Hotels in Telluride

Telluride: Colorado's Box Canyon Town at 8,750 Feet

Telluride sits at 8,750 feet in a glacial box canyon in southwestern Colorado, surrounded on three sides by 13,000-foot peaks of the San Juan Mountains. The town earned its first fame as a gold and silver mining camp in the 1870s — the Sheridan Hotel on Colorado Avenue dates to 1895. Today roughly 2,500 residents share a National Historic Landmark district of Victorian brick storefronts, and a free gondola connects the town to Mountain Village in about 13 minutes.

Where to Stay

Hotels and inn properties cluster along Colorado Avenue (Main Street) and in Mountain Village, the ski-in/ski-out hub 300 feet higher. Mountain Village suits skiers who want slope access; downtown suits visitors chasing the Telluride Film Festival (held each Labor Day weekend) or the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in June. Both corridors carry properties ranging from budget-friendly rooms to full-service mountain lodges.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: The nearest commercial airport is Telluride Regional Airport (TEX), 5 miles from downtown; Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ), 65 miles away, offers more flights.
• Altitude: At 8,750 feet, allow 24–48 hours to acclimatize before strenuous activity.
• Seasons: Peak ski season runs late November through early April; summer festival season peaks June–September.
• Parking: Street parking in the historic district is limited — the free gondola from Telluride Gondola Station removes the need to drive to Mountain Village.