What is the best route for driving from Denver to Crested Butte?
Hard to say what “best” means. It’s more straightforward, but longer, to go to Gunnison and then north on 135 for 30 miles into CB. (Note: in the winter you can only go through Gunnison; other routes described here are only for summertime) For this, take the 70 West from the airport, take 470 South for a few miles, then 285 towards Fairplay, then follow it all the way until it hits 50, which you take west towards Gunnison. Here’s a pretty good map. Also, don’t use MapQuest (see earlier on this page). For a shorter and very scenic route, take 285 to Buena Vista, and turn left to go up to the Cottonwood Pass. You will travel (not too fast) over 12 miles of well-maintained dirt road after you cross the top of the pass, then when you reach the paved road, turn left around the Taylor Reservoir and follow the Taylor River down to 135 and turn right to go up to CB. Going over Cottonwood takes an hour off your travel time, but you don’t want to do it at night or in stormy conditions. Otherwise
