Skip the Long Drive. Fly Right In.How to Get to Western Colorado Right Now from The Rathbone Hotel
Most people planning a trip to Western Colorado assume they'll be flying into Denver or Grand Junction and driving several more hours to get here. They don't have to. Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) puts you a short drive from downtown Montrose — and from The Rathbone Hotel & Parlor Bar — with nonstop jet service from major cities across the country.
Here's what makes flying into Montrose the easiest way to reach Western Colorado.
A Real Jet Airport, Not a Backcountry Airstrip
Montrose Regional is a full commercial airport, built to handle mainline jet traffic, not just small charter planes.
• A 10,000-foot runway, long enough for the same jets that serve major hubs
• A remodeled terminal with expanded check-in, security, and departure lounge space
• A distinctive, locally designed terminal building with a two-sided fireplace and skylighted pine ceiling — worth a look before you even leave the airport
Nonstop Flights from Major Cities
MTJ carries year-round nonstop service and adds routes during peak ski and summer season.
• Year-round nonstop service to Denver (United Express and Southwest) and Dallas/Fort Worth (American Eagle)
• Seasonal nonstop routes in past ski and summer seasons have included Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Houston, San Francisco, and Atlanta
• Additional carriers, including Breeze Airways, have added seasonal routes in recent years
Airline schedules shift by season, so it's worth checking current routes before booking — but the takeaway holds: this is a full-service airport, not a puddle-jumper strip.
The Fastest Way Into the San Juans
For travelers headed toward Telluride, Ouray, or the Black Canyon, MTJ is the shortcut.
• Montrose is the nearest airport with regularly scheduled mainline jet service to Telluride Ski Resort, about 90 minutes away by road
• It also serves as the backup landing option when Telluride's small, high-elevation airport is weathered in
• Guests headed to Ouray, Ridgway, or the Black Canyon of the Gunnison skip the longer drive in from Denver or Grand Junction entirely
Minutes from Touchdown to Check-In
The airport sits on the edge of Montrose, just a short drive from downtown.
• Land, pick up a rental car, and you're downtown before you've fully unpacked your bags
• Check into a boutique suite at The Rathbone Hotel in a beautifully restored historic building
• End the travel day with a cocktail on The Parlor Bar patio instead of another hour on the highway
The Easiest Way Into Western Colorado
Flying into Montrose means less time in transit and more time in the mountains — whether you're headed to the slopes, the canyon rim, or straight to a patio downtown. It's the kind of convenience that turns a travel day into the start of the trip, instead of an obstacle before it.
And once you land, The Rathbone Hotel & Parlor Bar is minutes away — Montrose's premier boutique luxury hotel, ready whenever your flight touches down.