Driving the Million Dollar Highway: 6 Must-See Stops
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Are you thinking of or already planning on driving the Million Dollar Highway? You’ve come to the right place!
Of all the scenic drives I’ve experienced in the US on my long-term road trip all over the country, the million-dollar highway is my favorite.
If you love sheer mountains with sharp peaks, the rugged landscape of the alpine and the contrasting colors of pine trees, rock and snow, you’ll love driving the million-dollar highway too.
This scenic drive is like a movie.
Driving the million-dollar highway, it hooks you immediately with a stop at the Molas Overlook. From there, it continuously gets better and better until you reach the third act in Ouray, the Switzerland of America.
And then once you think the best has come and gone, you get to Telluride, which is like the best end-credit scene you’ve ever seen.
I’ve been on road trips all over the USA and have written a bunch of detailed itineraries about them. And I’ve done the million-dollar highway 3 times – twice in the spring and once in the summer!
That means I’ve been able to explore all around the area and know what is and what isn’t worth your time.
I want to share all the highlights and best places to stop with you. Here we go!
Plan your Trip with my Favorite Resources:
– Book the best hotels: Booking.com
– Get a rental car: DiscoverCars
– Find great flight deals: CheapOAir
– Book a tour: Viator or GetYourGuide
What is the Million-Dollar Highway?
Officially, the million-dollar highway is a 25-mile stretch of winding road from Silverton to Ouray on U.S. Route 550.
However, I’ve driven the million-dollar highway 3 times now, and, for me, the million-dollar highway stretches all the way from Durango to the ski town of Telluride because it’s all just as beautiful.
The views right out of Durango are gorgeous, and they last all the way to Telluride. Sure, the section between Silverton and Ouray is the most impressive. But the best views with overlooks are before and after the official scenic drive.
Who would have thought?
If Silverton, Ouray, and Telluride, don’t mean anything to you, now let’s look at what you’ll see and what you can do while driving the million-dollar highway.
Where to Stay in Telluride
There are great free camp sites near Telluride, but they aren’t all conveniently close to town.
I stayed at the Lower Beaver Campground, which is 37 minutes from Telluride. But you can also stay at these campgrounds for free:
- Fall Creek Recreation Site
- Last Dollar Road
- Mary E Campground
- Telluride Town Park Campground
Before you go, look them up on Campendium to see people reviews, what the road is like and, sometimes, current conditions.
Or you can use the map of free car camping sites I found during my Colorado road trip. Access it here for FREE:
When it comes to hotels and rentals in Telluride, of course they’re incredible – it’s a ski town!
- Budget Pick: Condo Half a Mile from the Gondola — Simple, affordable, and centrally located.
- Best for Comfort: Hotel Columbia — A charming historic hotel right in downtown Telluride.
- Luxury Escape: Fairmont Heritage Place – Franz Klammer Lodge — Mountain luxury with great access to Mountain Village and astounding views.
- Unique Vrbo Find: Cozy Ouray Hideaway — A cozy and scenic rental that’s perfect for couples or small families.
📍 You can also explore more stays on this map:
Driving the Million-Dollar Highway (6 Stops)
Travel tip: If you use your GPS to guide you from Durango to Telluride, it’ll take you a quicker way that doesn’t go through the million-dollar highway, so make sure your GPS takes you through Silverton and Ouray!
There are 2 options for getting to know the million dollar highway.
- The best option is to drive yourself because you have the freedom to stop as much as you want, as long as you want.
- You can also take a day tour of the million-dollar highway from Durango to Ouray and back. It’s 12+ hours driving, hiking, eating and enjoying hot springs. The only problem is it doesn’t go as far as Telluride, but taking a tour is nice and stress-free.
Use Discover Cars to rent a car for this road trip, choose full coverage insurance, and opt for trusted companies like Hertz and Sixt. Book your car with Discover Cars now!
1. Durango
The drive begins in Durango.
You can fly to Durango and rent a car for the scenic drive to Telluride, but most people drive the million-dollar highway as part of a longer road trip.
