At a Glance
- Distance: 25 miles
- Red Mtn Pass: 11,018 ft
- Drive Time: 45 min (no stops)
- Open Year-Round: Weather permitting
What Makes This Drive Legendary
The Million Dollar Highway earns its superlatives honestly — narrow lanes carved into cliff faces, thousand-foot drop-offs without guardrails, and a succession of abandoned mine structures clinging to the mountain walls. Red Mountain Pass at 11,018 feet is the visual climax.
The origin of the name is debated — some say it cost $1 million per mile to build, others that the roadbed fill contains $1 million in gold ore. Either story fits a road this dramatic.
Driving Tips and Best Stops
Drive the highway from Ouray southbound in the morning for the best light on the peaks. Pull-offs are limited — use designated overlooks and never stop in the travel lane. Avoid driving at night or in winter storms unless you're confident in adverse conditions.
Silverton, 25 miles south, makes a natural endpoint for lunch before returning. The historic saloons and Victorian streetscapes of Silverton are worth 2–3 hours of exploration.
Stay in Ouray and Drive It Your Way
Staying at The Lumberyard Condos means you can drive the Million Dollar Highway multiple times — northbound, southbound, at sunrise, at sunset, in snow. There's no single best way to see it.
Book your Ouray stay at ouraycondos.com. The Lumberyard puts you at the northern trailhead of the most spectacular drive in Colorado.