For real lodging in Durango, the Travel Lodge is extremely convienient(the roundhouse is just across the parking lot), and not as pricey as the even more convenient Palmer House or the best place, the Strater, up the street.
In the old days (1969-74), a few of my pals and I would camp up at Rockwood, with permission of the owner. We had the whole valley to ourselves, just the owners place across the track a ways. What memories that brought! Moonlight walks on the Highline....