I went to Durango while I was doing the Grand Circle road trip, and the entire Colorado section was my favorite part! I also know Durango pretty well because my aunt lived there… I’ve spent a month of my life in this vibing mountain town!
Regardless if you’re mainly visiting Durango or just passing through, it’s worth spending a day in Durango.
The number of outdoorsy things it has to do is ridiculous:
- You can take a walk or ride a bike on the trail by the Animas River.
- Go paddleboarding or rafting on the river.
- Drive just a bit out of town to any number of different hikes (my favorite was the Vallecito Creek Trail).
But Durango is also a really awesome town. Take the time to walk down Main Ave. and explore the beautiful downtown. Eat at a great restaurant (I highly recommend Himalayan Kitchen) and have an ice cream at Cream Bean Berry.
After a good time in Durango, the million-dollar highway begins by taking U.S. Route 550 straight out of town and on to the best views you may ever see.
Where to Stay in Durango
Durango has some good hotel options, but the vacation rentals are what really stand out. Check out these classic Colorado mountain town homes:
Since the million-dollar highway tends to be a day trip from Durango or a one-day trip to Telluride, here are lodging options for Durango. And read on for lodging in Telluride, plus where you could camp for free!
2. Molas Overlook
The landscape as you leave Durango is soft compared to what’s coming. The mountains aren’t quite as rugged, and the forest surrounds you.
But that quickly comes to an end and the fun begins. You get to a point where you’re looking out your windows in awe at the mountains all around you.
The first must-see stop while driving the million-dollar highway is the Molas Overlook at Molas Pass. As the views get insane, you can turn right into a parking lot and then walk up to where you get a 360° panorama of everything before you.
Since you’re up on an overlook and the land right below you drops off, it feels like you’re on Mufasa’s rocky perch looking at the land before you, except it’s mountainous and snowy. From Molas Overlook you can see the San Juan Mountains, Molas Lake, and a myriad of snowy mountain peaks, like Snowdon Peak, Grand Turk Mountain and Bear Mountain.
There’s also a bathroom in the parking lot if you need one!
And if you want to hike during your drive, you can stop and walk to Andrews Lake, Molas Lake and Little Molas Lake near Silverton.
3. Silverton
Just 14 minutes from Molas Overlook is the town of Silverton. It’s where the million-dollar highway officially begins (but everything before is just as impressive).
Originally an isolated mining town, it’s now more of a tourist town and ski area (the nearest ski area is Purgatory).
I’ve never actually stopped in Silverton while driving the million-dollar highway, because it’s most beautiful from above and you’re about to experience two other more gorgeous ski towns. But it is a great place to stop and get to know.
You can stop and walk around the historic downtown area. You can also learn about mining life in Silverton at the Mayflower Gold Mill or go on a tough hike to Ice Lakes Trail (which can take almost 5 hours, but I’ve heard its totally worth the time).
4. Ouray
On your drive to Ouray, drive patiently, take everything in and stop at all the pull-outs you can. It’s the experience of a lifetime.
It only gets better and better, and then the last stretch is utterly magnificent as you approach Ouray. This is where the towering mountains feel closest, in the narrow valley where Ouray is nestled between peaks.
In my opinion, there are 4 things you have to do in Ouray:
- Stop at the “Ouray: the Switzerland of America” sign and enjoy the view.
- Hike to Cascade Falls, which takes about 5 minutes. They’re really tall and you can walk behind the waterfall.
- Hike to Box Canyon Falls. It’s also easy and completely stunning: a waterfall and super narrow box canyon that towers 100 feet above you.
- Go window shopping on Main Street, which is full of cool shops and restaurants.
Ouray has classic ski town vibes. There’s so much to do and see, everyone seems happy (especially during the summer), and the air is crisp at all times.
I really want to spend 2 or 3 days there next time I’m driving the million-dollar highway.
5. San Juan Mountains Scenic View
I’ll be honest, the road after Ouray is boring in comparison to what you get to see before.
