Conway, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Conway SC STRs averaged $160/night at 57.0% occupancy in April 2026, with a high investability score of 96.5 out of 100.
Quick Answer: Conway, South Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 61%. average monthly revenue is $2,873. average daily rate is $174. the top operator is Evolve with 128 listings. market score is 76/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the South Carolina Area regional market, which includes Conway. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Conway.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Conway is a historic riverfront town approximately 15 miles inland from Myrtle Beach within the Grand Strand metro, which drew roughly 18.2 million visitors in 2024 who spent about $13.2 billion (Myrtle Beach Area CVB). Conway functions as a quieter, lower-cost alternative to beachfront lodging, drawing leisure travelers, Coastal Carolina University visitors, and guests who prefer historic small-town character over the beach strip.
In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $160 and an occupancy rate of 57.0%, generating average monthly revenue of $2,506 per listing. RevPAR came in at $91.07. Year-over-year, occupancy slipped 0.59 percentage points while ADR rose 1.82% and revenue increased 2.68%, indicating that rate improvement is compensating for slight occupancy softness.
The market carries approximately 3,332 active listings. Entire-place accommodations dominate at 2,958 units (89%), with 369 private rooms and just 5 shared rooms making up the remainder. By bedroom count, 1-bedroom units lead with 1,015 listings, followed by 3-bedroom (979), 2-bedroom (901), 4-bedroom (299), and 5-bedroom (133) units. Channel distribution shows 1,947 Airbnb-only listings, 231 VRBO-only listings, and 1,154 listings appearing on both platforms.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44% | $110 | $1,453 |
| Feb | 53% | $114 | $1,511 |
| Mar | 58% | $125 | $1,907 |
| Apr | 56% | $135 | $2,064 |
| May | 56% | $143 | $2,133 |
| Jun | 61% | $154 | $2,540 |
| Jul | 62% | $154 | $2,644 |
| Aug | 55% | $147 | $2,244 |
| Sep | 50% | $134 | $1,851 |
| Oct | 53% | $133 | $1,975 |
| Nov | 51% | $129 | $1,799 |
| Dec | 46% | $120 | $1,672 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Conway
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 128 | 2,521 | ★ 4.67 |
| 2 | His Holding Hand | 30 | 1,167 | ★ 4.86 |
| 3 | Emily And Team | 25 | 1,118 | ★ 4.95 |
| 4 | Live Suite Resorts | 9 | 1 | ★ 3.00 |
| 5 | Belvilla | 7 | 0 | ★ 0.00 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Conway?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,015 |
| 2 bed | 901 |
| 3 bed | 979 |
| 4 bed | 299 |
| 5 bed | 133 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $181 |
| Luxury | $317 |
| Professionally Managed | $196 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,231 |
| Entire Place | $3,026 |
| House | $3,199 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 58.4% |
| vrbo | 6.9% |
| both | 34.6% |
Investment Analysis
Conway’s investability score of 96.48 out of 100 is the standout figure in this market’s profile, pointing to low barriers to entry, favorable supply-to-demand dynamics, and a market structure that supports new listings. Rental demand scores 78.42 and the seasonality score reaches 88.43, reflecting strong summer peak demand from the Grand Strand tourism market.
At an all-listings ADR of $160, there is meaningful tier differentiation. Entire-home listings average $166/night, while professionally managed properties post $196/night, a 22% premium over the all-listings average. Luxury-tier properties average $273/night. The professionally managed premium suggests there is material upside available to operators who invest in active channel management and pricing tools.
Monthly revenue averaged $2,506 in April 2026 across all listing types. Houses averaged $2,710/month and entire-place units broadly averaged $2,640/month. Apartments averaged $2,304/month. The revenue growth score of 43.57 and revenue YoY increase of 2.68% indicate the market is in a moderate-growth phase rather than a rapid expansion period.
