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Travel and Lifestyle
Travel and Lifestyle

07-07-2025T17:20:58Z

Are you headed to Durango and looking for a great 3-day itinerary? Then you are in the right spot! Durango is one of my favorite places in Colorado – and for good reason. Stunning mountains beautiful rivers and a scenic railroad make Durango so special. The town is super cute and the people are friendly! Since there is so much to do and see it can be hard to nail it down to a few activities that will fill your trip. Luckily for you I have just returned from Durango and am excited to help you plan your trip in this ultimate guide to Durango. Lets get to it! 3 Days in Durango: at a Glance Day 1 Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Historic Downtown Dinner: Eolus Bar & Dining Day 2 John Pierres French Bakery Purgatory Resort Durango Hot Springs Dinner: Steamworks Brewing Co Show: The Strater Hotels Diamond Belle Saloon Day 3 Mesa Verde National Park Animas River Trail Dinner: El Moro Spirits and Tavern Day 1: Train Adventures and Old Town Charm Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a historic steam train that runs between Durango and Silverton Colorado. It will take you on a scenic journey through the San Juan Mountains. You can enjoy the most amazing views of rivers forests and cliffs. It was originally built in the 1880s to haul silver and gold. Nowadays it is the most popular tourist attraction in Durango. Depending on the season you ride the journey will look a bit different. In the main season this will be a full-day trip with 2 hours to explore Silverton. In winter the train turns around a bit earlier. They sell delicious apple cider and snacks on the train so no need to pack your own. This was definitely the highlight of our weekend in Durango. The train journey takes about 3 hours but time passes quickly because youll have a lot to see. You can grab hot and cold drinks and some snacks on the train as well. I suggest booking your seat in a heated carriage unless you are going in the middle of summer. There is no ideal side to sit on (despite what people are saying) – both sides of the train are magical. Plus youll get to see the other side on the way back. Once you arrive in Silverton you have about two hours to explore the town. That is enough time to check out some shops have a nice lunch and explore the surrounding area. Silverton is not huge so you dont need a detailed plan for your day there. We had lunch at Ts Smokehouse and Grill which was truly delicious. Natalias 1912 Restaurant is also a great place for food. There are a few quirky places in town like the original historic jailhouse building or a fun photography studio that does antique-style photos with costumes. You wont have enough time for a big hike but you can explore nature a little for sure. Historic Downtown Durango After you return from your train trip youll be dropped off right in the middle of the historic downtown of Durango. Historic Downtown Durango is a cute and instagrammable place. It is full of old-west character and well-preserved architecture from the late 1800s. Not only is it super instagrammable but it is also an amazing spot to spend a relaxed evening. Downtown has a lot of local shops art galleries and restaurants lining the streets. You can buy original cowboy boots (I got some really nice ones for my wife) beautiful art and lots of books. I loved to explore landmarks like the historic Strater Hotel and of course to see the famous trains rolling through town on their way to the station. We had dinner at Eolus Bar & Dining which I can really recommend. It is a little upscale but they have amazing sushi and cocktails. Himalayan Kitchen Durango is another place we absolutely loved for dinner. Day 2: Nature and Hot Springs Purgatory Resort On the second day in Durango well explore Purgatory Resort. It is a bit of a drive away from town but the nature there is beautiful so it is totally worth it. Before heading out there I suggest breakfast at Oscars Cafe in Durango. Most locals recommend the pancakes for sure! Purgatory is a popular year-round destination just outside Durango. This is the place to be for outdoor adventures and stunning mountain views. In winter its a great spot for skiing snowboarding and snowshoeing. During the rest of the year it is awesome for mountain biking and hiking. There are also a couple of beautiful lakes in the area to check out. Here youll get the most breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. There is a lot of stunning scenery so make sure to bring your camera. Durango Hot Springs Durango Hot Springs is a relaxing retreat just outside Durango. After hiking or sporting in the morning youll probably appreciate this place as much as we did. At the hot springs you can soak in natural mineral hot springs with stunning views of the surrounding mountains. These springs are even known for their therapeutic properties. They have multiple pools at varying temperatures so you can choose the perfect spot to unwind. The resort also offers spa treatments perfect after a day of exploring. Kinda pricey but worth it. Durango is not as famous as the closeby town of Pagosa Springs but I thought it was just as good to soak there. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa (@durangohotsprings) Dinner and Breweries For dinner I suggest you check out the Steamworks Brewing Company in Durango. This rustic brewery is a local favorite so I suggest you make reservations for sure. They have a pretty diverse menu with anything from chicken to burgers and desserts. If this is not so much your vibe you can also check out some of the local food trucks. There is plenty of space to eat at some picnic tables and maybe even enjoy some live music. Colorado is pretty big on craft beer so it is a must to check out on your weekend in Durango. After dinner well have cocktails at The Strater Hotels Diamond Belle Saloon. It is such a cool place that we really loved! Day 3 Mesa Verde National Park Early in the morning of our last day in Durango well head to Mesa Verde National Park. It is almost around the corner so it would be a shame not to visit during your time there. Mesa Verde National Park is famous for its well-preserved ancient cliff dwellings. They were built by the Ancestral Puebloans over 700 years ago. The park has over 600 cliff dwellings you can check out. The Cliff Palace is the largest and most famous of them all so I suggest you start there. I suggest checking out the Mesa Top Loop Road a scenic 6-mile drive. Youll pass by several overlooks and stop at cliff dwellings and archaeological sites. If you are into hiking you might wanna try the Petroglyph Point Trail – I really thought it was beautiful. Lastly check out the Far View Terrace Cafe in the park for a delicious lunch. The park is pretty big so you can probably spend the entire day there too. From all the national parks I have seen this one surely has the coolest archeological sites. Animas River Trail Once you are back in Durango it is time to check out one of my favorite parts of the town: the Animas River. We walked the Animas River Trail in the evening right before sunset and it was a magical experience. The water is beautiful and deep blue and you can walk on a scenic sidewalk. This area is especially beautiful in fall and winter when the seasons change. We visited in the fall and the foliage around this area was so lovely. Are 3 Days Enough For Durango? I think you should stay at least three nights in Durango. We opted to stay a fourth night since we had a long drive ahead of us. Three days are enough to check out the railroad the historic downtown and even Mesa Verde National Park. If you are into skiing or hiking you can easily keep yourself busy for a week in Durango. Keep in mind that Colorado is pretty expensive so you might want to keep that in mind when planning your vacation time. Conclusion Discover the best of Durango Colorado with this tried and tested 3-day itinerary! Well start by exploring Downtown Durango with its historic charm and later take the iconic Durango & Silverton Railroad for an adventurous ride. On day two enjoy outdoor adventures at Purgatory Resort for hiking biking or skiing depending on the season and relax at the Durango Hot Springs afterward. On the final day visit Mesa Verde National Park to explore the ancient cliff dwellings and learn about the Ancestral Puebloans. If you are not done yet with Colorado (which I totally understand) I suggest hitting up Telluride and the Million Dollar Highway. I hope you love Durango as much as I did!