Driving the Million Dollar Highway: My Trip from Ouray to Silverton
What it was like driving one of Colorado's most famous mountain roads through the San Juan Mountains
Words by Michele Underwood | Photos by Michele
U.S. 550 climbing through the San Juan Mountains along the Million Dollar Highway.
I first heard about Colorado's Million Dollar Highway from Carl, a neighbor at Basecamp 500 and a retired long-time resident of the area. He told me about the steep drop-offs, sections without guardrails and its reputation as one of those mountain roads that can make people nervous before they even get there.
What I didn't know was how I would feel driving it myself, especially in my Sprinter. I also didn't realize how much mining history I would see along the way. Old mines, abandoned structures and remnants of mining towns are scattered throughout the route. It is a drive that takes you back in time.
After driving it, I understand why people talk about the exposure. There are definitely sections where I was very aware of the edge of the road and the size of my van. But I didn't find myself terrified for the entire drive, and that isn't what stood out to me most.
What I remember is how beautiful it was.
The road climbs out of Ouray and takes you high into the San Juan Mountains, past waterfalls, old mines, abandoned mining structures and mountains that turn shades of red, orange and yellow around Red Mountain Pass. Once I started noticing all of that, the Million Dollar Highway became much more interesting to me than simply being a road people describe as scary.
It is only about 25 miles from Ouray to Silverton, but there is a lot packed into those miles.
Why Is It Called the Million Dollar Highway?
Of course, I wanted to know where the name came from, and this is where things get a little murky. Several stories explain why it is called the Million Dollar Highway.
One says the road cost a million dollars to build. Another says the material removed during construction contained a million dollars' worth of gold and silver ore. I've also heard the much simpler explanation that the views are worth a million dollars.
Historical accounts don't completely settle the argument. A Colorado Highways article published in 1927 said the road was known as the Million Dollar Highway because the approximately 24-mile section between Ouray and Silverton cost nearly $1 million to construct.
Visit Ouray tells another version. According to its account, three contractors working on highway improvements in the 1920s compared their bids and realized they totaled exactly $1 million. One of them called it a million-dollar highway, and the name stuck.
So there may not be a perfectly clean answer. I like to think the name comes from the area's mining history and the value of the minerals in these mountains. I know that may not be the official story, but after driving through the old mining districts and seeing what remains along the route, I think it's a much cooler one.
Want to know how this road ended up here? I dug into the mining history, Otto Mears, the early toll road, and how the route became the Million Dollar Highway. Read the history of the Million Dollar Highway.
Is It Better to Drive from Ouray to Silverton or Silverton to Ouray?
The Million Dollar Highway winding through the San Juan Mountains between Ouray and Silverton.
I drove the Million Dollar Highway in both directions, first from Ouray to Silverton and then back from Silverton through Ouray on my way to Ridgway. I don't think one direction is necessarily better than the other.
There is one difference worth knowing. When you drive south from Ouray toward Silverton, you are on the outside lane through some of the most exposed sections of the road, which puts you closer to the drop. Driving north from Silverton toward Ouray puts you closer to the mountainside through those same sections, which may feel a little more comfortable if you are nervous about heights.
For me, I wouldn't choose a direction based only on that. The views are spectacular both ways, and you see the landscape differently depending on which direction you're traveling.
It really comes down to where you are coming from and where you are headed next. Most people traveling through this part of Colorado will probably drive the Million Dollar Highway as part of a larger trip rather than choosing a direction specifically for the road. If you're coming from Ouray or Ridgway, driving south toward Silverton makes sense. If you're coming from Durango or Silverton, you'll likely be driving it north toward Ouray.
Having driven it both ways, I think either direction is worth it.
What Is the Best Time to Drive the Million Dollar Highway?
I drove the Million Dollar Highway when the road was clear, which is how I would want to experience it for the first time.
This is a high-elevation mountain highway that crosses a pass above 11,000 feet. Conditions can change quickly, and snow, ice, rockfall, avalanches, heavy rain and debris can affect U.S. 550.
Summer and early fall are the times I would choose if the goal is simply to enjoy the drive and scenery.
Even then, I would check the road and weather conditions before leaving Ouray.
Weather at Red Mountain Pass isn't necessarily going to be the same as what you're seeing down in town.
