Gosh, we drove that last year. I am thinking you are on the inside lane when you go north. We drove from Ouray to Silverton and back. The drive was beautiful and the outside lane wasn't that scary. As I reemmber, there are not guardrails though because in the winter, the snowplows jsut push the snow over the side of the mountain.

Actually, my memory is just he opposite - thinking north is outside. Locals will know better. But, as previously said, the drive isn't scary at all in non winter months. Scenery is awesome.

Can't you check this on Google Earth? Or even streetview in Google Maps?

You can search it in google maps.

It isn't always on one side or the other as I recall.

As I recall - you head up out of Ouray - toward Durango or Telluride? - and you are on the right side - steep overlook side - but it was not that curvy as I recall - and very beautiful. It's in during the big winter snows that the challenges arise and yes, sometimes - abondoned cars have been pushed over the side by the snow plows.

Here's what Wikipedia says.

Though the entire stretch has been called the Million Dollar Highway, it is really the twelve miles (19 km) south of Ouray through the Uncompahgre Gorge to the summit of Red Mountain Pass which gains the highway its name. This stretch through the gorge is challenging and potentially hazardous to drive; it is characterized by steep cliffs, narrow lanes, and a lack of guardrails; the ascent of Red Mountain Pass is marked with a number of hairpin curves used to gain elevation, and again, narrow lanes for traffic—many cut directly into the sides of mountains. During this ascent, the remains of the Idarado Mine are visible. Travel north from Silverton to Ouray allows drivers to hug the inside of curves; travel south from Ouray to Silverton perches drivers on the vertiginous outside edge of the highway. Large RVs travel in both directions, which adds a degree of excitement (or danger) to people in cars.

Yes--going north from Silverton to Ouray, you are on the inside. Done it many times.

BUT, if you need to go the other direction, it isn't all that bad and the bad part isn't all that long. It's a major state highway that gets lots of traffic. Very few accidents ever occur.

This certainly is a million dollar question. I too consider the Million Dollar Hwy to be the stretch between Ouray and Silverton. Which direction is scarier has no clear answer. We were travelling from Silveton to Ouray years ago when there was a landslide up ahead. At that point we were on the cliff side, which is clear because we seized the moment and drove thru the foot of rocks and soil and water, while the mountain side of the road heading to Silverton had about 3 feet of debris. Timing is everything, and excellent driving in snow conditions helped us get to the other side of the slide.

One thing that isn't up for debate though is that Telluride and Durango are in opposite directions. And Telluride has nothing to do with the Million Dollar Highway regardless of defining it as the original 20 so miles to Silverton or 80 some miles to Durango.

thanks for all the info! To go from Durango to Grand Junction airport , mapquest says about 3 1/2 hrs. Is this accurate from anyone who has actually driven that?