No housing price data was available from our sources for Conway at this time, so a gross yield or entry-cost calculation cannot be provided. Prospective investors should review current Horry County comparable sales data to model returns.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Conway)
Booking Insights
Conway guests book an average of 38.2 days in advance, a moderate lead time that reflects a mix of last-minute coastal travelers and planners organizing beach-area stays weeks out. The average length of stay is 4.62 nights, meaningfully longer than a typical weekend, which points to week-long and extended-weekend stays from Grand Strand leisure travelers.
The nearly 5-night average stay reduces cleaning and turnover frequency per booking, which benefits operators on cost control. For pricing strategy, the 38-day average lead window means that rate adjustments roughly 5-6 weeks out can still meaningfully affect fill rates. Dynamic pricing tools calibrated to capture summer peak demand during the 30-60 day booking window are well-matched to this market’s booking behavior.
Operators should also note that Myrtle Beach-area travelers often book in tandem with other amenities (boat rentals, golf tee times), which supports setting arrival/departure windows around 4-7 night minimums rather than short 1-2 night stays during peak months.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Conway requires STR operators to obtain an annual City of Conway business license, with fees scaled to gross receipts. Home-based STR operators must additionally file a Home-Based License Agreement and meet home-occupation zoning standards. There is no dedicated STR-specific registration program, no published cap on rental nights, no owner-occupancy requirement, and no primary-residence restriction.
The tax compliance burden is the most significant regulatory consideration. Guests booking inside Conway city limits pay a combined accommodations tax of approximately 10-12%, composed of: 7% state (5% SC sales tax plus 2% state accommodations tax), 1.5% Horry County hospitality fee (inside-city rate), and 1.5% from the City of Conway (1% local accommodations fee plus 0.5% short-term/transient surcharge). An additional local-option sales tax of approximately 2% also applies. Conway’s local fees are remitted monthly by the 20th of the following month. Owner-occupied homes with fewer than six sleeping rooms may be exempt from the base 1% local accommodations fee but generally not the 0.5% short-term surcharge.
Enforcement is moderate and runs through business-license compliance. Operating without a license can result in revocation of zoning approval and a municipal court summons, but there is no STR-specific inspection regime or quota system.
At the state level, South Carolina Senate Bill S.442 (introduced March 2025, in committee as of mid-2026) would explicitly authorize municipalities to regulate or ban STRs through registration, density caps, and inspection requirements. This is a local-control bill rather than a preemption bill. Operators should confirm current parcel-level zoning and exact tax rates with Conway Planning and Development before listing. Properties outside city limits fall under Horry County rules, which differ.
Market Comparison
Conway’s April 2026 ADR of $160 sits below the US short-term rental median of approximately $220, a discount that reflects the market’s inland, non-beachfront position within the Grand Strand. Occupancy at 57.0% is slightly above the national median of roughly 55%, indicating that the location generates above-average demand relative to its rate tier.
With an overall market score of 76.38 out of 100, Conway ranks as a high-opportunity market by our composite metric, driven primarily by its exceptional investability score (96.48) and strong rental demand (78.42). Revenue growth (43.57) and regulation (55.26) are the weaker components, with the regulation score reflecting moderate compliance requirements and the pending state legislation.
The professional management landscape is concentrated at the top but shallow below. Evolve leads significantly with 128 listings and 2,521 reviews (4.67 rating). His Holding Hand (30 listings, 1,167 reviews, 4.86 rating) and Emily And Team (25 listings, 1,118 reviews, 4.95 rating) are strong regional operators with notably high ratings. Live Suite Resorts (9 listings, 3.0 rating) and Belvilla (7 listings, no reviews yet) are smaller presences. Together the top five manage 199 listings, approximately 6.0% of active inventory, leaving the large majority of Conway STRs in the hands of independent operators.
Frequently Asked Questions About Conway, South Carolina
What is the average nightly rate for a short-term rental in Conway, SC?
What is the typical occupancy rate for Conway STRs?
How much revenue can a short-term rental in Conway generate per month?
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental in Conway, SC?
What is the best time of year to list an STR in Conway, SC?
How far in advance do Conway, SC guests typically book?
Who are the largest STR operators in Conway, SC?
Analyze Conway Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Conway.
Free Conway STR Calculator →
