PARKING IN TELLURIDE: If you drive to Telluride, the lodging providers generally have free parking for our participants. If you need to drive to the meetings, you can generally park in the parking lot of the Telluride High School Complex (which includes the Intermediate School where the meetings are held). Occasionally parking is restricted at the school.
The Telluride Airport has reopened with an extended runway. Before, flights into town were often alarming for some people due to the short runway with cliff hangers on either end.
The closest alternative airport is Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ). Montrose is a 1.5 hour drive from Telluride and is a larger airport with a better selection of flights. You can rent a car or take the shuttle (see below for more information). Grand Junction is another possibility, and so are Cortez or Durango. These outlying towns are each about 2 hours from Telluride. Renting a car with colleagues from these cities is probably best as the shuttles can be prohibitively expensive.
Transportation to and from regional airports
Click on the Telluride Express logo to view their website.
NEWS FLASH 10% DISCOUNT FOR TSRC SCIENTISTS on Telluride Express. But you must identify yourself at time of booking as a TSRC scientist to get the discount. Please confirm at time of payment, that the discount has been granted as well. There will be no retroactive discounts granted.
Telluride Express is Telluride's premier and most established ground transportation service to and from all area airports (Telluride, Montrose, Durango, Grand Junction, Cortez and more) with door-to-door shared-ride and private accommodations. They operate a fleet of new 4-WD Suburbans, vans, shuttle buses and motor coaches.
It is best to reserve transportation a week ahead, but you must book no less than 24 hours in advance as Telluride Express does not meet every incoming flight -- inless booked in advance. Make reservations by calling 888-212-TAXI or 970-728-6000 or book online at www.tellurideexpress.com.
Driving Directions to Telluride
Download a regional map (93k PDF)
Maps Require Adobe Acrobat Reader
From Denver by car:
- I-70 West towards Grand Junction
- Take Highway 6 & 50 turnoff at Exit 37 towards Montrose
- Continue through Montrose south to Ridgeway
- At Ridgway, take a right onto Highway 62 towards Telluride
- At Placerville, take a left onto Highway 145 towards Telluride (do not bear right towards Norwood)
- Continue on Highway 145 about 16 miles into Telluride
From Montrose by car:
- Take a left out of the airport
- Drive straight through the town of Montrose about 30 miles to Ridgway
- At Ridgway, take a right onto Highway 62 towards Telluride another 25 miles
- At Placerville, take a left onto Highway 145 towards Telluride (do not bear right towards Norwood)
- Continue on Highway 145 about 16 miles into Telluride
Car Rental Agencies
An automobile is usually not necessary in Telluride. However, should you decide to rent a car, the following agencies are available:
In Telluride:
- Budget - 800-527-0700 or 970-728-4642
- National - 800-227-7368 or 970-728-9380
- Thrifty - 970-728-3266
In Montrose:
- Dollar - 970-252-9755
- Thrifty - 970-249-8741 or 800-367-3299
- Enterprise - 800-736-8222
- Hertz - 800-654-3131
Telluride Airport phone number 970-728-5313.
Montrose Airport phone number 970-249-3203.
