Steamboat Springs, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Steamboat Springs STR market averaged $392/night ADR with 3,243 entire-place listings at a 49% annual occupancy rate.
Quick Answer: Steamboat Springs, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 15%. average monthly revenue is $2,749. average daily rate is $392. the top operator is Vacasa with 571 listings. market score is 41/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Steamboat Springs operates one of Colorado’s most established short-term rental markets, driven by Steamboat Ski Resort’s nearly 3,000 skiable acres and a year-round outdoor recreation draw. As of April 2026 data, the market carries an average daily rate of $392 across approximately 3,283 active listings, with entire-place units accounting for 3,243 of those (99%) and private rooms representing the remaining 40. The bedroom mix skews toward multi-room properties: 1-bedroom units account for 673 listings, 2-bedroom units lead at 1,216, 3-bedroom at 678, 4-bedroom at 503, and 5-bedroom-plus at 203. Channel distribution shows strong multi-platform presence: 2,490 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO simultaneously, with 567 Airbnb-only and 226 VRBO-only. Annual occupancy averaged 49.4% in 2025. April 2026 occupancy registered 15.3%, reflecting the market’s pronounced spring off-season, with ADR year-over-year up 9.3% and revenue year-over-year down 1.5%. The market’s overall score is 41.0 out of 100 (investability 63.6, rental demand 50.1, revenue growth 50.2, regulation 77.5, seasonality 41.2), reflecting the high entry cost and compressed seasonal demand cycle that characterize mountain resort STR markets.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61% | $494 | $7,631 |
| Feb | 70% | $535 | $8,911 |
| Mar | 65% | $531 | $9,434 |
| Apr | 20% | $326 | $2,278 |
| May | 37% | $276 | $2,094 |
| Jun | 50% | $310 | $2,949 |
| Jul | 54% | $331 | $4,323 |
| Aug | 44% | $310 | $3,725 |
| Sep | 39% | $280 | $2,846 |
| Oct | 27% | $260 | $2,180 |
| Nov | 31% | $295 | $2,044 |
| Dec | 56% | $523 | $5,154 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Steamboat Springs
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 571 | 22,671 | ★ 4.70 |
| 2 | Mountain Resorts | 302 | 3,678 | ★ 4.70 |
| 3 | Retreatia | 291 | 9,734 | ★ 4.57 |
| 4 | Moving Mountains | 157 | 468 | ★ 4.95 |
| 5 | Simply Steamboat | 132 | 984 | ★ 4.89 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Steamboat Springs?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 673 |
| 2 bed | 1,216 |
| 3 bed | 678 |
| 4 bed | 503 |
| 5 bed | 203 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $398 |
| Luxury | $940 |
| Professionally Managed | $428 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,353 |
| Entire Place | $2,769 |
| House | $5,127 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 17.3% |
| vrbo | 6.9% |
| both | 75.8% |
Investment Analysis
Entry costs in Steamboat Springs are significant: the typical home value stands at $1,302,689 (Zillow, April 2026), with a median sale price of $1,294,000 and 245 active for-sale listings. The sale-to-list ratio of 0.905 indicates sellers are regularly accepting below-ask offers, which provides some negotiating room. At 2025 annual average revenue of $6,278 per month ($75,336 annualized), the gross yield on a median-priced property is approximately 5.8%. That figure rises materially for well-managed or larger units: houses average $5,127 per month in April data, and professionally managed tier ADR reaches $428 vs. the market-wide $392. The luxury tier averages $940 per night ADR, though that cohort skews toward peak winter weeks. ADR grew 9.3% year-over-year in April 2026, partially offsetting a 1.5% revenue decline driven by lower April occupancy (-9.4% YoY). The investability score of 63.6 reflects the revenue potential relative to comparable mountain markets; the seasonality score of 41.2 is the primary drag, given the steep winter-to-spring demand cliff. Investors should model occupancy at approximately 49% annually with revenue concentrated in January through March and December.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Steamboat Springs guests book an average of 54.7 days in advance and stay an average of 4.58 nights per booking. The 55-day lead time reflects typical ski-vacation planning behavior: winter bookings are often placed in October and November for January and February stays. This booking window gives operators meaningful pricing leverage for winter inventory, as demand is relatively inelastic once peak ski weeks are identified. The 4.6-night average length of stay aligns with a standard weekend-extension ski trip (Thursday through Monday). For operators, this means turnover rates of approximately 5 to 6 stays per month during peak season, with housekeeping and maintenance scheduling needing to be locked in advance. During shoulder months (May, September, October), last-minute bookings become more common as demand is less predictable; dynamic pricing tools tend to outperform static rack rates in those windows.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Steamboat Springs enforces one of the more structured STR licensing frameworks among Colorado resort towns. Any host advertising or renting a property for fewer than 30 consecutive nights must hold a city-issued STR license obtained through the CityView Portal before accepting bookings. Licenses renew annually at approximately $250 per year. The city divides its territory into three overlay zones adopted in June 2022 (Ordinances 2856-2858). Zone A (green) allows unlimited STR licenses with no unit cap. Zone B (yellow) caps units per subzone and currently issues new licenses only for properties with grandfathered or legally nonconforming status. Zone C (red) prohibits new STR licenses outright, with narrow exceptions for pre-existing vacation home rental permits. Three license categories exist: a standard STR (owner not present), a Hosted STR (one guestroom up to 400 sq ft, owner present during stays), and a Temporary STR (primary residence, owner not present, capped at 2 stays and 30 cumulative days per year). Hosted and Temporary STRs are exempt from Zone B caps and Zone C restrictions. Occupancy is capped at one person per 150 sq ft (minimum 2, maximum 16 guests). Hosts must maintain a local responsible party reachable within one hour. The city levies a 9% STR accommodations tax (effective January 2023) on top of standard sales taxes. Owner-occupied and primary-residence requirements do not apply to the standard STR license. Enforcement is classified as strict. A September 2025 council amendment added a pre-summons notice requirement for Zone A operators, while the direct-cite policy remains for Zone B and C violators.
Market Comparison
Steamboat Springs carries a higher ADR ($392 in April, $452 annual 2025 average) than the U.S. STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium pricing typical of established mountain resort destinations. Annual occupancy of 49.4% in 2025 runs below the U.S. median of roughly 55%, a direct consequence of the spring and fall troughs that characterize ski-only or ski-primary markets. RevPAR in April 2026 was $60.11. The management landscape is dominated by established property management companies. Vacasa leads the market with 571 listings and 22,671 reviews (4.70 rating). Mountain Resorts holds 302 listings (4.70 rating), and Retreatia manages 291 listings (4.57 rating). Moving Mountains operates 157 listings with a 4.95 rating, the highest in the top 5. Simply Steamboat rounds out the top 5 with 132 listings and a 4.89 rating. Combined, the top 5 operators account for 1,453 listings, representing approximately 44% of the estimated 3,283-listing market. Self-managed operators retain a meaningful share, particularly for owners who can absorb off-season vacancy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Steamboat Springs, Colorado
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