hey there,
5 great carvers lives close to Telluride. Post it in CO thread they might give you good info. I went there last year and have to say love it.
I did fly to Montrose from NY, easy cake. No problems. Roads where great.
From there I took Telluride Express ( about 50$), as far as I remember they have 2 pick up's a day from the airport, or TELLURIDES rides@tellurides.com 970 325 7995, ( great service).
Town is small and its free gondola to the Village. You don't need any car.
It takes like 10 min to get to Village. And hotels and food in town are a bit cheaper. I stayed in cool place block away from gondola The Victorian Inn
( 800.611.9893, 970.728.6601), via Expedia I payed 125$ per night but its more options out there ($).