJ) and take a shuttle or rental car over Dallas Divide. Durango (DRO) is the longer southern option. Once you are in the box canyon, Unit 331 at Telluride Lodge (747 W Pacific Ave) is a town-base condo: one parking space, Lift 7 across the creek, and the free Galloping Goose stop across the street.
The longer travel guide on this site covers operators and current lots in more detail. This post is the decision tree: which airport, whether to shuttle, what winter driving actually means, and what to do with a second car.
Airports: TEX, Montrose, or Durango
Montrose Regional (MTJ) is the closest major airport. The drive is usually about 65 to 70 miles and 90 to 110 minutes, longer in winter weather or with shared-ride stops. This is the easiest no-rental-car arrival for Unit 331: book a shared van or private SUV to the Lodge.
Durango–La Plata (DRO) works when airfare is better, but it is about 125 miles and 2½ to 3 hours. There is no simple public bus. Book a private or on-demand shuttle well ahead, especially on holiday weekends.
Telluride Regional (TEX) sits about 15 minutes from town, but winter weather and a shorter runway mean delays and cancellations more often than at Montrose. If you do land here, operators run short private transfers into Telluride and Mountain Village. Do not build a tight same-day ski plan around a TEX arrival.
Shuttles vs driving
Telluride Express (letsride.co, 970-728-6000 or 800-822-4844) is the main in-town operator for shared rides and private vehicles from Montrose, TEX, Durango, Cortez, Gunnison, and Grand Junction. TelluRides (tellurides.com, 970-626-5121) runs another well-used Montrose–Telluride shared van on a published seasonal timetable; their listed prices typically include taxes, fees, and basic gratuity. Book the shared van with your flight time, not after you land.
A rental car is worth it if you are touring the Western Slope or arriving with more luggage than a van likes. For a stay that never leaves Telluride and Mountain Village, skip it: the gondola links downtown to the village in about 13 minutes (typical hours 6:30 a.m. to midnight, later Friday and Saturday in peak season), and the Goose covers Pacific Avenue.
Winter driving
The Montrose and Durango drives are mountain roads, not interstate commuting. Storms add time. Chains, AWD, and daylight matter more than a pin on Maps. If a storm is on the forecast, a reserved shared shuttle is often calmer than a first-time winter rental at night.
In town, watch snow-removal signs. Street parking downtown is often two-hour or metered from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Do not leave a second car on Pacific overnight and hope. The Lodge space that comes with Unit 331 is the one winter-reliable spot you control.
Parking at Telluride Lodge and in town
The condo includes a single parking space at Telluride Lodge. A second car, an oversized vehicle, or friends driving separately need a public lot. Street parking on Pacific fills quickly and is time-limited.
The covered hourly garage on Pacific Avenue is the extra-car plan to make first, including overnight parking for a fee (pay inside the garage). The free all-day lot at the far west end of Telluride does not allow overnight parking. The old Carhenge lot on the 700 block of West Pacific has been in construction and redevelopment planning; only use it if posted signs still show public parking that day. Mountain Village lots and Heritage Garage are options if you ride the gondola down; summer daytime parking there is typically free, winter is paid, and overnight has a fee. Current town rules live on telluride.gov parking pages and on our getting-there guide.
Arriving at Unit 331
Ask the shuttle for Telluride Lodge, 747 W Pacific Ave, Unit 331. You are at the west end of town, one block off Colorado Avenue, across the creek from Lift 7. Check-in time and lockbox notes come in the booking email, not as a generic hour on this page. Once you are here, you can forget the car: walk to the lift in ski boots, Goose to the gondola, and cook in the condo between days.
FAQ
Do I need a rental car to reach Unit 331?
No. Shared and private shuttles run from Montrose and Durango, the condo is walkable once you arrive, and Telluride has a free gondola plus town bus. The Lodge includes one parking space; extra cars need nearby overflow lots.
Which airport should I fly into for Telluride?
Most guests fly into Montrose (MTJ). Telluride Regional (TEX) is closer but weather-sensitive and often more expensive. Durango (DRO) is the longer backup drive.
Where should a shuttle drop me?
Ask the shuttle for Telluride Lodge, 747 W Pacific Ave, Unit 331. You are at the west end of town, one block off Colorado Avenue, across the creek from Lift 7.
When is check-in?
Check-in time and lockbox notes come in the booking email, not as a generic hour on this page.
Stay nearby
Stay at Telluride Lodge Unit 331 – walk to Lift 7
2-bedroom condo at 747 W Pacific Ave, Telluride, CO 81435. Sleeps 6 (7 with the sleeper sofa; 6 adults max). Indoor and outdoor hot tubs, private deck, ski closet. Book direct and skip VRBO guest fees.