Durango La Plata County Airport (IATA: DRO) is an airport located 12 miles (19 km) southwest of the historic city of Durango, in the southwestern corner of Colorado.
Surrounded by the stunning scenery of the San Juan Mountains and the natural beauty of the Animas River Valley, the airport is close to the region’s famous Mesa Verde National Park and tourist attractions such as the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The airport is operated by La Plata County and serves over half a million passengers annually. The airport has a single runway and a modern terminal building.
Interactive Durango Airport Map
Durango Airport – terminal and gate map
Durango-La Plata Airport welcomes passengers with a modern and functional terminal building. The terminal was renovated and expanded in the early 2000s. The terminal has a warm and inviting atmosphere that blends in with the natural surroundings of the region.
The terminal building is single-story, and all passenger services are handled on the same floor. Here, you will find check-in counters, security screening points, boarding gates, and baggage claim areas. For passenger comfort, the terminal offers free Wi-Fi, screens displaying up-to-date flight information, comfortable seating areas, and a “Mother’s Room.” There is also a small gift shop and a food court inside the terminal. There are four active boarding gates (mostly at ground level, without jet bridges) in the terminal.
Parking Areas
There are two parking areas at Durango-La Plata Airport.
The main terminal lot and the South lot are the airport’s parking areas. The first 60 minutes are free; after that, a fee of 1 USD is charged for every 30 minutes. The maximum daily fee for the first seven days is 9 USD, and from the eighth day onwards, it drops to 6 USD. Entry and exit are via a QR code ticket system.
All parking areas have designated parking spaces for disabled individuals, which are located closest to the terminal entrances. The South lot has an electric vehicle charging station. Payments can be made by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover) or cash at the payment stations located at the exit.
Car Rental at the airport
Car rental company counters are located inside the terminal building, directly across from the baggage claim area. Major rental companies such as Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National/Alamo provide services to travelers here. You can easily pick up your rental car from the private parking area adjacent to the terminal building. Companies generally operate every day of the week according to scheduled flight times.
Find transportation from the airport – shuttle, taxis
Shuttle Services: There are private shuttle companies that provide service between the airport and hotels in and around downtown Durango (Durango Limo, Buckhorn Limousine). If you plan to use these services, be sure to make reservations in advance.
Taxis and Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): Taxis are available at designated locations just outside the terminal building.
Popular ride-sharing apps such as Uber and Lyft also offer pick-up and drop-off services at the airport.
Hotel Shuttle: Some hotels in the area offer shuttle service to and from the airport for their guests. Be sure to check with your hotel when making your reservation.
Lost & Found
If you lose an item in the general area of the airport (terminal, parking lot, etc.), you should contact the Durango-La Plata County Airport Administrative Office. The Lost and Found Office at the airport is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can submit your claim by filling out the online form on the airport website.
If you have left your belongings on the plane or near the boarding gate, you should contact the lost and found department of your airline directly. Contact information for major airlines:
American Airlines: 1-800-535-5225
United Airlines: 1-800-335-2247
ATM at Durango Airport
ATMs are available inside the terminal building, in the area before security check and/or after security, where passengers can withdraw cash. These ATMs are generally available 24/7.
Restaurants at Durango Airport
There is a full-service restaurant-bar in the terminal before security. After security, there is a full-service restaurant-bar and grab-and-go points in the American and United waiting lounges. All food and beverage outlets open and close according to flight schedules. The pre-security restaurant, which is open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., is open all day.
Durango Deli & Grill (Post-Security): A café/restaurant offering sandwiches, salads, breakfast items, hot meals, and a variety of beverages. Local beers and snacks are also available. Grab-and-go options are available.
Shopping at Airport
There is one store where you can meet your travel needs and find souvenirs unique to the area.
La Plata Gifts is a shop selling newspapers, magazines, books, snacks, beverages, travel items, and souvenirs themed around Durango and Colorado.
Hotels at Durango Airport
There are several hotels located near the airport.
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Durango: Approximately 10 miles (16 km) from the airport. Breakfast is included in the room rate.
Sleep Inn Durango: 7.7 miles (12.4 km) from the airport. Free continental/buffet breakfast is available.
Hampton Inn Durango: Approximately 11 miles (17 km) from the airport.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Durango: 8 miles (12.9 km) from the airport. Complimentary hot breakfast is served every morning.
DoubleTree by Hilton Durango: 12 miles (19 km) from the airport. Located in the city center, on the banks of the Animas River.
Durango Airport Flights and Airlines
Durango-La Plata County Airport is served by major US network carriers such as American Airlines and United Airlines. Sometimes low-cost carriers such as Frontier Airlines also operate seasonal flights from the airport.
Direct flights are available year-round from the airport to major hubs such as Denver (DEN), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), and Phoenix (PHX). Seasonal flights to Houston-Intercontinental (IAH) are available during the summer. Regional carriers such as American Eagle and United Express operate on these routes.
Satellite view of Durango Airport. Click to enlarge
Durango Airport destination map (June 2025). Click to enlarge
Other Airports in Colorado