The Million Dollar Highway is an awe-inspiring stretch of road in southern Colorado. It’s a 25-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 550 that goes from Ouray on the northern end of the drive, to Silverton on the southern end. It takes you past some amazing vistas and overlooks along the San Juan Mountains, along with remnants of several mines, and some beautiful options for hikes on the way. You can complete the drive in about 45 minutes, but you’ll want two hours or more if you plan to stop at overlooks and try some hikes.
If you’re coming from lower elevations, you’ll want to prepare yourself for the higher elevations, especially if you plan to hike. You may want to take it easy for a day or two and do some light walking and sightseeing, to give your body time to adjust. Drink plenty of water. You’ll also want to wear sunscreen.
Colorado weather also changes quickly, so bring layers that you can easily put on and take off as you need.
Where to Stop Along The Million Dollar Highway
Ouray is a beautiful mountain town in southwestern Colorado that’s nicknamed the “Switzerland of America.” It’s known for the Ouray Hot Springs. Sulfur-free and steaming even in the winter, these hot springs attract visitors from all over who are looking for refreshment and rejuvenation. Once you’ve warmed up, the town boasts some great small-town shopping and dining and amazing views of the mountains on all sides.
Silverton is an old mining town, and that heritage is hard to miss as you walk through its downtown. Silverton’s main drag is a quirky lineup of shops, saloons, and more. The Old West charm is abundant, and the San Juan Mountains provide a dream-like backdrop.
Colorado Sightseeing on Your Route
Ouray is just an hour from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, where you can RV camp for a few days and explore the canyon. You can be in Grand Junction from Ouray in two hours, and in Moab, Utah in three hours. The picturesque town of Telluride is also just over an hour away from Ouray.
Silverton is about an hour from Durango, and an hour and 45 minutes from Mesa Verde National Park.
Scenery Along The Million Dollar Highway
The Million Dollar Highway isn’t terribly long, but it packs a whole lot of scenery into its two dozen miles! You’ll get views of the San Juan Mountains all along the route, and you’ll definitely want to save time to pull over and admire the views.
You can also look for the many species of wildlife that roam near the highway. You may spot moose, elk, bighorn sheep, and all sorts of large, majestic birds. Be sure to use the “thumb trick” as you’re animal-watching. Extend your arm straight out. Give the animal a “thumbs up.” If you can’t cover the animal with your thumb, you’re too close! Give it some more room as you watch, for your own safety.
Delicate wildflowers and other flora line many parts of the road, and the bright blue sky goes on for miles and miles. And while the road is indeed paved and maintained, it doesn’t feel like a man-made intrusion. Instead, it feels like part of the natural order of things, as if it had been there all along.
Here are a few places to stop for hikes or scenic overlooks along the drive:
Idarado Mine or Yankee Girl Mine
This whole area is known for its mining towns and mines! To find the Idarado Mine, look for the Idarado Mine turnoff and head towards the Red Mountain Pass. You can hike toward Red Mountain Town and you’ll see some old mine buildings. To find the Yankee Girl Mine, take gravel road CR-31 south of Red Mountain Pass and you can hike to see the old mining equipment.
Columbine Lake Trail
The Columbine Lake Trail is seven miles north of Silverton, off a forest road. It’s an 8 1/2 mile round trip hike with serious elevation gain, so it’s not an easy hike! But it will take you to a gorgeous glacier lake and reward you with some great views.
Bear Creek Falls
There is a parking area with an overlook for Bear Creek Falls about three miles before you reach Ouray. You can pull over here to take a look. You can also take the Bear Creek Trail from the falls. It’s about a 4-mile hike and ends at the Yellow Jacket Mine.
Ouray Overlook (Switzerland of America Lookout Point)
Definitely make it a point to stop at this overlook near Ouray. The Ouray Overlook (also called The Switzerland of America Lookout Point) is easy to spot, and is a convenient place to pull over. You’ll get great views of the town of Ouray, with the spectacular mountains on all sides.
