Idaho Springs, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Idaho Springs CO STRs averaged $280/night in April 2026 with peak-winter occupancy reaching 59%, but a strict 15-license citywide cap applies.
Quick Answer: Idaho Springs, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Winter Park/Idaho Springs market area is 57%. average monthly revenue in the Winter Park/Idaho Springs market area is $3,584. average daily rate in the Winter Park/Idaho Springs market area is $310. the top operator in the Winter Park/Idaho Springs market area is Evolve with 240 listings. market score is 42/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Winter Park/Idaho Springs regional market, which includes Idaho Springs. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Idaho Springs.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Idaho Springs, CO is a historic gold-rush mining town in Clear Creek County, approximately 30 miles west of Denver along I-70. With a residential population of approximately 1,782, it is one of the smallest markets in this data set. Visitors are drawn by whitewater rafting on Clear Creek, the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway (the highest paved auto road in North America), the Argo Mill and Tunnel, Indian Hot Springs, and the compact Miner Street historic district. The market has a distinct dual-season pattern driven by ski proximity in winter and outdoor recreation in summer.
April 2026 data shows a 21.1% occupancy rate and a $280 average daily rate, yielding a RevPAR of $59.05. April is the post-ski trough in this market; the multi-year average April occupancy is 27.5%, so April 2026 ran approximately 6 percentage points below the historical seasonal average. Year-over-year in April, occupancy fell 26.5% and revenue fell 17.4%, reflecting a difficult comparison against April 2025 and a soft post-ski period. Investors should interpret the April data in seasonal context rather than as a trend indicator.
Tracked listings total approximately 3,254. Entire-place rentals dominate at 3,212, with private rooms at just 42 and no shared rooms recorded. Two-bedroom units are the most common at 1,104, followed by three-bedroom (925), one-bedroom (649), four-bedroom (401), and five-bedroom-plus (173). The majority of listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO (2,293), with 733 exclusive to Airbnb and 228 to VRBO.
The composite market score is 41.7, reflecting the constraints of the primary-residence-only requirement and reported 15-license cap that limit the total addressable market for investors.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 52% |
| Feb | 59% |
| Mar | 59% |
| Apr | 27% |
| May | 37% |
| Jun | 58% |
| Jul | 61% |
| Aug | 45% |
| Sep | 40% |
| Oct | 34% |
| Nov | 39% |
| Dec | 56% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Idaho Springs are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Winter Park/Idaho Springs market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Winter Park/Idaho Springs market as a whole, which includes Idaho Springs, so these counts are not Idaho Springs-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 240 | 12,993 | ★ 4.80 |
| 2 | Winter Park Escapes | 239 | 8,687 | ★ 4.83 |
| 3 | StayWinterPark | 217 | 3,890 | ★ 4.68 |
| 4 | Vacasa | 136 | 4,989 | ★ 4.53 |
| 5 | RedAwning | 119 | 250 | ★ 4.64 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Idaho Springs?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Idaho Springs 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 | 22.5% |
| vrbo | 7% |
| both | 70.5% |
Home Value Trends (Idaho Springs)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Idaho Springs 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 Idaho Springs — 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
Idaho Springs has one of the most restrictive STR frameworks in the Colorado mountain corridor. Under Municipal Code Chapter 9, Article XIV, short-term rentals (defined as rentals under 30 consecutive days) may only operate in the operator’s primary residence. Non-owner-occupied investor properties cannot hold a license. Applicants must prove primary residency via a valid driver’s license or state ID plus voter registration, vehicle registration, or tax documents. A person may hold only one license.
Licenses run on a calendar-year basis and renew annually. The city reports a citywide cap of approximately 15 active STR licenses at any time, which is exceptionally restrictive for a jurisdiction with 1,782 residents. Properties must pass an inspection before the initial license and every three years thereafter, and must have working smoke and CO detectors plus a fire extinguisher. The operator or a local agent within 50 miles must be reachable and respond to guests within 3 hours. Outdoor open burning is prohibited. Annual notarized tax-compliance affidavits are required.
On taxes, Idaho Springs levies a 2% local tax, layered over Colorado state and Clear Creek County taxes totaling 10.55%, plus a 2% county lodging tax. The license fee amount was not published in the ordinance; confirm with the City Clerk (303-567-4421). Enforcement is rated moderate. No major ordinance changes were identified since the original adoption circa 2018, but the fee schedule is updated periodically.
Market Comparison
Idaho Springs’ April 2026 occupancy of 21.1% is far below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, but April is the market’s seasonal trough. Peak months of February and July reach 59-61% occupancy, which is competitive with national norms. The $280 ADR is above the national STR median of roughly $220, consistent with a mountain destination that commands premium rates even at lower occupancy.
Compared to other Clear Creek County and Colorado mountain markets, Idaho Springs is distinguished more by its regulatory constraints than its demand profile. The reported 15-license cap means the market is not comparable to Breckenridge or Steamboat in terms of investable scale, but the per-property revenue potential for compliant primary-residence operators is meaningful.
The top property managers reflect the mountain-recreation character of the corridor. Evolve leads with 240 listings (rated 4.80 with 12,993 reviews), followed closely by Winter Park Escapes (239 listings, rated 4.83 with 8,687 reviews), StayWinterPark (217 listings, rated 4.68 with 3,890 reviews), Vacasa (136 listings, rated 4.53 with 4,989 reviews), and RedAwning (119 listings, rated 4.64 with 250 reviews). The Winter Park-branded operators suggest this data area covers the broader Clear Creek and Grand County mountain corridor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Idaho Springs, Colorado
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Does Idaho Springs require a permit for short-term rentals?
What taxes apply to Idaho Springs short-term rentals?
Which months are strongest for Idaho Springs vacation rentals?
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Can investors buy a property in Idaho Springs specifically to operate as a vacation rental?
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