We are planning a trip to this area mid-May and need help on a 8-9 day driving loop that would possibly include Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, Durango/Telluride area, and maybe, Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Any realistic thoughts? We are willing to consider renting a car one-way and flying in and out of two different airports. We are coming from VA.

One of the best things to do in The Great Sand Dunes is to drive the Medano Pass Road. You will need a 4 wheel drive high clearance vehicle to do this. You cross the creek several time. It may not be open until Late May, depending on how much the snow is melting at higher elevations, this determines how high the creek is. I would allow a day there

At Mesa Verde, I would spend the night and allow 2 days there. Far View Lodge is just ok-average National Park, but the food there is pretty darn good. Have an Indian Taco at the little cafe stand in the park. Do all the houses that you can and consider hiking Petroglyph Point. You certainly could see some snow here. We were there Memorial Day a couple of years ago and it snowed 3 or 4 inches.

In Durango we rode the train and it was ok, but we really enjoyed the zipline/train. www.soaringcolorado.com

Get a National Park Pass to save some money.

There are many places that you could fly in and out of along the way. The dropoff fees might be pricey in small airports though. You can fly into Cortez, Durango,etc.

I think the later in May you come the better off you would be. Wetherill area doesn't open in Mesa Verde until Memorial Day.

The Million Dollar Highway does a loop through Durango, Ouray, Telluride, Cortez, Mesa Verde and back to Durango. It is lovely and a nice drive.

Mid May is not the nicest time here, it can be very windy. Spring is our least pleasant season.

To drive this loop, the closest airport is ABQ Albuquerque. It is a 3 hour drive from ABQ to Durango. I have lots of threads here on the area, including places to eat and things to see and do.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...by-debitnm.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...uena-vista.cfm

If you do a search on my name, you will find LOTS more, I'll post some links for you too

It is pretty expensive to fly into Durango or Cortez; you have to fly to Denver first and then into those airports [both with very limited service].

ABQ is really the easiest, least expensive most of the time. Southwest prices can be really good.

Car rentals available in Durango, not so much in Cortez.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ok-mid-may.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ar-highway.cfm

[some of the links might not work anymore, sorry]

http://www.fodors.com/search/results...search=durango

great advice thus far. please keep it coming ;-)