Carbondale, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Carbondale CO STRs averaged $267/night in April 2026 (off-peak mud season), with July peak occupancy historically reaching 75.7% at $276/night.
Quick Answer: Carbondale, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Glenwood Springs market area is 67%. average monthly revenue in the Glenwood Springs market area is $5,815. average daily rate in the Glenwood Springs market area is $352. the top operator in the Glenwood Springs market area is KEYLINK with 61 listings. market score is 45/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Glenwood Springs regional market, which includes Carbondale. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Carbondale.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Carbondale is a small town of approximately 6,868 residents situated in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley, 30 miles from Aspen beneath 12,953-foot Mount Sopris. It serves as a more affordable lodging base for visitors to Aspen and Snowmass and draws outdoor recreation visitors year-round for hiking, mountain biking, fly-fishing across four rivers, and cross-country skiing. The town is also a Certified Colorado Creative District, hosting events such as the Carbondale Mountain Fair in late July.
The short-term rental market totals approximately 1,082 active listings. Entire-place units account for 1,024, private rooms for 58. One-bedroom units lead by listing count at 367, followed by two-bedrooms (253), three-bedrooms (234), four-bedrooms (144), and five-bedrooms (80). The channel split is distinctive: 544 listings are cross-listed on both Airbnb and VRBO (50.3% of market supply), 433 appear on Airbnb only, and 105 on VRBO only.
The April 2026 data (35.7% occupancy, $267.31 ADR, RevPAR $95.28) reflects the spring mud-season trough, which is historically the weakest period in mountain Colorado markets. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 55.4% and ADR of $326 are more representative of full-year performance. Year-over-year through April 2026, occupancy improved 5.3 percentage points and ADR rose 2.5%. The market’s composite score is 45.3 out of 100, driven by a strong rental demand component (80.5) but weighed down by revenue growth (46.2) and a strict regulatory environment (56.9).
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 51% |
| Feb | 55% |
| Mar | 57% |
| Apr | 37% |
| May | 53% |
| Jun | 69% |
| Jul | 76% |
| Aug | 65% |
| Sep | 60% |
| Oct | 50% |
| Nov | 40% |
| Dec | 55% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Carbondale are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Glenwood Springs market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Glenwood Springs market as a whole, which includes Carbondale, so these counts are not Carbondale-only figures.
| # | 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 Carbondale?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Carbondale are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 40% |
| vrbo | 9.7% |
| both | 50.3% |
Home Value Trends (Carbondale)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Carbondale are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Carbondale — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Carbondale requires a Short Term Rental License for any rental of a whole property or portion for periods under 30 consecutive days. The licensing program is among the more restrictive in Colorado.
Eligibility is limited to two categories: (1) an owner’s primary residence, where the owner resides at the property at least 183 days per year, or (2) properties located in the Historic Commercial Core (HCC) zone district. Non-owner-occupied rentals outside the HCC are capped at 50 licenses total, with additional applicants placed on a waitlist. No further non-owner-occupied licenses outside the HCC are issued once the cap is reached. Primary residence is required for most license holders. Community Housing Program units are ineligible. HOA or private covenants may impose further restrictions regardless of a town license.
License fees are structured per bedroom: $100 per bedroom (maximum $400) for owner-occupied properties and $175 per bedroom (maximum $875) for non-owner-occupied properties. Licenses expire one year after issuance and require renewal with documentation and a Building Department inspection. Operators must maintain a 24/7 local contact who responds within 60 minutes and must display the license number in all advertisements. Occupancy is capped at two persons per room plus two additional per property.
On the tax side, STR operators owe a 6% short-term rental tax (effective January 1, 2023, with revenue earmarked for affordable housing) plus a 2% lodging tax and 3.5% lodging sales tax, totaling approximately 11.5% in combined tax obligations. Enforcement is rated strict, with $25 non-filer charges, $10 late fees, a 10% delinquency penalty, and 1.5% monthly interest on unpaid amounts.
Market Comparison
Carbondale’s April 2026 occupancy of 35.7% reflects a calendar trough rather than sustained market weakness. The 2025 annual average of 55.4% is near the US STR median occupancy of approximately 55%, indicating the market performs at national norms on a full-year basis. The April 2026 ADR of $267.31 is approximately 22% above the US median ADR of around $220, reflecting the Colorado mountain premium even in the off-season.
The market’s composite score of 45.3 is below the national midpoint, with the low total score driven by below-average revenue growth (46.2) and regulatory restrictiveness (56.9). Rental demand at 80.5 is strong, indicating real visitor interest in the area. Investability at 60.1 is moderate but the high home value ($1.4M typical) and regulatory constraints on non-owner-occupied properties limit the accessible investor base.
Among property managers, KEYLINK leads with 61 listings, the highest review volume among local operators at 5,755 reviews, and a 4.76 average rating. Boutique Mountain Homes holds 28 listings with a 4.85 rating across 2,598 reviews. PONDEROSA LODGE manages 25 listings with 5,007 reviews and a 4.83 rating. Evolve, the national platform manager, operates 22 listings at 4.74, and Vacasa holds 17 listings at a 4.62 average rating. The top five operators collectively manage 153 listings, representing approximately 14.1% of the 1,082-listing market, a higher concentration than the California markets in this dataset.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carbondale, Colorado
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How much revenue can a short-term rental generate in Carbondale?
Does Carbondale require a permit for short-term rentals?
What is the tax rate for Carbondale short-term rentals?
How far in advance do guests book Carbondale vacation rentals?
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