What is the cost for a cabin in estes park? Let’s breakdown the costs for cabins in different parts of estes park. We will break down pricing by season to help yo uundestand the costs and prices associated with each season for visiting estes park and staying in a cabin.

When you start planning a trip up to the mountains the first thing you probly think about is where your gonna stay and how much it will cost you. Estes Park is one of those places that everyone wants to visit because its right next to Rocky Mountain National Park and the scenery is just incredible but the prices can be a bit of a shock if your not prepared for them. I have been up there many times and I can tell you that the price of a cabin changes a lot depending on when you go and exactly where you want to be located in the town. Its not a simple answer of just saying a cabin costs two hundred dollars a night because sometimes it might be five hundred and other times it might be one hundred.

The main thing that drives the price is the season you choose to visit. If you try to book a cabin in the middle of July you are going to pay the highest prices of the entire year because that is when every family in the country seems to be on vacation and wants to see the mountains. The weather is perfect in the summer and everything is open so the demand is huge and the cabin owners know they can charge more. But if you wait until November or maybe April you can find some really good deals because the town is much quieter and there arent as many tourists walking around the streets. I definatly prefer the quieter times even if the weather is a bit colder because you can save so much money on your lodging.

Another big factor is the size of the cabin and what kind of amenities it has inside. A small one bedroom cabin that is rustic and maybe a little older is going to be way cheaper than a brand new luxury cabin with a hot tub and a view of the river. You have to decide what is important to you and if you really need that hot tub or if you can live without it to save a few hundred bucks. I usually try to find something in the middle that is comfortable but not over the top fancy because I spend most of my time hiking anyway.

Seasonal Price Breakdown

To help you get a better idea of what you might pay I put together this little breakdown of the seasons. The prices flucuate a lot so these are just estimates based on what I have seen lately.

You can see from the table that summer is the most expensive time to go. I honestly try to avoid going in July unless I am camping because the cabin prices are just too crazy for my budget. If you have kids and have to go during school break then you might not have a choice but just be ready to pay a premium for it.

Summer Pricing The summer months from June to August are when Estes Park is absolutly packed with people. The prices for cabins reflect this and you will be lucky to find anything decent for under three hundred dollars a night. Most of the nice cabins with views or near the river will be well over four hundred or even five hundred dollars a night. It is supply and demand at work and since there is a limited number of cabins and a unlimited number of people who want to visit the prices go up. If you are planning a summer trip you need to book way in advance like six months out or you might not find anything at all. I learned this the hard way one year when I tried to book a last minute trip in July and everything was sold out except for one really expensive place that I couldnt afford.

Fall Pricing Fall is actually my favorite time to visit because the elk are bugling and the aspen trees are turning gold. A lot of people think the prices drop right after Labor Day but that is not really true anymore because so many people come up for the elk rut. The prices in September and October are almost as high as the summer especially on the weekends. You might find slightly better deals during the week but dont expect a huge discount until late October or November. The weather is usually really nice in the fall which makes it a popular time for couples and older folks who arent tied to the school schedule.

Winter Pricing If you want a real bargain you should look at visiting in the winter. From November through April the town is much slower and a lot of the shops might even close early or be closed for the season. This is when you can find cabins for as low as one hundred and fifty dollars a night or sometimes even less if you catch a special deal. It is cold and snowy so you have to be prepared for that but it is also very peaceful and beautiful with the snow on the mountains. I love renting a cabin with a fireplace in the winter and just reading a book while the snow falls outside. It is a totally different vibe than the busy summer crowds.

Spring Pricing Spring is kind of a mixed bag because the weather can be really unpredictable. One day it might be sixty degrees and sunny and the next day it could snow a foot. May is usually when things start to pick up again and prices start to creep up towards the summer rates. You can still find some decent deals in early May but by Memorial Day weekend the prices will be back up to peak levels. I think late May is a good time to go if you want to beat the summer rush but still have decent weather for hiking.

Location Matters

Where the cabin is located in Estes Park also makes a big difference in the price. Generally speaking anything that is right on the river or right downtown is going to cost more.

