Car Rental - Durango

 

Rent a car in Durango, Colorado for mountains, museums and heaps of Old West atmosphere – minutes from some of the best ski resorts you’ll find anywhere in the country. We have a car rental pick-up center at Durango–La Plata County Airport, 25 minutes from Downtown, so it’s easy to collect your wheels if you’re arriving by air.

Durango is surrounded by national forests and reservations – the closest is San Juan National Forest. North of this, it’s six hours to Denver in your rental car. New Mexico, meanwhile, is just a half-hour south. Utah and Arizona can both be reached in less than two hours – a paradise for Southwestern escapes.

Choose the perfect rental car for your plans from our Durango range, whether that’s an SUV with ski racks or an executive business car rental.

Car rental in Durango with Hertz brings a world of adventure and cultural discovery within reach.

Durango Locations

A Quick Guide to Durango

Animas Museum, Durango

Animas Museum

3065 West 2nd Avenue, CO 81301

The history of Durango is showcased at Animas Museum, which doubles up as a research library and is set in a 20th-century school building. You’ll learn about local railroads, Old West and Native American history – plus, Peterson House and the Joy Family Cabin are located on the campus.

Chapman Hill, Durango

Chapman Hill Ice Rink

500 Florida Road, CO 81301

Durango is known for its winter sports, so why not venture out in your car rental and stop by one of the best places for skating or skiing in the area? This center has a seasonal ski hill, perfect for learning the fundamental before tackling slopes on the Colorado mountains – plus hockey games and a drop-in league.

Mesa Verde National Park, Durango

Mesa Verde National Park

35853 Road H.5, Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81328-9325

It’s possible to journey from Durango to Mesa Verde National Park in just 40 minutes in your car rental. It’s well worth the drive to see the Ancestral Puebloan Cliff Palace, the largest such cliff dwelling in North America. While you’re here, embark on an amazing scenic drive, the Mesa Top Loop, to encounter more Pueblo history.

Durango Diner

947 Main Avenue, CO 81301

This landmark restaurant, set in the heart of Downtown, manufactures jars of green chili sauce with a red-hot reputation – letting you take home a great-tasting souvenir. At the diner, you can enjoy a breakfast sandwich or blueberry hotcake, try something spicy or fill up on a hearty roast beef dinner.

Seasons of Durango

764 Main Avenue, CO 81301

Cozy and inviting Seasons of Durango serves the freshest food from its exhibition kitchen, complete with oak-fired grill – viewable from the main dining room. Try bone-in pork chops, rotisserie ribeye or Skuna Bay salmon. You can also enjoy an asparagus salad or plate of mussels from the separate private dining rooms.

636 Main Ave

636 Main Avenue, Durango, CO 81301

Partners Kurtis and Krista Murphy are chef and co-owner of this casual fine dining establishment down the block from the railroad museum. Serving a charming atmosphere, this popular bistro offers a modern menu brimming with delicious entrees. Sample expertly cooked porterhouse steak, seared lemon halibut, fragrant linguine and house meatballs from a local Durango gem. Street parking is available for your car rental.

The Rochester Hotel and Leland House

726 East 2nd Avenue, CO 81301

Stay at this Downtown Durango hotel, a few blocks from the Animas River. Behind the neon sign, you’ll discover a building with plenty of historic charm – from the columned facade to the secret garden. There are 15 luxurious rooms to choose from, each themed around Westerns filmed near Durango.

The General Palmer Hotel

567 Main Avenue, CO 81301

The General Palmer Hotel stands proud in the heart of Durango’s National Historic District and the building itself is something of a treasure. The decor preserves its Victorian-era heritage and Southwestern hospitality comes as standard – that’s why the hotel has made AAA’s four-diamond list since 1976.

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Durango

21719 US-160, Durango, CO 81301

Family-friendly, equipped for business and with a fantastic location next to US-160, Fairfield Inn & Suites makes a great base for all kinds of trips to Durango. There’s a stylish lobby, meeting rooms, a fitness center and a pool, alongside a free breakfast to set you up for the day. Unload your car rental with ease with free parking.

Driving In and Around Durango

  • Main Mall Parking (81301) is a Downtown garage near to the Toh-Atin Gallery, Sorrel Sky Gallery and Durango Arts Center.
  • Mears West (81301) is a campus lot serving Fort Lewis College. It’s also close to the Center of Southwest Studies and Smith Sports Complex.
  • City Parking (81301) offers free after-hours parking close to the Animas River Trail. It’s also located near several diners and cafes.

 

  • U.S. Route 160 (US-160) cuts through southern Durango right, near the famous Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. It heads west to Mancos and Cortez and charts a route east to Pagosa Springs and Kansas.
  • U.S. Route 550 (US-550) is a north-to-south highway that merges with Main Avenue in downtown Durango. This route stretches north through the San Juan National Forest towards Grand Junction. It also leads south to Albuquerque.
  • Colorado State Highway 172 (CO-172) connects Durango – La Plata County Airport to US-160 and Durango. It also crosses the New Mexico state line to the south.

 

How to Get From Durango to Purgatory Resort

It takes around 30 minutes to drive the 27 miles in your Durango car rental to Purgatory, a place that has been named one of America’s best ski resorts.

  1. Leave the city center via Main Avenue.
  2. Turn right onto US-550 N.
  3. Stay on this route for 26 miles.
  4. Take a left onto Purgatory Boulevard.
  5. Turn left onto Skier Place.
  6. Take another left onto Sheol Street and the resort is on your right.

 

How to Get From Durango to Telluride

The charming Victorian mining town of Telluride is approximately two-hours and 30 minutes from our Durango car rental location. Just take US-160 out of the city, CO-184, then join CO-145 to drive into the mountains.