Airport Accessibility: Durango, Colorado's Air Travel Options

Durango, Colorado, is a mid-size town nestled beneath the San Juan National Forest, running along the Animas River. The closest major cities are Albuquerque, 215 miles away, Denver, 337 miles away, and Salt Lake City, 339 miles away. While there are several international airports within a half to a full day's drive from Durango, the town itself is served by the Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO), a small regional airport located 12-15 miles southeast of the town. The airport offers daily non-stop flights to and from Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Phoenix, with seasonal direct flights to Houston.

Durango-La Plata County Airport

Durango does indeed have an airport. The Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) is a city- and county-owned public airport located approximately 12 to 15 miles southeast of Durango, in La Plata County, Colorado. It is the primary regional airport for southwest Colorado, northwest New Mexico, and the entire Four Corners region.

The airport opened to commercial airline service in 1946. In the summer of 1977, the airport was closed to expand the terminal building and lengthen the runway to accommodate jet traffic. That fall, Frontier Airlines began operating Boeing 737 jets to the airport. The terminal was expanded again in the 1990s to accommodate an increase in ski traffic and new service by American Airlines using McDonnell Douglas MD-80 jets.

The airport covers 1,281 acres at an elevation of 6,685 feet. It has one runway, which is 9,201 by 150 feet asphalt. For the twelve-month period ending January 1, 2020, the airport had 38,468 aircraft operations, averaging 105 per day. In June 2020, there were 69 aircraft based at the airport.

The Durango-La Plata County Airport offers daily nonstop flights to Denver (DEN), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), and Phoenix (PHX), with seasonal nonstop service to Houston (IAH). The airport has three boarding gates, five plane stands, a pre-security restaurant, and a gift shop. It also offers free Wi-Fi throughout the passenger terminal.

International airports near Durango

Durango does have an airport, the Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO/KDRO/DRO), a small regional airport located 12 to 15 miles southeast of Durango, Colorado. However, this airport only services domestic flights. The closest international airport to Durango is the Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ/KABQ/ABQ) in New Mexico, which is 217 or 218 miles away from Durango. There are no direct flights from Albuquerque to Durango, so travellers can either rent a car for the 3.5-hour drive or take a connecting flight to the Durango-La Plata County Airport.

Another major international airport close to Durango is the Denver International Airport (DEN) in Colorado, located 360 or 361 miles away. Denver International offers direct flights to Durango, with a flight time of around 6.5 hours.

Other international airports within a half to a full day's drive from Durango include the Salt Lake City International Airport (391 miles away) and the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Regional airports near Durango

Durango does indeed have an airport, and it's a breeze to get to Durango by air! The Durango La Plata County Airport (DRO) is a full-service regional airport with over a dozen daily non-stop flights from various US cities. The airport is located approximately 15 miles southeast of historic downtown Durango, Colorado, and offers year-round and seasonal services from several airlines.

Airlines and Destinations

American Airlines provides daily direct flights to and from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona. United Airlines offers daily direct flights to and from Denver, Colorado, all year round. Additionally, United Airlines provides seasonal, non-stop service to Houston.

International Airports

Although Durango does not have its own international airport, the closest one is the Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) in New Mexico. However, there are currently no direct flights from Albuquerque to Durango. Alternatively, Denver International Airport (DEN) is located about 360 miles from Durango, offering a scenic 6.5-hour drive or direct flights to Durango.

Durango–La Plata County Airport

The Durango–La Plata County Airport is a public airport owned by the city and county of Durango. It covers 1,281 acres of land and is situated at an elevation of 6,685 feet. The airport features a single runway and various amenities, including boarding gates, plane stands, a restaurant, and a gift shop. It also provides free Wi-Fi throughout the passenger terminal.

Airlines serving DRO

Durango does have an airport, the Durango La Plata County Airport (DRO). It is a full-service regional airport with daily non-stop flights from:

• Denver International Airport (DEN)
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

There are also seasonal direct flights to Houston (IAH).

The following airlines serve DRO:

United Airlines

United Airlines offers daily direct flights to and from Denver, CO (DEN) year-round. United Airlines also offers seasonal, non-stop service to Houston (IAH).

American Airlines

American Airlines offers daily direct service from Dallas-Fort Worth, TX (DFW) and Phoenix, AZ (PHX) all year.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines offers non-stop service to Denver and Las Vegas as of June 2021.

American Eagle

American Eagle, flying for American Airlines, offers year-round non-stop flights to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Phoenix (PHX) on Canadair CRJ-900s. They also operate summer weekend seasonal flights to Los Angeles.

Terminal information

Durango does have an airport, the Durango-La Plata County Airport (IATA: DRO, ICAO: KDRO, FAA LID: DRO). It is a small regional airport located 12 to 15 miles southeast of Durango, in La Plata County, Colorado. The airport offers convenient access to the town of Durango, which is nestled beneath the San Juan National Forest and runs along the Animas River.

The Durango-La Plata County Airport is a full-service regional airport with a range of facilities and services. The airport has three boarding gates and five plane stands. It is equipped with aircraft loading lifts to assist passengers with boarding. The airport also offers free Wi-Fi internet access throughout the terminal building.

In terms of dining options, Tailwind Concessions offers two locations, one pre-security and another post-security (departure lounge). Both locations feature a full-service restaurant and bar. Additionally, the United departure lounge offers grab-and-go food options. The pre-security location is open from 8 am to 6 pm, while the post-security locations operate according to airline flight departure times.

For shopping, La Plata Gifts is a comprehensive gift shop located pre-security and is open from 7 am to 6 pm. The airport also has a north-facing grassy area at the end of the Rental Car lot where travellers can walk their dogs. This area includes a clean-up station, and travellers are expected to keep their dogs on a leash.

The airport provides easy ground transportation options, with all public areas at ground level and accessible by curb cuts and ramps. A loading and unloading area is available immediately in front of the terminal for added convenience.

Frequently asked questions