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Frequently Asked Questions

Find the answer to your question in our list of frequently asked questions below. If we have left something out, please contact us.

How do I use this website?

All of our websites are designed to be your virtual vacation-planning guide. You won’t need all that paper when you have all the information you want and more right at your fingertips. Discover endless opportunities for a great vacation just a click away! Below you’ll find a few tips on how to navigate our sites and get started. We hope you find what you need and continue exploring new possibilities from there.

1. First begin with your vacation timeline and make a list of Must-See attractions. You can find them in the EXPLORE section. If you’re arriving and departing from the same location, it might be best to split the attractions there between the start and end of your visit.

2. Explore all the travel information based on what season you will be visiting. If you are visiting in the summer or fall, you can check out the guides and tours as well as other recreational activities in the SUMMER section. Anything and everything for a winter vacation can be found in the WINTER section.

3. It’s easy to get oriented to an area by exploring the lodging options. Check out the numerous accommodations in the surrounding towns. You’ll find everything you need in the LODGING section. You can just click on the name of a property that sounds interesting and you can go to their website for pricing, availability, amenities and a whole lot more.

4. Consult the VACATIONS tab when you need help. Here you’ll find sample vacations and itineraries.

Take your time and search through our site. Use it to your advantage because it’s a great resource and direct connection to the many other resources, including lodging properties and activity guides in the area. You can also click on the LIVE CHAT link to speak with a travel consultant at any time. Here you will get live help and some wonderful suggestions for planning your trip. If you still would like to browse through brochures and pamphlets, contact the local Chamber of Commerce. The phone number is below.

Contact Numbers:

What are some useful telephone numbers in Sun Valley?
Chamber of Commerce: 800-634-3347
Sawtooth National Forest: 208-737-3200
Idaho Road and Travel Information: 511 inside Idaho or 888-432-7623
Sun Valley Ski Resort Reservations: 800-786-8259
Sun Valley Ski Resort Snow Phone: 800-635-4150

Travel Tips:

Where is Sun Valley?
Sun Valley is located in central Idaho, on Highway 75 between Boise and Idaho Falls, surrounded by the Sawtooth National Forest.

What are the closest major cities and distances?
Boise, Idaho is located 154.6 miles to the west (a driving time of about 3 hours).
Idaho Falls is 152.7 miles to the east (about 2 hours and 44 minutes driving).

Where are the closest airports and distances?
There are 60 daily flights into Boise Airport, (the main airport serving Sun Valley) with a choice of airlines - Horizon Air, Delta, Northwest, Continental, United, SkyWest and Southwest Airlines. Boise Airport is about two and a half hours west and you can take a shuttle to Sun Valley. You can also fly directly into the Sun Valley area on SkyWest Airlines from Salt Lake City, Utah, or on Horizon Air from Seattle, Boise or Los Angeles. These flights are seasonal.

What is the average temperature?
Here in Sun Valley, the summers are dry and the winters are mild. In summertime, the average high is around 77 degrees F. and winter comes in with highs in the low 30s.

Facts & Tidbits:

What is the population of Sun Valley?
The year-round population as of July 2008 was 1,466.

What is the elevation in Sun Valley?
Sun Valley elevation is 5,940 feet.

What makes the town so special?
There seems to be a magical atmosphere to Sun Valley, with the breathtaking Rockies all around, skiing at its best and the small town charm of both Sun Valley and its close neighbor, Ketchum, Idaho.

Fun Facts:
Ernest Hemingway lived, wrote and hunted in the Sun Valley area. He stayed at a lodge in Sun Valley while writing some of the chapters for the book, For Whom The Bell Tolls.
The first lift ticket price in Sun Valley (1936) was 25 cents.
Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Lauren Bacall took the area by storm when in Sun Valley shooting the movie, “How to Marry a Millionaire,” in 1953.

Activities & Attractions:

What are some mountain stats at Sun Valley Ski Resort?

     

  • Elevation:
    Summit (Bald Mountain) – 9,150 feet
    Summit (Dollar) – 6,638 feet
  • Vertical Rise (Bald Mountain) – 19,714 feet
  • Vertical Rise (Dollar) - 976 feet
  • Ski Terrain: 2,054 acres total between the two ski areas
  • Slope Difficulty: 36% Easiest, 42% More Difficult, 22% Most Difficult
  • Ski Season opens Thanksgiving Day and runs to the end of April.

What are the most popular summer activities?

What are the most popular winter activities?

What are some of the best annual events held in Sun Valley?

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