Steamboat Springs is coined “Ski Town USA” for a good reason! Not only does Steamboat offer world-class skiing with sought-after champagne powder snow, but the town has produced more Olympians than any other town. Need another reason to visit? There is more fun to be had in the summer, too!
Getting There: Steamboat Springs is located in the north western portion of Colorado, so you have a few methods of transportation to get you there. In the winter, many tourists fly into Denver International Airport (DIA) first, and then catch a small plane up to the Hayden Airport (HDN). From Hayden, it is roughly a 30-40 minute drive to Steamboat (weather dependent!)
Multiple flights too expensive for your taste? Not a problem. Many travelers fly into DIA and then make the rest of the journey in a car. From Denver, Steamboat is an estimated 3 hour drive. Road trippers be warned: the stretch of Highway 40 from Kremmling to Steamboat can be particularly brutal in the winter. Frequent wind gusts lend themselves to whiteout conditions, and dangerous visibility on Rabbit Ears pass can leave even the savviest driver stuck in Kremmling for the night!
Where to Stay: Steamboat is divided into two main sections of town: the mountain and downtown. Hotels exist in both areas, so it is really up to you to determine where you would prefer to sleep. Many “ski-out” condos and hotels are located on the mountain, providing avid skiers and boarders with wonderful accessibility to the gondola. The majority of winter lodging is located on the mountain, and some of the more notable hotels include the Ptarmigan Inn, the Steamboat Grand Hotel, or the Sheraton. Staying slopeside definitely has its perks when two feet of powder falls overnight!
Conversely, many travelers choose to stay downtown which is a tad bit cheaper and closer to the majority of bars and restaurants that locals frequent. Two favorites include Hotel Bristol and Rabbit Ears Motel.
How to Get Around: Getting around Steamboat couldn’t be easier, and you don’t even need to rent a car. The city of Steamboat provides a free bus that runs from downtown to the mountain. Bus stops are sca
ttered along Lincoln and Mt. Werner Road, advising visitors and locals where to wait. Some of the buses even have ski racks along the outside so catching a ride for you and your skis is definitely not a problem. The bus schedule does vary between winter and summer, so it is best to check it out ahead of time.
Once you are either downtown or on the mountain, your feet should be enough to get you around. Lincoln is the main street downtown, and almost all of the restaurants, hotels, and bars are located along this strip. Steamboat is a small town, so walking the length of Lincoln Street can easily be accomplished in 15 minutes. And if you happen to find yourself out later than the bus, don’t fret. Alpine Taxi is the taxi company du jour in Steamboat, and they can take you anywhere you need to go.
Where to Dine: Steamboat offers restaurants in all price ranges and styles of cuisine. If you are looking for some pizza or Italian food, Cugino’s Pizzeria is the place to go. After some Mexican food? Try The Rio, Tequila’s, or Fiesta Jalisco. Located on the mountain, Saketumi is the local sushi joint that provides delicious and unique rolls. Give the Mountain Mama roll a shot-it is definitely worth it!
If you are looking for a nice evening splurge, try The Cabin restaurant or Antares. The Cabin is located in the Grand Hotel and Antares is downtown, but both are definitely more expensive options for dinner. The atmosphere and fine dining will make you happy that you took the plunge!
Where to Drink: Downtown is definitely the place to be if you are looking for a night of friends and fun! If you happen to be visiting in the summer, head down towards the Yampa River and make a trip into Sunpies Bistro. Wander into the backyard of this converted house, pull up a chair and enjoy a Hurricane (or “Sluricane” as locals refer to the very strong drink!) while watching the Yampa flow by.
If you are out and about at night, Mahogany Ridge or The Ghost Ranch Saloon are the two bars that frequently have live music well into the wee hours of the morning.
What to Do: Get to the mountain! Almost all winter visitors come to Steamboat for the ski resort, and very rarely do they leave disappointed! The mountain has terrain for all abilities, and classes are offered for children as young as three-years-old. If you are a beginner, chances are that you should stay on the lower mountain where the trails are less
steep and tree covered. However, if skiing or riding is your thing, take the Gondola to the top of the mountain and head back to the Pony Express lift or the Morningside lift. If you’re confident in your abilities, be sure to check out a few tree runs while enjoying the snow—Steamboat is known for them!
If you are swinging through the Boat during the summer, there is still plenty of fun to be had in this outdoor mecca. Mountain biking is a favorite pastime, and the gondola is still open on the mountain if you want to take your bike up so you can enjoy the thrill of riding down. If you don’t love the thought of screaming down a mountain on a bike, Steamboat also has an alpine slide that is located at Howelsen Hill Ski Area, just next to the rodeo grounds. The slide is 2400 feet of fun!
After exhausting your body on the bumps and bangs of the day, definitely check out Strawberry Park Hot Springs. The hot springs are roughly 10 miles north of Steamboat, set back in a heavily wooded and secluded area. Nothing is more relaxing and beautiful than settling into the 104 degree pool while watching white snowflakes accumulate around. Sometimes the dirt road to the hot springs can be tricky in the winter, so definitely be prepared. If you are traveling with little ones or can’t make it to Strawberry Park, try the Old Town Hot Springs. Located on Lincoln Street downtown, OTHS is the local gym whose lap pool is also filled with the hot spring mineral water. The facility was recently renovated, so they now have multiple hot spring pools of varying temperature, as well as a water slide.
Written by guest writer, Heather Balogh, who has lived in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and frequently returns for visits. Read more from Heather on her blog, The World Through My Eyes.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Coming from a Steamboat local, you hit the nail on the head. Tons of fun both summer & winter although I think summers are what keep me around.
One suggestion on places to eat… Rex's American Bar & Grill is fantastic! Just around the corner from where I live to so I eat there a lot.
I agree with Dave – Rex's is a favorite of mine too. I also wanted to give a shout out to my own restaurant, Old Town Pub as we have TONS of live music as well (most of which is free). We pride ourselves on being a great spot in the Boat for burgers, brews, bands, bites. Love the blog BTW – I studied abroad in France 18 years ago and wish I had had this kind of resource back then. Rock on, Ladies! I–Lizzie Larock
I was there last weekend and enjoyed many of the activities that you mentioned. We did some single track mountain biking at the Howelsen Hill area. No gondola required and the uphill was not that bad
The alpine slide and Strawberry Park Hot Springs are a must. If you think you are lost getting to the , you are probably on the right track. It takes a little bit of a drive to a remote area. We stayed just south of downtown at the Fairfield Inn and had consistent accomodations for $99/night. Great review!