Steamboat Springs

We have the Ikon Pass and Steamboat Resort is on that pass. Steamboat is only 3 hours from Denver (without traffic), making it the perfect weekend getaway for us. We have been to Steamboat multiple times in both the summer and winter. Check out our Steamboat Springs travel guide below!

How we traveled there

We drove from Denver which ends up taking 4 hours with traffic. We drove over Rabbit Ears Pass on the way to Steamboat which has great hiking, snowmobiling, and views. Rabbit Ears Pass has closed in the past during bad snow storms but it usually opens back up in a few hours or one day. There are alternate routes to get to Steamboat if the pass is closed.

The Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN), is about 30 minutes from Steamboat and has expanded its service in the last few years. Check here to see if your city is listed and skip the drive from Denver.

Where we stayed

We have stayed in a few Airbnbs while in Steamboat. The town is called Steamboat Springs and there are more restaurants and bars in the town than around the resort. It is a 10-15 minute drive to the ski resort from the town. Staying in Steamboat Springs is great for nightlife.

Airbnbs in Steamboat Springs

• Airbnb – This place is really nice and a block off of the main street in downtown Steamboat Springs. It has 2 bedrooms, with 3 beds and one bathroom.

Staying near Steamboat Resort is more convenient for accessing the mountain but has limited restaurants and bars. Many condo buildings around the resort have a complimentary shuttle service that will take you to the base of the mountain and Steamboat Springs. We have used these shuttle services many times and had great experiences. There a minimal Uber/taxis, so it’s important to think this through ahead of time.

Airbnbs by the Steamboat Ski Resort

• Airbnb – We stayed here over the New Year holiday. It has two bedrooms; one with a queen bed and one with a bunk bed that has a single on the top and a double bed on the bottom. We also fit a blow-up queen bed in the living room. We took the free bus to the mountain but you could also walk which took around 15 minutes. This place allowed dogs.
• Airbnb – This place was a ski-in/ski-out with one bedroom. It had a big living room space, 2 bathrooms, and a small balcony. 
• Airbnb – This place was a 15-minute drive from the Steamboat Resort on the way up Rabbit Ears Pass. It was a good deal for a one-bedroom cabin feel with a fireplace.  

What activities we did

• Skiing Steamboat Resort – Steamboat is known for its ‘champagne powder’ snow during ski season.  This is because a local rancher said the snow tickled his nose like champagne which is where the name came from. It is a large resort with lots to explore. If you are driving to the mountain there is a free parking lot called The Meadows Parking Lot. The lot offers a free shuttle and gondola during ski season that will take you up to the base of the mountain. The Lower Knoll Parking Lot is closer but usually costs $10 per day and fills up fast. Our favorite part of the mountain is the upper right side. It takes a few runs to get to but ends up being less busy. When you’re skiing on the mountain go down Broadway and at the first sharp turn of the run, stop off to the left and hang out at the picnic table for an amazing view of the valley.
• Strawberry Park Hot Springs – 20-30 minutes away from Steamboat is one of the best hot springs in Colorado, called Strawberry Park Hot Springs. It has multiple pools with hot water at varying degrees and also one cold pool. It costs $20/pp for a 2 hour reservation. You must pay in cash (no ATMs or cell service) once you get to the hot springs. Make sure to book a reservation in advance to secure your spot because they sell out quickly. They usually release reservations a month in advance. We recommend bringing your own towel (or robe) since the towels they rent for an additional fee are small. They have bathrooms as well as a separate room closer to the springs that you can change in. I recommend bringing water shoes to wear between the different pools as it can be slippery. In the winter, you must have 4WD or AWD with snow tires or chains to get to the springs as they don’t plow the road. You can also rent a cabin for the night and access the hot springs after hours when clothing is optional.
• Old Town Hot Springs – If you don’t want to drive up to Strawberry Park Hot Springs then check out the hot springs right in Steamboat Springs. There are 8 pools of varying degrees as well as lap pools. It is very family-friendly with multiple slides but that means it is usually packed and noisier than Strawberry Hot Springs. We enjoy going to the hot springs after a long day of skiing to ease our muscles. It is $29/pp and no reservations are required. 
• Fish Creek Falls Trail – This is a great hike to see a waterfall with both an upper and lower trail. The upper trail has low elevation gain and only takes 15 minutes to get to the waterfall. The parking lot has a $5 per vehicle fee. In the winter the fall is frozen over but the hike is still pretty. 
• Steamboat Snowmobiling – I have done this tour twice and loved it both times. Part of the time is snowmobiling through trees on a trail, and the other part of the time is in a field where you can go faster. We did the 1.5-hour tour which is plenty of time. This company is located on Rabbit Ears Pass which makes it a great activity to do as you head to or leave Steamboat.