Can You Drive the Million Dollar Highway in a Van or RV?
I drove it in my Sprinter van without a problem.
That said, I was aware of the size of my van on some of the narrower and more exposed sections.
The road is regularly traveled by RVs, campers, trucks and trailers, so driving a larger vehicle isn't unusual.
What matters more to me is whether you are comfortable driving that vehicle on a mountain road.
If you already dislike driving a large RV on narrow roads or around steep drop-offs, the Million Dollar Highway probably isn't going to be the place where you suddenly start enjoying it.
For me, my Sprinter was fine.
I just drove at the speed that felt right for the road.
Is the Million Dollar Highway Dangerous?
The Million Dollar Highway has a reputation as one of America's dangerous mountain roads, and I understand where that comes from.
There is exposure. There are steep drop-offs. There are areas without guardrails. Winter weather can be serious, and this is avalanche country.
But I think the word dangerous can sometimes make the road sound more extreme than what someone will experience driving it on a clear summer day.
I never felt like I was doing something reckless by being there.
It's a paved U.S. highway.
The bigger issue is treating it like the mountain road it is rather than driving it like an interstate.
For me, that meant slowing down, watching the curves, giving other vehicles room and keeping my attention on the road when the scenery was trying very hard to pull it somewhere else.
Is the Million Dollar Highway Worth Driving?
The mineral-rich landscape around Red Mountain is one of the most distinctive views along the Million Dollar Highway.
After driving it myself, yes.
And not because I can now say I drove some scary Colorado road.
I would drive the Million Dollar Highway again because it is beautiful.
The road takes you from Ouray high into the San Juan Mountains, through old mining country, over Red Mountain Pass and eventually down into Silverton. In 25 miles, the landscape changes repeatedly.
There are waterfalls, exposed cliffs, red mountains, abandoned mines, old mining settlements, and views that kept making me want to stop.
Knowing the history made it even better.
When I could see an old mining structure sitting high on the side of a mountain, I found myself wondering who had worked there, how they got there and what it must have been like when these mountains were filled with active mines and small settlements.
That's what stayed with me after driving the Million Dollar Highway.
Yes, parts of it have some serious exposure.
But the exposure isn't the reason I would tell someone to drive it.
The road itself, the history and the San Juan Mountains are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Million Dollar Highway scary to drive? It can be if you’re uncomfortable with heights or exposed mountain roads. Some sections have steep drop-offs and no guardrails, especially between Ouray and Red Mountain Pass. I was aware of the exposure while driving it, but I never felt like I shouldn’t be there.
Does the Million Dollar Highway have guardrails? Not along many of its most exposed sections. That lack of guardrails is part of what the road is known for and can make the drive feel more intimidating.
How long does it take to drive the Million Dollar Highway? The section between Ouray and Silverton is only about 25 miles, but I would give yourself plenty of time. Between the mountain road, overlooks, scenery, and places you'll want to stop, this isn't a drive I'd rush.
Is it better to drive the Million Dollar Highway from Ouray to Silverton or Silverton to Ouray? I drove from Ouray to Silverton and later drove back toward Ridgway, so I experienced it in both directions. Heading south from Ouray puts you in the outside lane through some of the more exposed sections, while heading north from Silverton puts you in a lane closer to the mountainside in those areas. I wouldn't choose a direction based only on that, though. Where you're coming from and where you're going will probably decide it for you.
Can you drive the Million Dollar Highway in a regular vehicle? Yes. The Million Dollar Highway is paved, so you don't need a 4x4 or special vehicle. You should be comfortable with mountain driving, though, because of the grades, curves, elevation, and exposed sections.
Is the Million Dollar Highway worth driving? For me, absolutely. The scenery between Ouray, Red Mountain Pass, and Silverton makes the drive worth doing on its own. It’s one of those roads where the drive itself is part of the experience.
Michele Underwood writes Overland Girl, where she shares firsthand travel experiences across the American West — from desert landscapes and national parks to small towns layered with history. Her work blends movement, place, and the stories that shape them.Some posts may include affiliate links to products or services she uses on the road. If you choose to purchase through those links, she may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. It helps support continued travel and storytelling. She only links to items she personally uses or would use herself.