Carbondale, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Carbondale STRs need primary residence status; Roaring Fork Valley September 2026 shows $327 ADR, 61.4% occupancy, $5,335 monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Carbondale, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Glenwood Springs market area is 61%. average monthly revenue in the Glenwood Springs market area is $5,335. average daily rate in the Glenwood Springs market area is $327. 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 restricts short-term rentals to owners’ primary residences and to properties in the Historic Commercial Core, so most investor purchases cannot be licensed. Carbondale sits in the Roaring Fork Valley, 30 miles from Aspen and beneath 12,953-foot Mount Sopris, and has a population of 6,868. Short-term rental performance is reported for a shared regional submarket, so every performance number on this page describes the Roaring Fork Valley STR market rather than Carbondale alone. In September 2026, the Roaring Fork Valley STR market averaged an ADR of $327, occupancy of 61.4%, and monthly revenue of $5,335 per listing. Entire-home ADR was $337. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 8.2%, ADR rose 4.4%, and revenue rose 9.0%. Summing the twelve seasonal monthly averages gives annualized revenue of $46,410. Year to date through September 2026, the market is running at 55.4% occupancy, a $340 ADR, and $5,100 in monthly revenue, against 55.2%, $327, and $4,886 for all of 2025. Occupancy peaked at 63.6% in 2021 and has settled in the mid 50s since 2024, while ADR has climbed from $184 in 2017 to $327 in 2025, so recent growth has come from rate rather than volume. Demand comes from outdoor recreation (hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and fly-fishing on the Roaring Fork, Crystal, Frying Pan and Colorado rivers) and from arts visitors drawn to the Powers Art Center and the Carbondale Mountain Fair in late July. The town also serves as a more affordable lodging base for visitors to Aspen and Snowmass. Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts and top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Carbondale, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 51% |
| Feb | 55% |
| Mar | 57% |
| Apr | 37% |
| May | 53% |
| Jun | 69% |
| Jul | 75% |
| Aug | 64% |
| 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 permits short-term rentals, but access is restricted and enforcement is rated strict. A Short Term Rental License from the Town of Carbondale is required for any rental of a whole property or portion for periods under 30 consecutive days. Licenses are issued only to an owner’s primary residence, where the owner resides at least 183 days a year, or to properties in the Historic Commercial Core zone district. Non-owner-occupied rentals outside that zone are capped at 50 licenses, with additional applicants placed on a waitlist and no new licenses beyond the cap. Community Housing Program units are ineligible, and HOA or private covenants may restrict rentals regardless of a town license. License fees are $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 renew with the same documentation and an in-person Building Department inspection. Operators must keep a 24/7 local contact who responds within 60 minutes and must show the license number in all advertisements. Occupancy is capped at two people per room plus two additional per property, with children under 5 excluded. Lodging taxes total 8%, made up of a 6% short-term rental tax and a 2% lodging tax, plus a 3.5% lodging sales tax. Zero-return filing is required. Penalties include $25 non-filer charges, $10 late fees, a 10% delinquency penalty, and 1.5% monthly interest. The 6% tax took effect January 1, 2023, with revenue earmarked for affordable housing. Always confirm current rules with the town before buying.
Market Comparison
In September 2026, the Roaring Fork Valley STR market posted 61.4% occupancy and a $327 ADR. The weakest seasonal months are April at 36.8% and November at 39.7%, so the market relies on strong summer and winter stretches. July reaches 75.4%. Year-over-year growth of 8.2% in occupancy, 4.4% in ADR, and 9.0% in revenue shows the market is still expanding. The main difference from many markets is supply access. Carbondale limits licenses to primary residences and the Historic Commercial Core, with a 50 license cap on non-owner-occupied rentals outside the core, so investors face tighter entry than in open markets. Typical home value of $1,465,714 also makes entry expensive. Top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Carbondale, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carbondale, Colorado
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