Durango Blues Train
- Dates
- Expected August 2027
- Status
- Expected
- Venue
- Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
- Price
- $165
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Sep 1, 2026
Durango Blues Train comes to Durango, CO, Expected August 2027. Froligo tracks current ticket prices, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Durango Blues Train turns the historic coal-fired Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad into a rolling, 21-and-over blues festival: six live acts play six vintage coaches during a roughly three-and-a-half-hour evening run through the canyons of the San Juan National Forest, and passengers move car to car some coaches are seated, others are open for dancing. It is a single-ticket, limited-capacity event (around $165) that traditionally sells out well ahead of its late-spring and late-summer runs
What people love
The novelty of a moving, car-to-car blues party set against dramatic mountain-and-river scenery is the draw; attendee reaction is enthusiastic, with the dancing coaches and the mix of ages in the crowd frequently singled out
Last time around (2025)
The event ran two multi-night sets in 2025 (late May and August 21-23). Organizers described the return of the train as overwhelmingly joyous, and the format six bands, six coaches, dancing between cars through the San Juan canyons was unchanged
Listen
Tap an artist to play them right here.
No official playlist linked yet. Find Durango Blues Train on Spotify.
Lineup
2027 lineup not yet announced. Here's who played in 2026:
Getting there
Nearest airport DRO.
How do I get to Durango Blues Train?
By car
Most people drive to Durango Blues Train. The nearest major airport is DRO, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
Daily intercity coach linking Durango Transit Center (250 W 8th St, ~3 blocks from the depot) with Grand Junction via Cortez, Dolores, Rico, Telluride, Placerville, Montrose, Olathe and Delta including a stop at Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT). Useful as the fly-into-GJT alternative when tiny DRO's fares/connections don't work, or for connecting from Amtrak's California Zephyr at Grand Junction. Runs 365 days/year; coaches carry luggage/bike/ski storage, power, wi-fi and restrooms. Tickets via the Bustang Outrider mobile app or cash (exact change) when boarding. This is a city-to-city option, not a DRO airport connector
Book / info →Festival shuttle
The only quasi-public airport connector: a reservation-only shared shuttle between DRO and the Durango Transit Center (250 W 8th St), which is ~3 blocks from the train depot at 479 Main Ave. Runs 6:00am-6:00pm Monday-Friday ONLY and is currently closed weekends/holidays due to a driver shortage workable for a Thursday/Friday arrival ahead of the Aug 20-22 (Thu-Sat) festival, but NOT for a Saturday or Sunday departure, so plan the return leg another way. Book by phone (970) 563-4545 (office Mon-Fri 8am-4pm) at least 48 hours ahead; reservations open 1 month out. A fare increase took effect 1 Feb 2026, so confirm current pricing when booking
Book / info →Taxi & rideshare
Uber and Lyft both operate at DRO and around Durango, but this is a small mountain airport with thin driver supply and no regularly scheduled shuttle, and the airport's own guidance is to pre-book ground transport before arriving. Local pre-book operators permitted at the airport include Durango Transportation (970) 259-4818 and Buck Horn Limousine (private car/shuttle, online booking). Drop at the depot (479 Main Ave) or your downtown hotel everything relevant is within a few blocks
Book / info →Taxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🅿 Parking
On site parking available. Cost Official D&SNGRR paid lot next to the rail yard at the corner of US Hwy 550 & College Drive (209 W College Dr, just west of the McDonald's), a short walk from the 479 Main Ave depot: $10 per car/truck/motorcycle, $20 for an RV/bus/trailer or any vehicle taking more than one space. Pay cash at the lot on the day no prepay platform is used. Per city ordinance there is NO overnight camping in the lot. An unloading zone on Main Ave near the depot is available for dropping off passengers with limited mobility before parking, and vehicles with handicapped placards/plates park free at any regular metered space. Boarding starts 6:30pm, departure 7:00pm sharp.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at DRO
DRO has no scheduled public transit into town and the one airport shuttle skips weekends car hire from the airport is the most reliable option for fly-in attendees, and the evening-only (6:30pm boarding, 21+) train format leaves daytimes free for Mesa Verde and the San Juan Skyway, which a car unlocks
Search car hire →Live price search coming soon.
Where
Venue
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near Durango Blues Train?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Hotels nearby 5
567 Main Ave directly next door to the depot (well under a block); 1898 Victorian hotel in the historic downtown district
Link coming soon699 Main Ave two blocks north of the depot; landmark 1887 hotel with the Diamond Belle Saloon
Link coming soon400 E 2nd Ave about two blocks from the depot and downtown core; includes hot breakfast
Link coming soon726 E 2nd Ave boutique 1892 historic hotel one block off Main Ave, roughly a 5-minute walk to the depot
Link coming soon150 E 5th St budget-friendly motel a block from Main Ave and a short walk to the depot; grab-and-go breakfast, seasonal pool, hot tub
Link coming soonAirbnb & private camping
Durango is an established short-term-rental market (~1,000-1,700 active listings depending on data source) with high-season pressure exactly when the Blues Train runs: market data (AirDNA/AirROI, 2026) puts the average daily rate around $367 with a $283 median, rates peaking in July-August and guests booking furthest ahead (~74 days) for the summer peak. Expect downtown-walkable listings for the Aug 20-22 weekend to price well above shoulder-season and to book out early
Search Airbnb →Unusually strong Hipcamp territory: Hipcamp's own Durango directory lists 280+ campsites and 250+ glamping options in the surrounding San Juan National Forest / Animas Valley / Mesa Verde corridor, from ~$15/night with a ~$50/night average top-reviewed sites include Bright Star Campground, Hermitory and Mudita Camel's Yurt. A genuine budget alternative to the compressed downtown hotel market, with the caveat that most sites are a 15-45 min drive out and the festival's own lot bans overnight camping, so plan a sober driver or rideshare back from the 21+ evening train
Search Hipcamp →Accessibility & comfort
What the organiser or venue publishes about getting around, and what they do not.
Confirm your specific needs with the organiser's access team before you travel.
Pricing
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