• Riverfront Cabins Everyone wants to stay on the river because it is so relaxing to listen to the water rushing by. The cabins on the Big Thompson River or Fall River usually charge a premium for that location. You pay for the ambiance and the view. I think it is worth it if you plan to spend a lot of time hanging out at the cabin but if you are just sleeping there you might not want to pay the extra cost.
• Downtown Staying within walking distance of Elkhorn Avenue which is the main street is also very popular. People like being able to walk to dinner or to the shops without having to drive and find parking. Parking in downtown Estes can be a nightmare in the summer so paying extra for a walkable cabin might actually save you some stress.
• Secluded Cabins If you are willing to stay a little further out of town or up on the side of a mountain you can sometimes find better prices. These cabins are usually quieter and more private but you will have to drive everywhere you want to go. I personally like the secluded spots because I go to the mountains to get away from people not to be surrounded by them.

Hidden Costs You Need to Know About

When you are looking at the price of a cabin online you have to be careful because the nightly rate is rarely the final price you pay. There are almost always extra fees added on at the end that can increase the total cost by quite a bit. It is really annoying when you think you found a cheap place and then you see the final total is hundreds of dollars more.

Cleaning Fees This is the big one that catches people off guard. Most cabin rentals charge a one time cleaning fee that can range from fifty dollars for a small cabin to over three hundred dollars for a large home. It doesnt matter if you stay one night or one week the fee is usually the same. This means that short stays are much more expensive per night when you factor in the cleaning fee. If you can stay for a few more nights it helps spread that cost out and makes the nightly average lower.

Taxes You also have to pay taxes on your rental just like you would at a hotel. In Estes Park the taxes can add up to around twelve or thirteen percent of the total bill. This includes sales tax and lodging tax and it is something you cant avoid. Make sure you calculate this into your budget so you arent suprised when you get the bill.

Service Fees If you book through a big site like Airbnb or Vrbo they charge a service fee to the guest which is basically how they make their money. This fee can be anywhere from ten to fifteen percent of the booking cost. Sometimes you can save money by finding the property management company and booking directly through their website to avoid these extra service fees. I always try to google the name of the cabin or the management company to see if I can book direct.

Luxury vs Rustic

The type of experience you want will dictate the price tag too. There is a huge range of quality in Estes Park from old school rustic cabins to high end luxury homes.

Rustic Cabins These are usually smaller and might not have a dishwasher or a tv. They are great if you want a simple experience and want to save money. They are often charming and have a lot of character but they might be drafty in the winter or have older furniture. I dont mind rustic cabins because I think they feel more authentic to the mountain experience.

Luxury Rentals On the other end of the spectrum there are massive vacation homes with game rooms and hot tubs and gourmet kitchens. These are great for big families or groups of friends who want to split the cost. While the nightly rate might seem huge like eight hundred dollars if you split it between three families it might actually be affordable. Just remember that the bigger the house the bigger the cleaning fee usually is.

Tips for Getting the Best Price

If you are on a budget there are a few things you can do to try and get a cheaper rate on a cabin.

• Be Flexible with Dates If you can travel during the week instead of the weekend you will almost always save money. Sunday through Thursday nights are usually cheaper than Friday and Saturday nights. Also if you can travel in the off season like I mentioned earlier you will save a ton.
• Book Early The best (and cheapest) cabins always get booked first. If you wait until the last minute you will be left with only the expensive options or the really bad ones. Try to book at least three or four months in advance if you are going in the summer or fall.
• Look for Last Minute Deals Sometimes if a cabin isnt booked the owner will drop the price at the last minute to try and fill it. This is risky because you might not find anything but if you are flexible it can work out. I have found some great deals this way but I have also been stuck staying in a hotel because all the cabins were full.
• Check for Minimum Stays Many cabins have a minimum stay requirement especially in the summer. They might require you to book at least three nights or even a week. If you only want to stay for one or two nights you might have a hard time finding a place or you might have to pay a higher rate.

Is it Worth the Cost?

So is it worth paying three or four hundred dollars a night for a cabin? In my opinion yes it is totally worth it. There is something special about having your own space with a kitchen and a living room instead of just a hotel room with two beds. You can cook your own meals which saves money on eating out and you have space to relax after a long day of hiking. Plus waking up in a cabin surrounded by trees and mountains is just a cool experience that you cant get at a Motel 6.

If you are trying to decide between a hotel and a cabin just remember to factor in the cost of food. If you stay in a cabin you can go to the grocery store and make breakfast and dinner which can save a family of four like a hundred dollars a day. That savings can help offset the higher cost of the cabin rental.

Estes Park is an amazing place and staying in a cabin is the best way to experience it. Just do your research and undestand the seasonal price differences so you can plan a trip that fits your budget. Dont let the sticker shock scare you away because there are affordable options if you know where and when to look. I hope this breakdown helps you plan your next mountain adventure without spending your whole life savings on a place to sleep.

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