A Travel Price Comparison for Colorado Denver vs. Durango for Hiking and Families

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Should you visit Denver or Durango?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Denver or Durango, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Denver

Denver is a sprawling and park-filled city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include skiing, nightlife, and hiking.

Durango

Durango is a scenic and nature-filled small town. It also offers plenty of small town charm and also has plenty of sights and activities. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. This is an attractive and quaint destination worth visiting as well. And you can't forget about the hiking.

How is Denver different from Durango?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Is Denver or Durango better for Hiking?

Denver and Durango are both places where visitors can find hiking trails.

Denver has hiking trails worth exploring. The city is very close to many beautiful parks and hiking areas in the Rocky Mountains.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Durango. Popular nearby hikes include Animas Mountain Trail, Falls Creek Trail, and Purgatory Trail.


Is Denver or Durango better for Families?

Denver and Durango are both fun destinations for the whole family.

Denver is a family-friendly place to visit. It is a family-friendly city with museums, playgrounds, and plenty of outdoor activities. There are also a few ropes courses near town that kids and adults alike will enjoy.

Durango is a very family-friendly destination. In the area you'll find ziplining, alpine slides, and plenty of outdoor areas to explore - and of course there's the railroad.

Is Denver or Durango a more walkable city?

Durango is considered more walkable than Denver.

Durango is a somewhat walkable place. While the Main Street through town is walkable, it's not as pedestrian-friendly as some small towns.

Denver is not a very walkable city. While the downtown area is generally walkable, this is still a sprawling city where you'll really want to have a car to access areas outside of town.

Denver and Durango: Pros and Cons

Denver
Pros
  • Good for hiking
  • Family-friendly
Cons
  • Less walkable
Durango
Pros
  • Good for hiking
  • Family-friendly
  • Very walkable
  • Small town charm
  • Quaint atmosphere


Should I spend more time in Durango or Denver?

How long in Denver or Durango?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Denver and Durango. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one.

The ideal length of time for a trip to Denver is 2-3 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Durango is 2-3 days.


  • How many days in Denver or Durango? Ideal Length of Stay
    Denver 2-3 
    Durango 2-3

One day in Denver or Durango?

In Denver, you'll find skiing and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Durango might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Denver or Durango?

In Denver, you'll find nightlife and skiing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Denver has to offer.

Durango is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.


Five days in Denver or Durango?

Denver is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Durango. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time here unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Denver or Durango?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Denver. One week may feel like too much time here unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Durango is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This small town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Which city is cheaper, Durango or Denver?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Denver is $174, while the average daily cost in Durango is $123. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Denver and Durango in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Denver $69
    Durango $63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Denver $138
    Durango $126

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Denver $81
    Durango $22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Denver

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Denver:

  • Transfer in private minivan from Denver International Airport(DEN) to Downtown: $86
  • Transfer in private minivan from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Vail city: $291
  • Transfer in private minivan from Denver Downtown to International Airport (DEN): $86
  • Transfer in Private Car from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Downtown: $72
  • Transfer in Private Car from Denver Downtown to International Airport (DEN): $72
  • Round trip transfer in private minivan from-to Denver Intl. Airport to Downtown: $173
  • Round trip transfer in private minivan from-to Denver Airport (DEN) to Vail city: $582
  • Round trip transfer in Private Car from-to Denver Int. Airport (DEN) to Downtown: $144
  • Private Transfer: Denver International Airport (DEN) to Vail: $576
  • Private Transfer: Denver International Airport (DEN) to Aspen: $1,321
  • Private Transfer from Denver City to Denver (DEN) Airport: $109
  • Private Transfer from Denver (DEN) Airport to Denver City: $109

Is it cheaper to fly into Denver or Durango?

Prices for flights to both Durango and Denver change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Denver $34
    Durango $40
Typical Food prices in Denver

Some typical examples of dining costs in Denver are as follows:


  • Sushi Dinner (for 2)
    $61

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Denver

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Denver.

  • Small-Group Food Tour in Denver: $69
  • Haunted Denver Walking Food Tour: $73
  • The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Denver: $77
  • Walking Food Tour - Best of Union Station & LoDo: $79
  • Denver Cooking Classes-Local, seasonal, and hands on menus: $97

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Denver $42
    Durango $37

Tours and Activities in Denver

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Denver are as follows:

  • 1.5 Hour LoDo Walking Tour in Denver: $25
  • Astrophotography Experience in the Colorado Rockies: $200
  • Best of Denver Tour: $64
  • Best of Denver Tour: $22
  • Bike and Brew Tour: $60
  • Breckenridge Ultimate Full Day Mountain Tour from Denver: $115
  • Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour: $22
  • Craft Beer Tour in Lower Downtown Denver: $53
  • Denver Ghost Hunt: Mile High Ghost Tour: $12
  • Denver Ghost Tour: $23
  • Denver Guided Sightseeing Tour on Motor Scooters: $112
  • Denver History and Highlights Small Group Tour: $35

Typical Entertainment prices in Durango

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Durango's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Hot Springs (for 2)
    $50
  • Tubing (for 2)
    $40

Tours and Activities in Durango

For Durango, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Private Guided Tour by tuk tuk of Durango and Atxondo: $93
  • Private Tour in Durango and Mendiola by Tuk Tuk: $93
  • Fun Tour by Tuk Tuk around Durango Old Town, Garai and Goiuria: $93
  • Private Guided Tour by Tuk Tuk of Durango and Elorrio: $93
  • 12-Zipline Adventure in the San Juan Mountains near Durango: $141
  • Province of Vizcaya Half-Day Private Guided Tuk Tuk Tour: $218
  • Private Full-Day Fishing Experience in San Juan River: $400

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Denver $4.25
    Durango $24

Sample the Local Flavors in Denver

Also in Denver, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Haunted Denver Ghost and Pub Walking Tour in Lower Downtown: $26
  • Haunted Denver Ghost and Pub Walking Tour - South Broadway (SoBo): $27
  • 3-Hour Brewery Walking Tour: $49
  • Craft Distillery Bus Tour: $71

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Denver and Durango, we can see that Denver is more expensive. And not only is Durango much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durango would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durango and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Denver would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Denver than you might in Durango.

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Denver vs. Durango Travel Comparison

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