But then you get to Ridgway in 14 minutes, where you turn left onto Sherman Street, which becomes Highway 62. From there, it’s just 11 minutes to one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen.
The San Juan Mountains Scenic View is a big pull-off from which you can see the San Juan Mountains spread out before you. The view is worthy of a Microsoft desktop background, with jagged peaks laid out in front of you from left to right.
A picture is worth a thousand words, and I have no more words to impress upon you how beautiful this place is.
6. Telluride & Mountain Village
The last stretch of the million-dollar highway is the road to Telluride.
After the San Juan Mountains Scenic View, the mountains close in on you and everything becomes more impressive as you get closer to Telluride.
Telluride is a gorgeous ski town nestled in a valley between 14,000-foot peaks, and it’s one of my favorite places.
I’ve spent 4 days in Telluride, and these were my favorite things to do:
- Bear Creek Falls: I’ve hiked to Bear Creek Falls the 3 times I’ve visited. The best time to do it is the summer because you can jump under the freezing water. But the time I did it in early May was awesome too because of it was still full of snow.
- Free Gondola: it’s free, which is amazing for budget travelers like me. The most scenic part goes from Telluride to the San Sophia Station, but stay on it to ride down into Mountain Village.
- Mountain Village: this town feels like the North Pole and Disney World had a baby and left her in Colorado. Everything is perfectly manicured and designed. It’s a great place to walk around, have a coffee and enjoy a meal.
- Late afternoon vibes on Colorado Ave.: there’s always something going on in Telluride, like people playing music on the street, a parade of some sort or just a gorgeous sunset!
Telluride is best enjoyed in the summer (for people like me who don’t ski… yet!), and my favorite hike is to Bear Creek Falls. I wrote an article about all the best things to do in Telluride in the summer!
⛔ Helpful tip: If you travel to Telluride during shoulder season (spring and fall), almost everything, including the Gondola, will be closed. The best and safest time to drive the million-dollar highway is the summer.
And just like that, the million-dollar highway scenic drive comes to an end in a beautiful ski town, which is definitely the theme of this travel guide.
But there’s still so much to do – in Telluride and beyond!
Where to Next?
Like I said, people usually drive the million-dollar highway as part of a longer trip.
So, here are some great ideas for where you can go after driving from Durango to Telluride:
- North to Montrose and Black Canyon of the Gunnison (1.5 hours from Telluride).
- Northwest towards Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park (3 hours from Telluride).
- Northeast through Aspen, Colorados tallest mountains and towards Denver (it’s what I did during my Colorado road trip).
Frequently Asked Questions
Well, the views are the most amazing in the winter, but the winter can make driving the million-dollar highway dangerous. Snow plows do keep the road open the entire winter, but the weather in the mountains can be treacherous. Because of that, driving the million-dollar highway in the winter is only recommended if the road is clear, snow isn’t in the forecast and you have 4WD. Even then, there can be avalanches.
So, from my experience, the best season for driving the million-dollar highway is the spring, when the road is clear, it’s not snowing, but the mountains are still white with snow. The problem with the spring is that it’s shoulder season, so all the ski towns are dead… there’s no skiing anymore and the summer vibes haven’t yet arrived.
Driving the million-dollar highway in the summer is awesome too. You get to see the lively vibes of multiple ski towns in the summer (Telluride is my favorite) and you still get amazing views, but the mountains no longer have much snow on them.
The million-dollar highway is on the west side of the rocky mountains, just north of Durango, Colorado. It’s a stretch of U.S. Route 550 between Silverton and Ouray.
It’s a 25-mile stretch of U.S. Route 550 between Silverton and Ouray, but I think you can call the entire 120 miles between Durango and Telluride the million-dollar highway.
Only in the winter when conditions can be iffy. However, the road is open and maintained year-round. Fun fact: the million-dollar highway doesn’t have guard rails so that snow plows can get rid of the snow easier.
I hope this blog post motivates you to drive the million-dollar highway! If you have any questions, comment below and I’ll be sure to answer personally!
