Getting around Durango - Transportation, parking & trail use

Transportation and Parking and Using the Animas River Trail

Set on the banks of the Animas River, Durango is located between U.S. Highway 160 and U.S. Highway 550, which eventually diverts into Camino del Rio and meets Main Avenue at 14th Street. From there southward to 5th Street is considered the downtown area, and 6th Street, also known as College Drive, is the main cross street.

You can get around town on the city buses, which run three specific loops every weekday from about 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The main connection points are College Drive and Main Avenue, Fort Lewis College, and Albertson’s. Bus stops, which are marked with the Durango T logo, are the only places drivers are allowed to pick up passengers. Be sure to check the name on the route before boardeing.

Another alternative is to take the historic-style Durango Trolley, which travels along Main Avenue from Days Inn to College Drive about every 20 minutes from 7 a.m. until 10:40 p.m. daily - a great option if you choose to enjoy a cocktail downtown.

For night owls, the Late Night Weekend Bus picks up passengers Friday and Saturday nights from 11 p.m. until 2:30 a.m., mainly near the restaurants and nightclubs downtown, and takes them to anywhere within the City limits north of the 160/550 intersection.

New options inclue the Tuk Tuk pedi cab services or rent a cruiser bike from Monty's Town Bike Rentals and see Durango on a cruiser!

Check with the City of Durango for fares and schedules.

PARKING

Downtown Durango is a very popular location for visitors as well as year-round residents. The City’s challenge is to find parking spaces for all of the downtown employees and visitors who inhabit the area on a daily basis. Durango’s Central Business District has more than 1000 on-street parking spaces and just over 350 permit spaces in off-street facilities.

Municipal Parking Lots: Parking is by permit only during the day, and free to the public after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, all day Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Permits may be purchased by the month or semi-annually.

East Lot 2 - 600 block E 2nd Avenue
East Lot 3 - 700 block E 2nd Avenue
East Lot 4 - 800 block E 2nd Avenue
Car Park - 700 block of Camino Del Rio (largest lot)

Permits may be purchased at City Hall - 949 E 2nd Avenue on a monthly or annual basis. Single-month permits are available at:

Wells Fargo - 200 W College Drive
First National Bank Of Durango - 259 W 9TH Street
Bank Of Colorado - 1199 Main Avenue
Bank Of Colorado (walk up/Drive up only) - 902 E 2nd Avenue

On-street Parking: 24-minute, 2-hour, and 10-hour meters provide downtown parking options. Expired meters result in the issuance of parking citations.

Parking in the 500 block of East 2nd Avenue is subject to tire marking. Vehicles must move to a different parking space every two hours. Vehicles left in the same parking space for more than two hours will be cited.

Handicap Parking: Durango has several designated parking spaces for handicap vehicles. All vehicles parked in these spaces must have a valid handicap plate or placard. These spaces have a two-hour limit. Handicap vehicles remaining in a handicap-designated parking space for more than 2 hours may be cited. Those with a handicap placard or plate may park for an unlimited time at a metered space without activating the meter.

Tokens: Tokens may be used in any City of Durango parking meter and for Trolley rides along Main Avenue. Parking/Trolley tokens may be purchased for

$9 per $10 roll at City Hall, 949 E 2nd Avenue,
and some local banks.

Look for complimentary tokens at local downtown merchants.

Yellow Zones: The yellow-painted curbs are Durango’s commercial loading zones. During the hours of 7:00 AM to 5:00 p.m., these zones are reserved for Commercial vehicles that need to quickly load or unload freight. These zones have a 15-minute parking limit. Commercial loading zones are open for free public parking after 5:00 PM, Monday through Saturday, and all day Sunday.

Green Zones: Curbs painted green are bus and trolley loading zones. These zones must be kept clear at all times. When vehicles block bus/trolley zones, riders are forced to load and unload in driving lanes, making unsafe conditions for both pedestrians and drivers. Please help us keep everyone safe by leaving these zones open.

Parking enforcement hours:

Winter - October 1 through April 30
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Summer -May 1 through September 30
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday

There is no parking enforcement on Sundays or holidays.

Durango Boot: Vehicles that have accrued three unpaid parking citations that are over 20 days old will be placed on the boot list. Once a vehicle is booted, all outstanding parking citations plus a $50 boot fee must be paid before the vehicle will be released.

Meter Officers: Meter officers strive to be outgoing and friendly. Although they enforce the city’s parking codes, they are also available to help you. They are more than willing to suggest a good place to eat or point you in the direction of your next Durango “adventure.”

Paying a Parking Fine: A drop-box is conveniently located outside City Hall, 949 E. 2nd Avenue. You may deposit your citation with your payment at any time. Payments may be made in person in City Hall during normal business hours. If you have questions regarding your citation or payment, contact the Parking Division office, also located in City Hall.

Parking Revenue: Parking revenue is earmarked for reducing parking congestion in Durango. Revenue from citations is used to subsidize the Durango LIFT. The revenue from parking meters supports a Parking Fund, which is intended to finance a future parking structure to further reduce congestion in the downtown area.

The Parking Analysis & Feasibility Study had provided several recommendations that are being implemented for parking development. For more information regarding the study contact the Department of General Services at 970-385-2980.

To help alleviate parking congestion, citizens and visitors are encouraged to use alternate forms of transportation.

THE ANIMAS RIVER TRAIL

THE ANIMAS RIVER TRAIL is approximately five miles of hard-surface trail running through town along the beautiful Animas River. The north end of this popular trail is the intersection of 32nd Avenue and E. 2nd Avenue (across the river from City Market North). It travels south through several city parks and across five bridges to the south end (near K-Mart and the Durango Mall).