Planning a vacation to a place you've never been before can sometimes be overwhelming! The first thing you'll want to do when you start planning your visit to Keystone Resort is to narrow down your Keystone Lodging accommodations, but with so many options, how do you know where to stay?
Keystone lodging is broken up into 7 main Keystone neighborhoods, which we will highlight below in order to help you narrow down which area you would like to stay during your Keystone Vacation!
1. River Run Village (Main Keystone Village)
River Run Village is the main skier base area at Keystone, where most of the restaurants and shops are located, as well as the River Run Gondola and Summit Express Chair Lift. You'll find the main ticket and season pass office here, as well as a ski school and small grocery store. This is certainly the most convenient area to stay since you are within walking distance to everything and you can get by without having a car. Many guests choose to take a shuttle from the Denver Airport and not bother with a rental car since you are able to walk everywhere you need to go during your ski vacation when you stay here. Most of the main River Run Village condos average from studios up to 3 bedrooms, plus there are a few larger townhomes and private homes on the outskirts of this village. Most properties have access to an outdoor heated pool and hot tub and a few of the townhomes, such as River Run Townhomes even have private hot tubs! This is where to stay if you want to be in a lively setting with lots to do!
River Run Village is the main skier base area at Keystone, where most of the restaurants and shops are located, as well as the River Run Gondola and Summit Express Chair Lift. You'll find the main ticket and season pass office here, as well as a ski school and small grocery store. This is certainly the most convenient area to stay since you are within walking distance to everything and you can get by without having a car. Many guests choose to take a shuttle from the Denver Airport and not bother with a rental car since you are able to walk everywhere you need to go during your ski vacation when you stay here. Most of the main River Run Village condos average from studios up to 3 bedrooms, plus there are a few larger townhomes and private homes on the outskirts of this village. Most properties have access to an outdoor heated pool and hot tub and a few of the townhomes, such as River Run Townhomes even have private hot tubs! This is where to stay if you want to be in a lively setting with lots to do!
2. Mountain House
Mountain House is the second base area at Keystone and it was actually the original base area of the ski resort. There is a ski school and beginner skiing area here with a magic carpet at the base, plus a ticket office and the Peru Chair Lift. You'll find a few dining options and the Last Lift Bar at the base area lodge. Most lodging options are walk to the slopes, but typically the walks are a little longer than you'd experience in River Run Village, unless you are staying in one of the slopeside options such as Chateaux Dumont or Slopeside Condos. Since this is the original base area, most of these properties are a little older, but more affordable than the properties in River Run Village. They also range in size and style; some are slopeside with private hot tubs like at Chateaux DuMont, some are a little further away with nice ski slope views; others are right in the middle with a shared hot tub and amazing building amenities! There are also other restaurants spread throughout this large neighborhood, such as The Snake River Saloon and Steep Coffee and Beer (Gateway Location).
3. West Keystone
West Keystone is about a mile from Mountain House and features quiet properties in a serene wooded setting. The free resort shuttle can easily take you to the mountain in about 10 minutes. When you stay here, you're very close to the Keystone Nordic Center and Tubing Hill! The West Keystone properties range in size and are often on the more affordable end of Keystone lodging options. For shopping and dining, you'll need to head into another village, as this is more of a residential area. We love watching the snow pile up on the trees and looking for wildlife in this peaceful area!
4. Lakeside Village
Lakeside Village is one of our favorites, for its beautiful views and of course the largest Zamboni-maintained outdoor ice skating rink in North America! You'll find that the majority of condos here tend to be smaller sizes, from studios up to two bedrooms with a few larger condos and townhomes sprinkled throughout. The Keystone Lodge & Spa is located here, as well as the Keystone Conference Center. There are also a few restaurants and shops located along the Lake. We love the cozy feeling of staying at Lakeside Village, especially one of the condos that overlooks the lake, like Lakeside Condos, where you can watch the ice skaters from above! There are multiple shuttle stops in this village that can take you to the slopes or into River Run Village.
5. East Keystone
East Keystone is about a mile from River Run and features mostly larger, luxury townhomes, ranging from 2 - 4 bedrooms, tucked away in a quiet setting that backs up to forest and woodlands. Some of the complexes were constructed very recently, such as The Alders. You'll also find the historic Ski Tip Lodge here which is a wonderful place to enjoy a fancy meal during your vacation! The Easy Keystone properties are all located with a shuttle stop nearby to get you to the slopes or if you want to head into town for a meal.
6. North Keystone
Most of North Keystone is considered 'across the highway' from the resort area. The Keystone lodging options here vary dramatically from small ski condos to large townhomes and private homes. Many have beautiful views of the ski slopes and mountains and some have shuttle options available. If you don't plan on having a vehicle, be sure to check the shuttle information at the property you are staying at before you book.
7. Keystone Ranch
Keystone Ranch properties are typically large private homes located on or near the golf course and are furthest from the resort. You will want to have your own vehicle (we recommend with 4-wheel or all-wheel drive) as the shuttle doesn't venture out to the Ranch Area. It is about a 10 minute drive to the Mountain House Base area. These are beautiful homes with more open space and privacy around them.Some good questions to consider when you are thinking about your Keystone Lodging area:
1. Do you want to be able to walk to the slopes, or do you mind if you have to take a shuttle or drive?
2. Are you seeking peace and quiet or the excitement and bustle of staying in a ski village?
3. Is it important to be close to shops and restaurants?
4. What are your top 3 'must-have amenities' at your vacation rental? (Such as a fireplace, hot tub, walk to the slopes, etc.)
If you are still unsure which direction to take for your Keystone Lodging, please give one of our vacation planners a call. We have over 20 years of experience with Keystone Lodging and know the options extremely well. We are happy to make recommendations and help you find that perfect vacation rental for your upcoming vacation at Keystone Ski Resort.
