Flying to Telluride
Telluride does have a local airport (Telluride Regional Airport – TEX), but flights areย extremely limitedย and only serviced by select airlines. If you can find a flight into TEX, itโs the most convenient option since youโll land just minutes from town.
However, most travelers opt to fly intoย Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ), which offersย more flight optionsย from major airlines like United, American, and Southwest. Montrose is aboutย 90 minutes away from Telluride by car, making it the most popular choice for visitors.
Flight Option We Took:ย We flewย Southwest Airlinesย toย Denver, then connected toย Montroseย before renting a car to drive to Telluride.
Driving from Montrose to Telluride
The drive fromย Montrose to Telluride takes about 1.5 hoursย and is a scenic journey through Coloradoโs breathtaking mountains.
- The roads are well-maintained, andย as long as you have AWD or 4WD, you wonโt need chainsย in winter conditions.
- The drive is relatively easy, with some winding roads but no extreme mountain passes.
- Rental car services atย Montrose Airportย make it easy to pick up a vehicle and hit the road.
Shuttle Services to Telluride
For those who donโt want to drive, shuttle services offer aย stress-freeย way to get to Telluride from Montrose.
- Companies likeย Telluride Expressย andย Mountain Limoย provideย door-to-door serviceย from Montrose Airport to hotels and resorts in Telluride and Mountain Village.
- Shuttles typically run on a set schedule, andย advance booking is recommended, especially during ski season.
- If youโre traveling with kids, check if the shuttle service offers car seats or if you need to bring your own.
Driving to Telluride from Other Major Cities
If you’re up for aย road trip, here are the approximate drive times from major cities:
- Denver to Tellurideย โย 6.5 hours
- Colorado Springs to Tellurideย โย 6 hours
- Grand Junction to Tellurideย โย 2.5 hours
- Salt Lake City to Tellurideย โย 6.5 hours
Tellurideโs mountain roads are generallyย well-plowed in winter, but if youโre driving from farther away, be sure to check road conditions in advance.
Which Travel Option is Best?
- If you want the mostย flight options, fly intoย Montrose (MTJ)ย and drive or take a shuttle to Telluride.
- If you can find aย direct flight into Telluride (TEX), itโs the most convenient but least available option.
- If youย prefer not to drive, aย shuttle from Montroseย is the easiest alternative but can be more costly than renting a car and paying for parking.
- If youโreย road-tripping, Telluride is accessible from several major cities, just be mindful of winter weather.
No matter how you get there, Tellurideโs stunning scenery and world-class skiing make the journey worth it!ย
We flew from LA to Denver to Montrose since we flew with Southwest Airlines, there wasnโt a direct flight. The flight from LA to Denver was around 2 hours and the flight to Montrose was about quick 35 minutes. From Montrose, it was an easy drive to Telluride.