Where we ate

Steamboat has a few grocery stores if you want to cook at your condo. We usually do a mix of cooking at the condo and eating out – here are some of our recommendations:

Grocery Stores

• Wild Plum – We go here if we just need a few things and are staying by the resort
• City Market – This is a big grocery store in between downtown and the resort
• Natural Grocers – We go here if we’re staying in Steamboat Springs

Steamboat Springs

• Besame – Spanish-style tapas with a cool atmosphere, reservations recommended
• Salt & Lime – Mexican and an excellent option for breakfast or lunch
• Laundry – Small plates and craft cocktails. Reservations recommended.
• Aurum Food & Wine – It has an outdoor area with a firepit 
• Beau Jos – A casual/quick pizza place
• Back Door Grill – A casual place for burgers/sandwiches

Steamboat Ski Resort

• Thunderhead Red’s – This restaurant is halfway up the mountain. You can take a gondola or ski to it. 
• Rendezvous Lodge – It has typical ski lodge food options; pizza, chicken tenders, and fries. They also have drinks and an area to sit outside.
• Timberhead and Torch – This is at the base of the mountain. It is a good place to get a drink and watch people ski down.

Where we drank

Steamboat Springs

• The Press – A small bar that usually has live music with a small cover. It fills up quickly.
• O’Neil’s Tavern & Grill – We have watched sports at this bar. They have a large beer selection, ciders, and seltzers. The food was also tasty for bar food. 
• Schmiggity’s Live Music & Dance Bar – A mix of genres depending on the night and sometimes you need tickets.
• Sunpie’s Bistro – A casual dive bar

Steamboat Ski Resort

• T-Bar – You can ski right to this bar but it is also accessible if you are not skiing. They have music and sometimes a DJ. They serve some food but people mostly go here for drinks. There is limited indoor seating so most people sit outside at the picnic tables and Adirondack chairs. People typically end their ski day at this bar.

What we recommend knowing/preparing

• Steamboat Springs (the town) is a 15-minute drive from the Steamboat ski resort
• Many condos have complimentary shuttle services but you need to call ahead. 
• The resort also offers free buses that take you to the ski resort.
• It is a small town with limited lodging and restaurants so book ahead of time!
• For remote working, we have worked from most of the Airbnb’s on this list with no issues. We have also worked at Big Iron Coffee Co in Steamboat Springs and Apres Burger Bistro.

What we didn’t do but looked into

• Hippie Hot Springs – These are free hot springs in Steamboat Springs located on the Yampa River
• Howelson Hill – This is a smaller ski area in Steamboat Springs that has free skiing on Sundays
• Winter Wondergrass Festival – A winter music festival featuring bluegrass music and local beer

What we packed

• If you are skiing, bring your typical ski or snowboarding gear. At night the town is casual. We typically wear sweaters with jeans or leggings and boots in the winter.
• In the summer it is still casual. Many people are in hiking gear during the day and casual clothes at night. 

Check out our recommendations for travel clothing and essentials.

We hope you enjoyed our Steamboat Springs travel guide. Leave a comment below or contact us for any questions. If you are looking to explore more of Colorado, then you should also check out our post on Crested Butte.

~Elyse