How much does it cost to travel to Sun Valley?
You should plan to spend around $184 per day on your vacation in Sun Valley. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $48 on meals
- $61 on local transportation
- $189 on hotels
A one week trip to Sun Valley for two people costs, on average, $2,570. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Sun Valley has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Sun Valley expensive to visit?
Prices in Sun Valley are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Sun Valley is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Galveston or Victoria.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Sun Valley Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Sun Valley?
The average Sun Valley trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Sun Valley travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
$189
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
$61
|
|
Food 2
|
$48
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
$42
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
$25 -
74
|
Accommodation Budget in Sun Valley
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Sun Valley is $95. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Sun Valley is $189. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Sun Valley? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Sun Valley
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Sun Valley is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $61 per person, per day, on local transportation in Sun Valley.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$61
How much does it cost to go to Sun Valley? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Sun Valley will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Sun Valley
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Sun Valley can vary, the average cost of food in Sun Valley is $48 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Sun Valley should cost around $19 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Sun Valley is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$48
Entertainment Budget in Sun Valley
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Sun Valley typically cost an average of $42 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$42
Alcohol Budget in Sun Valley
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $49 on alcoholic beverages in Sun Valley per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$49
Sun Valley On a Budget
Sun Valley, Idaho
Sun Valley is a beautiful resort city in the Wood River Valley area of Idaho, most famous for becoming a snowy wonderland every winter. The area was actually named the 2nd best ski resort by
Ski Magazine and was a favorite place of escape for Ernest Hemingway. Whether you visit in winter or summer, you're always met with beautiful scenery that's perfect for exploring. The best time of year for winter activities is December-March, while June-August is best for hiking and exploring the area.
Sights
Summertime in Sun Valley offers some of the most beautiful sights in the state, especially when wandering one of the many trails. If you prefer leisurely walks through the wilderness, walk along Trail Creek where you're met with gorgeous wildflowers and a chance at spotting wildlife. For something more adventurous, head to the Sawtooth Mountain trails where you're surrounded by large mountains and beautiful lakes. Explore the Craters of the Moon, an area built by volcanoes that became a protected area in 1924 due to its incredible landscape. In this high desert environment, you'll find volcanic rifts, cinder cones, and lava tube caves which you can explore on a hike or a guided tour. For literary fans, you can go to the Ernest Hemingway Memorial in town which serves as a homage to the novelist who loved to spend months in Sun Valley, fishing and writing.
Neighborhoods
Situated in the beautiful Wood River Valley, Sun Valley is one of the more famous towns of the area. Sun Valley is also the key resort town in the region, meaning it has the most accommodation and restaurant options. Aside from Sun Valley, there are four other towns in the Valley: Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum, and Fairfield. Bellevue is often considered the gateway to Sun Valley and features a quaint old town and picturesque natural scenery. Hailey is where you'll find the majority of year round residents of the region and is also home to the Sun Valley Airport. Ketchum is a town that is quickly becoming the next Sun Valley; it offers great accommodation options and sits at the base of Bald Mountain, which is perfect for outdoor activities. Fairfield is located in the center of the Camas Prairie and calls itself the best small ski town yet to be discovered.
Activities
Sun Valley is known for being the ideal winter escape thanks to all of the winter sports and activities you can do there. One of the most popular winter activities is skiing and visitors have over 3,400 feet of terrain to ski through. The ski trails range from family friendly slopes to intense backcountry trails, all of which are perfectly maintained and see great snow conditions. During winter, you can also snowboard, ice skate, and even go for a sleigh ride in the snow. Summer in Sun Valley bring a lot of sunshine, making it the perfect place for all sorts of outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and horseback riding. One of the best places for hiking is the Sawtooth Mountains, which are perfect for rock climbing and hiking along the paths that wind through the mountains to the beautiful lakes. If you prefer something a little more relaxed, head to the Silver Creek Preserve to fish for some trophy trout or to just relax on the shore.
Food and Dining
Sun Valley offers a wide range of restaurants and bistros that range from relaxed lodges to mountaintop fine dining. No matter what the cuisine, restaurants focus on using mostly organic and local products for all of their dishes. Speaking of cuisine, there are plenty of choices in the area, including Mexican, Italian, and American. Sun Valley is the perfect place for a beer connoisseur as they have 4 breweries in the area, including the Sawtooth Brewery and the Sun Valley Brewing Company.
Transportation
There are two airports you can fly into, Friedman Memorial Airport and
Boise Airport, both of which have a shuttle services which take you right into the resort. You can also easily drive in to the resort as the highways and roads leading into the area are well maintained. Getting around Sun Valley can be done entirely on foot or by using the free Mountain Rides Transportation Authority bus service.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.