Three mountain passes, two mining towns, and the stretch of road that’s been arguing about its own name for a century.
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The Name: Million Dollar Highway
However it got started — a mile of Depression-era gold ore mixed into the roadbed, or a driver who swore he wouldn’t do it again for a million dollars — the stretch of US-550 between Silverton and Ouray has been trading on the same nickname for decades. Three passes over 10,000 feet, switchbacks with minimal guardrail, and 25 miles of views that don’t let up.
We left Durango around 9 a.m. on a chilly, bright, sunny morning — a quaint town in the rearview as the road started climbing.
Silverton
Silverton sits at the midpoint of the drive, still every bit the mining town it was in the 1880s — a grid of false-front buildings against a wall of peaks, with none of the polish that’s crept into some of Colorado’s other mountain towns. It’s also the northern terminus of the D&SNG line, which makes it a natural bookend to the depot stop back in Durango.
The town was nearly empty when we came through — the train hadn’t arrived yet for the day, and without a platform full of tourists the whole place had a stillness to it that made for better footage than we expected.
Ouray
Ouray closes out the drive, ringed by peaks on all sides tightly enough that locals have long called it the Switzerland of America. Hot springs steam at the edge of downtown, and the town itself is small enough to cover in an afternoon without feeling rushed.
We didn’t stop in Ouray itself this trip, but did pull over at the Little Switzerland sign on the way in — the town’s ringed-by-peaks reputation making its case even from a roadside pullout. The full loop took a few hours door to door.
Driving It With an RV
The switchback stretch between Silverton and Ouray is narrow, with sharp blind corners and drop-offs that don’t always have a guardrail between you and them. While we did see some large RVs navigating the road, most full-time RVers we know drive this one in a tow vehicle or car rather than the rig itself — which is what we did.
🏕 Where We Stayed — Junction West Durango Riverside
Junction West Durango Riverside, Durango, CO | jwdurango.com
We based out of Junction West — All our drives were within an hour range. Disclosure: our stay was hosted by Junction West Durango RV Park. All opinions are our own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Million Dollar Highway safe to drive in an RV?
The scenic stretch between Silverton and Ouray is narrow with sharp switchbacks and minimal guardrails — most RVers drive it in a tow vehicle or car rather than the rig itself, and that’s what we did.
How long does the Silverton-to-Ouray drive take?
The stretch itself is about 23 miles and takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour without stops, though most people budget longer for photo pullouts.
How far is the full loop from Durango?
Durango to Ouray and back covers roughly 140 miles round trip and is generally treated as a full-day outing.
Explore More
- Durango, Colorado: the full guide
- Durango’s Historic Downtown & the D&SNG Depot
- Baker’s Bridge & Lime Creek Road
Vince DiLoreto spent 20 years in the United States Air Force seeing the world before deciding to see it properly — this time with a camera, an RV, and considerably better food. A trained photographer and the visual half of Fitting in Adventure, Vince captures the places, people, and moments that make every trip worth telling. When he’s not behind the lens, he’s behind the wheel, which means he’s seen every gas station between Florida and the Pacific Northwest.