Although many Colorado mountain towns are hemmed in by high mountain passes, that's not the case with Durango. No mountain passes block the way for businesses that must transport wares by highway to markets in the Southeast, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and central and southern California. There are no high passes to traverse when traveling south from Durango to Interstate Highway 40. Distance and Direction to Major Cities Hwy.
Winters are mostly mild and sunny.
Early winter temperatures can dip below zero, but those cold snaps are short-lived and rare. Winter snowfall amounts vary with elevation. In town, average snowfall is 71 inches a year, and because of the warmer temperatures at the lower elevation, snow removal is only an occasional chore of manageable size. Springtime brings warmer weather with rain and an occasional snow shower to brighten up the greening lawns and high-country meadows. During summer, temperatures seldom reach more than the high 80s.