Major city · United States
Sun ValleySun Valley, Idaho
Give Sun Valley 3 nights: one ski or hike day on Baldy, one Ketchum day on foot, one Sawtooth drive. Base in Ketchum, not the resort village.
Sun Valley is a small resort village at about 1,830 m next to Ketchum, in central Idaho's Blaine County. Winter means skiing on Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain; summer means hiking, mountain biking, fly-fishing and rafting in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. It is a car-and-shuttle destination, not a walkable big city, and it is expensive: most workers commute from Twin Falls. Three nights covers the core; five if you add Stanley or a rafting day.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Jan–Mar (ski), Jul–Sep (hike, bike, fish)
- avoid Apr–May and Nov (mud season, lifts and trails closed)
- Airports
- SUN · BOI
- Nights
- 3
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Sun Valley911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Sun Valley, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyVery safe for tourists; the real risks are winter road conditions on ID-75, altitude on day one, and wildlife or weather on trails.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportSUN Friedman Memorial Airport (Hailey) (About 20 km (12 mi) south of Ketchum; small planes from Boise, Seattle, Los Angeles, Oakland and Salt Lake City.SUN Friedman Memorial Airport (Hailey) (About 12 mi (20 km) south of Ketchum; small planes from Boise, Seattle, Los Angeles, Oakland and Salt Lake City.
- Getting aroundMountain Rides runs a free year-round bus in and around Sun Valley and Ketchum, with a small fare (about $2 round trip) to Hailey and Bellevue.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$4–7
- Sit-down mealSit-down dinner mainAdd 18–22% tip and sales tax.$25–45
- Street or quick mealDeli sandwich or burger$14–22
- BeerDraught beer$7–10
- Budget bedHostel or motel bed, a night, per personUS$60
- Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomUS$240
- High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomUS$420
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$120 · Mid US$250 · High US$500
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SUN Friedman Memorial Airport (Hailey) (About 20 km (12 mi) south of Ketchum; small planes from Boise, Seattle, Los Angeles, Oakland and Salt Lake City. Check current routes and times.) · BOI Boise Air Terminal (About 2.5–3 h by car; the usual fallback when SUN flights do not fit.)SUN Friedman Memorial Airport (Hailey) (About 12 mi (20 km) south of Ketchum; small planes from Boise, Seattle, Los Angeles, Oakland and Salt Lake City. Check current routes and times.) · BOI Boise Air Terminal (About 2.5–3 h by car; the usual fallback when SUN flights do not fit.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
Feb
Best
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Mar
Best
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Apr
Avoid
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
May
Avoid
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Jun
not flagged
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jul
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Aug
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Sep
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Oct
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Nov
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Dec
not flagged
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
Best: Jan–Mar, Jul–Sep. Avoid: Apr–May, Nov. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)), coolest Jan (−12°C (10°F)10°F (−12°C) low), wettest Jan (9 rain days), driest Jul (4). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Sun Valley: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
−12°C (10°F)10°F (−12°C)
9 rd
Feb
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C)
8 rd
Mar
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
8 rd
Apr
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
7 rd
May
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
8 rd
Jun
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
6 rd
Jul
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
4 rd
Aug
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
4 rd
Sep
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
5 rd
Oct
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
6 rd
Nov
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
8 rd
Dec
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
−12°C (10°F)10°F (−12°C)
9 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Mountain Rides runs a free year-round bus in and around Sun Valley and Ketchum, with a small fare (about $2 round trip) to Hailey and Bellevue. Ketchum is walkable and a paved path links it to the resort village. For the Sawtooth area, Stanley, trailheads and rafting put-ins you need a car; rent in Boise or at SUN if available.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Stanley and the Sawtooth Mountains
goDoor to door: 1.5–2 h each way
Drive ID-75 north over Galena Summit, about 100 km (62 mi)Drive ID-75 north over Galena Summit, about 62 mi (100 km)
Leave early; the summit viewpoint and Redfish Lake are the stops. Full day, or sleep one night.
Custer Ghost Town and the Yankee Fork
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h each way
Drive ID-75 north, then the Yankee Fork road past Sunbeam
Gravel at the end; pairs well with a Stanley overnight.
Arco and Craters of the Moon
overnightDoor to door: 2.5–3 h each way
Drive south via US-20, about 180 km (112 mi)Drive south via US-20, about 112 mi (180 km)
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep in Arco.
Salmon and the Salmon River
overnightDoor to door: 3.5–4 h each way
Drive ID-75 north to Challis, then US-93
Rafting and fishing country; a separate trip, not a day trip.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Ketchum
Restaurants, bars and shops on foot; walk or bike path to the resort village, about 1.5 km (0.9 mi).Restaurants, bars and shops on foot; walk or bike path to the resort village, about 0.9 mi (1.5 km).
Sun Valley resort village
Lodge, ice rink and lifts at the door; quiet at night, everything costs more.
Hailey and Bellevue
Cheaper beds 15–25 min south, next to the airport; you need a car.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $120–180 excl. bed
- Mid
- $220–350 excl. bed
- High
- $450+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range double room1 × 3 nights × US$240 | US$720 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × US$250 | US$1,500 |
| Car rental, per day1 × US$90 | US$90 |
| Mountain Rides bus, per day2 × US$2 · check | US$4 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20 | US$40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$235 |
| Trip total≈ US$432 per person per day, bed included | US$2,589 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; flights and lift tickets excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $4–7 |
| Deli sandwich or burger | $14–22 |
| Sit-down dinner mainAdd 18–22% tip and sales tax. | $25–45 |
| Draught beer | $7–10 |
| Single-day lift ticket, peak seasoncheck; book online ahead | $180–250 |
| Full-day mountain-bike rentalcheck | $80–130 |
| Guided fly-fishing half daycheck | $250–400 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Altitude: the valley floor is about 1,830 m. Take day one easy, drink water, expect headaches.
- Winter driving: ID-75 over Galena Summit can close or need chains in storms. Check Idaho 511 before you leave.
- Resort pricing: lift tickets, lodging and dinners spike at Christmas, Presidents' Day week and July. Book early or shift dates.
- Wildfire smoke: late July to September can haze the valley. Have an indoor backup day.
- Cell coverage drops on mountain roads; download offline maps.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
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Sun ValleySun Valley, Idaho
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No embassies here; they are in Washington, DC. Nearest consulates: San Francisco or Seattle (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Mountain Rides bus in Sun Valley and Ketchum: free; Hailey and Bellevue about $2 round trip (check)
- SUN airport to Ketchum: about 25 min by car; taxi or shuttle, check the fare
- Boise airport to Ketchum: about 2.5–3 h by car
Say or show
- Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
- Is Galena Summit open? — Is the pass open?
- One lift ticket, please — One lift ticket, please
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Where is the nearest hospital? — Where is the nearest hospital?
US tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Sun Valley. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jan–Mar (ski), Jul–Sep (hike, bike, fish) · avoid Apr–May and Nov (mud season, lifts and trails closed) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for SUN and BOI: last flights in, shuttle and taxi fallbacks, winter road closures.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Ketchum centre, Sun Valley village, Warm Springs, Hailey.
- Place pages with verified hours (Sun Valley Museum of History, Ore Wagon Museum, Community Library) and eat pages with last orders.
- Seasonal gates: ski season, mud season, wildfire smoke and Galena Summit closures.
Sources
- officialVisit Sun Valley (official destination site)
- officialCity of Sun Valley
- officialFriedman Memorial Airport (SUN)
- officialMountain Rides
- officialSun Valley Resort
- secondaryWikivoyage: Sun Valley (Idaho), revision 5244059 (CC BY-SA 4.0)