Tips for RVing The Million Dollar Highway
The best time to drive your RV along the Million Dollar Highway is during the summer or early fall. Winter can mean icy, snowy roads and possibly road closures. It’s a difficult time to navigate the highway, even without an RV or trailer. During the summer, you’ll see beautiful green grass and wildflowers. During the fall, you’ll get gorgeous fall foliage, including stands of brilliant yellow aspens.
Take it slow
Be aware that the road along The Million Dollar Highway is very narrow, with one lane in each direction. If you have a wider RV, you’re going to get very close to the edge. There are also very few places to turn around, and with an RV or trailer, that’s going to be even more challenging. Once you start the drive, take your time and plan to take it to the other end.
You may also want to plan your drive from Silverton to Ouray, rather than the other direction. That way, you’ll be driving the inside lane instead of the lane closest to the dropoff.
Use lower gears
You’ll want to make use of your lower gears on this drive as well. The steep grades and winding roads make it very tempting to sit on those brakes! Make sure you’re comfortable shifting into lower gears to drive more slowly, rather than wearing out your brakes.
Have these trailer accessories
If you’re towing a trailer, you’ll also want to make sure your trailer brakes are in good condition – they’ll be another helpful tool on the drive. You’ll want sway bars to keep your trailer in line behind your tow vehicle as well.
Do a checkup
Finally, because this highway is so narrow, with little room for error, any sort of breakdown will block traffic – possibly both ways. Make sure your vehicle is in good working order and check all fluids, your tires, and your engine before the drive. Also, do one last check on your gas level before the drive!
RV Rentals Near The Million Dollar Highway
You can find RVshare rentals in Durango. If you want an even longer road trip, search for rentals in Denver and make the drive to southwestern Colorado from there.
RV Camping Near the Million Dollar Highway
The towns of Ouray and Silverton are going to have more camping options than along the highway itself. They’re also going to have campgrounds with more amenities. However, there is some dispersed camping available along the drive. You’ll likely need a 4-wheel drive vehicle, and the campsites along the highway won’t be suitable for RVs or trailers. Here are three areas where you can look for campgrounds on your drive:
Campgrounds in Silverton
Silverton Lakes RV Park & Cabins
2100 Kendall Street, Silverton, CO 81433
(970) 387-9888
This campground has restrooms with showers, laundry facilities, a general store, and OHV/ATV access to trails & roads. Sites have full hookups.
Located between Mileposts 65 and 66, US Highway 550, Silverton, CO 81433
(970) 880-2982
This campground has a 25-acre stocked lake, showers, a camp store, potable water (by the store), and a fish cleaning station. It’s also pet-friendly. The campground does not have hookups or dump stations, although a dump station is available in the town of Silverton.
Campgrounds in Ouray
1804 N. Main St., Ouray, CO 81427
(970) 325-4523
This campground has full hookups and is pet-friendly. The resort has on-site Jeep rentals and a restaurant with smokehouse specialties, craft beer, and hearty breakfasts.
361 County Road, Ouray, CO 81427
(970) 240-5300
This is a primitive campground that requires high-clearance vehicles. There are two vault toilets, and no hookups.
Campgrounds along the Million Dollar Highway
Ouray, CO 81427
(877) 444-6777
This campground allows RVs but has no hookups. Some sites are designated for tent camping only. The campground has vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection.
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-4874
This campground is a popular one in the San Juan National Forest. All 26 sites are first-come, first-serve. There is shade and space between campsites. There are no hookups, but there is water nearby. Pets are allowed but must be leashed. The maximum RV length is 35 feet.
The Million Dollar Highway promises an astounding drive with magnificent scenery and possibly white-knuckle driving, depending on your nerves. The one thing it’s not … is boring.
If you’re looking for more road trip inspiration, check out our guides to Going-to-the-Sun Road and the Historic Columbia River Highway.
