Basalt, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Basalt STR operators averaged $267/night at 35.7% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 1,082 active listings.
Quick Answer: Basalt, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 67%. average monthly revenue is $5,815. average daily rate is $352. the top operator is KEYLINK with 61 listings. market score is 45/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Glenwood Springs regional market, which includes Basalt. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Basalt.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Basalt, Colorado sits in the Roaring Fork Valley about 20 miles downvalley from Aspen, operating as a lower-cost gateway to Aspen/Snowmass skiing in winter and a fly-fishing and outdoor-recreation hub in summer. The short-term rental market recorded an average daily rate of $267 and occupancy of 35.7% in April 2026, with RevPAR of $95. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 5.3%, ADR increased 2.5%, and revenue grew 2.1%, signaling modest but steady positive momentum.
The market carries approximately 1,082 active listings. Entire-place listings dominate at 1,024 units (94.6% of supply), with only 58 private-room listings. By bedroom count, studios and one-bedroom units lead at 367 listings, followed by two-bedroom (253), three-bedroom (234), four-bedroom (144), and five-bedroom-plus (80) properties. Channel distribution shows strong multi-platform presence: 544 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 433 on Airbnb only, and 105 on VRBO only, indicating that dual-listing is the dominant strategy among experienced operators here.
The market’s rental demand score of 80.5 out of 100 reflects Basalt’s year-round draw as a destination for affluent outdoor recreationists, anglers, and ski-area visitors. The overall investability score of 60.1 reflects higher per-unit costs introduced by the town’s 2025 per-bedroom regulatory fee, which investors must factor carefully before acquiring property.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51% | $280 | $3,886 |
| Feb | 55% | $279 | $3,998 |
| Mar | 57% | $272 | $4,370 |
| Apr | 37% | $222 | $2,544 |
| May | 53% | $238 | $2,902 |
| Jun | 69% | $284 | $4,773 |
| Jul | 76% | $276 | $5,479 |
| Aug | 65% | $270 | $4,750 |
| Sep | 60% | $251 | $3,954 |
| Oct | 50% | $235 | $3,380 |
| Nov | 40% | $220 | $2,372 |
| Dec | 55% | $280 | $3,542 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Basalt
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KEYLINK | 61 | 5,755 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Boutique Mountain Homes | 28 | 2,598 | ★ 4.85 |
| 3 | PONDEROSA LODGE | 25 | 5,007 | ★ 4.83 |
| 4 | Evolve | 22 | 1,989 | ★ 4.74 |
| 5 | Vacasa | 17 | 1,071 | ★ 4.62 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Basalt?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 367 |
| 2 bed | 253 |
| 3 bed | 234 |
| 4 bed | 144 |
| 5 bed | 80 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $365 |
| Luxury | $607 |
| Professionally Managed | $395 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $4,146 |
| Entire Place | $6,010 |
| House | $6,473 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 40% |
| vrbo | 9.7% |
| both | 50.3% |
Investment Analysis
April 2026 average monthly revenue across all Basalt STR listings was $2,949. Entire-place listings averaged $3,005 per month and house listings $3,180, while apartment-style listings came in lower at $2,263. Annualizing the April figure produces a rough $35,388 in gross annual revenue per listing, though seasonal patterns (discussed below) mean stronger months like July contribute significantly more.
By tier, professionally managed listings commanded an average daily rate of $290 versus the all-listing average of $267, a 8.6% premium. Luxury-tier listings reached $424 ADR, reflecting the Aspen-adjacent positioning of Basalt’s high-end inventory.
Home value data for Basalt is not available in the current housing snapshot, so a precise gross yield calculation cannot be made. Investors should request current Roaring Fork Valley comps from a local broker before projecting returns. What the data does confirm: Basalt’s ADR trajectory is upward ($184 average in 2017, $326 in 2025, $337 in early 2026), and revenue has grown from roughly $2,226/month average in 2017 to $4,896 in 2025. The key cost factor for non-primary-residence investors is the town’s $2,532-per-bedroom annual STR Regulatory Fee, effective June 2025. A three-bedroom property adds $7,596/year in regulatory costs before management fees, which materially affects net yield.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Basalt guests book an average of 39 days in advance, and average length of stay is 3.2 nights. The 39-day lead time is a meaningful planning window: operators who open calendar availability at least 60 days out capture the bulk of demand, while last-minute pricing adjustments (within 0-14 days of arrival) can help fill gaps without deep discounting.
At 3.2 nights average stay, the market trends toward weekend-plus trips rather than full weekly stays. This has operational implications: higher turnover frequency increases cleaning costs and scheduling complexity compared to weekly-rental markets. Operators should factor two to three cleans per week into their cost models during peak season. The relatively short average stay also creates more booking slots per month, which can be advantageous if occupancy is rate-sensitive, though it raises the breakeven occupancy level needed to cover fixed per-stay costs.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Basalt requires every short-term rental (defined as rentals of 30 consecutive days or fewer) to hold a current Short-Term Rental Business License before advertising or accepting bookings. The base annual licensing cost is approximately $460, comprising a $300 STR business license, a $150 annual safety inspection fee, and a $10 sales tax license.
Effective June 1, 2025 (Ordinance No. 3, Series 2025), the town added an annual STR Regulatory Fee of $2,532 per bedroom, directed to workforce and affordable housing funds. This fee applies to all non-primary-residence STRs. Operators whose primary residence is rented 60 or fewer days per year are exempt from the per-bedroom fee.
The town does not cap total rental nights per year and does not require owner-occupancy or primary-residence status to operate. Stays are subject to a 6% town lodging tax effective January 2026 (raised from 4% under Ordinance No. 11, Series 2025), remitted monthly on gross lodging receipts including cleaning, pet, booking, and management fees, plus applicable state and county sales taxes.
Enforcement severity is rated moderate. Operating without a current license is treated as a zoning violation subject to fines and municipal court action. Investors should verify current fee schedules directly with the Town of Basalt before purchase, as the per-bedroom fee structure was adopted recently and may be subject to further adjustment.
Market Comparison
Basalt’s April 2026 occupancy of 35.7% is below the US STR median of approximately 55%, reflecting April’s position as the market’s softest shoulder month rather than representative annual performance. The 2025 annual average occupancy for Basalt was 55.4%, which aligns with the national median. The annual average ADR of $326 in 2025 is substantially above the US STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the Aspen-corridor premium and the affluent visitor profile this market attracts.
Among property managers active in the market, KEYLINK leads with 61 listings and 5,755 reviews at a 4.76 average rating. Boutique Mountain Homes operates 28 listings with 2,598 reviews and a 4.85 rating. PONDEROSA LODGE holds 25 listings with 5,007 reviews at a 4.83 rating. Evolve manages 22 listings and Vacasa 17. The top 5 operators together account for 153 listings, or roughly 14% of total market supply, indicating a fragmented market without a single dominant manager.
Basalt’s revenue growth score of 46.2 and seasonality score of 64.4 suggest the market is moderately seasonal and that revenue growth has moderated from its post-2020 peak, consistent with the broader normalization seen across Colorado mountain STR markets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Basalt, Colorado
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