I guess that it depends on what you want to do after the train ride? If you want to spend some time in Durango, I would drive into Durango, take the train and then head back via their bus to Durango. That will leave you in town to do as you'd like.

IF you take the bus from Silverton, then your car is there. After taking the train back to Silverton; then you are left in Silverton, where there truly isn't anything to do.

Where does this fit in to your overall plan?

What are the times of they offer the bus from Silverton to Durango? I wouldn't plan on spending too long there. There are some "gift"shops and some restaurants. The restaurants [only ok food] will be very busy as that is what most folks from the train will do. High prices, crowded etc. Pack a picnic lunch.

I would think an hour in Silverton if you aren't eating is max.

Deb

We weren't planning to spend anytime in Silverton. We have 2 options regarding the Silverton Rail. We can either drive to Silverton and take the 7:45am bus to Durango where we'd catch the 9:45am train. Or, we can drive to Durango where we'd catch the 9:45am train. (we're staying in Telluride the night before so would be leaving from Telluride that morning.)
If driving time is about the same to Silverton as it is to Durango, I'm thinking we'd want to go to Durango and just catch the train. We'd then bring the bus back to Durango and do some sight-seeing. Either way, we'd be catching the 9:45am train out of Durango. If it's a 2 hour drive from Telluride to Durango, we'd have to leave at 7:45am anyway so going to Silverton wouldn't save us any time. Does that make sense? I'm geographically challenged in that area, so I appreciate all your help.
Thanks.
Kathy

OK, let me see if I can do better this time.

When you drive from Telluride to Durango, you will go past Silverton. So, the drive time to Silverton is less than it will take to get to Durango.

If you take the 7:45 am bus in Silverton to Durango, you will take the 9:45 am train back to Silverton. It does not take 2 hours to get from Silverton to Durango. So you will be in Durango before the train leaves, but it will be pretty early and there may not be much to do at that early an hour. Then you will take the train to back to Silverton and once you get back to silverton, your activities will be over. Not sure how long the train ride takes - 2 hours maybe. So you will through by noon with little to do in Silverton.

IF you drive to Durango, getting there by 9 am you would take the train to Silverton, get there around noon. You could eat there[ though I wouldn't] and then take the bus back to Durango. That will get you back into Durango by early afternoon, when you could stroll Main Street or take advantage of other things in the area.

Where are you staying the night you take the train? If you are staying in Durango, then I would for sure start in Durango.

Deb

I thought this map might help you get a better perspective:

http://www.telluridevisitorguide.com...JuanSkyway.pdf

Thanks Deb.
We're staying in Telluride the night before we take the train. So, it's not quicker to drive over to Cortez to Durango than it would be to drive to Durango via Silverton? At some point in my trip planning, I was under the impression that the Telluride to Durango drive was quicker by taking the west route around by Cortez. I think that's been my problem. It sounds like it would not save us any time at all by taking the 7:45am bus out of Silverton..in fact, it would be wasting time. Our goal is to take the 9:45am train leaving from Durango. If we want to arrive at the train station in Durango by 9:15 or so, what time would we need to leave Telluride? I have heard that the drive from Telluride to Durango can be anywhere from 1 hour 40 minutes to over 4 hours. I'm hoping since it would be early in the morning and the purpose is to get there quickly (we'll be doing another day for sight-seeing on that drive), that we're looking more at a 2 hour drive.
Thanks again for all your help.
Kathy

MY DH says that it <i>may</i> be a little faster to go this route:

Take 145 south out of Telluride. After going through Dolores[ which is a very small town, so don't blink] make a left onto 184 towards Mancos. When you get to the traffic light, make another left onto 160 eastbound which will take you into Durango on the south end of town, near the train depot. When you get into Durango, make a left at the light -there will be a Doubletree Hotel on your left. There are 2 left turning lanes at the light; be sure to stay in right hand lane because you will need to make a right hand turn at the very next light onto College Ave. There is parking there for depot.

He says this way will save you a little time and you won't have to go over as many high passes. It is a nice ride[ scenery wise] but not nearly as nice as going through Ouray, past Silverton and into Durango.

Time wise - from Telluride to where you turn onto 184 should be about 75 minutes. From there, it should be another just under an hour to Durango.

Hope this proves more useful.

Deb

That's perfect! Thank you so much for the directions. It sounds like we should plan on about 2.5 hours to get from Telluride to the train station in Durango. We are planning another day for Ouray, Yankee Boy Basin and that area, and plan to take our time and enjoy the scenery then.
Thanks so much for all your help.
Kathy