Day 5 | Thu July 22, 2027 | Ouray to Tucumcari via Million Dollar Highway

Ouray -> US-550 south over Red Mountain Pass -> Silverton -> Molas Pass -> Coal Bank Pass -> Durango -> US-550 south through Bloomfield and Cuba -> I-25 south at Bernalillo -> I-40 east past Santa Rosa -> Tucumcari. ~460 mi (blog estimate); 8–9 h (blog estimate). Million Dollar Highway daylight-only and weather-gated; take photos at safe pullouts. Lunch Durango. Check Top Tier 91+ before Red Mountain Pass and again in Durango/NM. If US-550 closed, hold or paved detour only.