Durango to Colorado Springs
 

Husband and I will be driving in August from Durango to Colorado Springs (to visit friends) on our way to airport in Denver. Should we drive north along Hwy 550 to Montrose then east on Hwy 50 or is there a better route? We will not be in a great hurry and hope to have a senic drive with perhaps some stops along the way.

Well, one of my favorite drives in Colorado is east from Durango toward Alamosa (with a stop at Great Sand Dunes NM) and then zipping up I25.

Be sure to go to Mesa Verde NP before you leave Durango. On my next trip I'm going to make a detour to Lake City. And if you have enough time, stop by Cripple Creek and go down into the gold mine.

We travelled from Durango and took the 550 to Silverton and Montrose-then visited the Black canyon of the Gunnison and stayed the night in Gunnisin.The next day we crossed the Independence pass to Aspen for two days. We then went to Manitou springs for two days(there's a lot to see).We then returned to Denver for our flight back to Belgium.Paul

The most senic would probably be 550/50 and the slowest. The black canyon is terrific and well worth the side trip. I would allow two days. Going east on 160 to I-25north is probably a little quicker and somewhat less mountain driving. But it also is very scenic especially the Wolf Creek pass area. Also 160 is a better road than 550/50. But either way would work well.

If not in a hurry and have the time you could stay off the Interstate. 550 is a most scenic drive. You could also go east on 160 to South Fork and cut up to 50 and Blue Mesa Res thru Creede and Lake City on 149..... 115 east of Canon City to Co Springs.