Bristol, Virginia Short-Term Rental Market
Bristol, VA STRs averaged $209/night at 48.1% occupancy in April 2026, on the Tennessee state line with no formal STR permit ordinance adopted.
Quick Answer: Bristol, Virginia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 48%. average monthly revenue is $2,656. average daily rate is $209. the top operator is Vacasa with 307 listings. market score is 68/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bristol is an independent city on the Virginia-Tennessee state line, sharing a main street with Bristol, Tennessee. The area draws visitors to Bristol Motor Speedway, the Appalachian Trail gateway, and the Blue Ridge Music Center. In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $209 and occupancy of 48.1%, generating $101 in RevPAR. Year-over-year, occupancy dipped 1.5 percentage points while ADR grew 3.7% and average monthly revenue held essentially flat (+0.1%).
The listing mix is primarily entire-place rentals: 8,447 entire-place listings versus 930 private rooms and 3 shared rooms. One-bedroom units lead at 2,844 listings, followed by three-bedroom (2,252), two-bedroom (2,050), four-bedroom (1,252), and five-bedroom-plus (962). Channel distribution shows 4,468 listings on Airbnb only, 3,942 on both platforms, and 970 on VRBO only. The investability score of 88.6 and revenue growth score of 68.2 out of 100 are above average. The total market score of 68.0 reflects solid fundamentals for a Virginia/Tennessee border market.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | $152 | $1,673 |
| Feb | 45% | $150 | $1,662 |
| Mar | 49% | $165 | $2,072 |
| Apr | 50% | $186 | $2,422 |
| May | 52% | $219 | $2,838 |
| Jun | 58% | $240 | $3,656 |
| Jul | 63% | $238 | $4,051 |
| Aug | 59% | $237 | $3,815 |
| Sep | 49% | $214 | $2,810 |
| Oct | 50% | $202 | $2,832 |
| Nov | 45% | $194 | $2,399 |
| Dec | 40% | $173 | $2,104 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Bristol
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 307 | 10,477 | ★ 4.56 |
| 2 | Evolve | 300 | 11,480 | ★ 4.79 |
| 3 | Lakefront Luxury | 72 | 3,402 | ★ 4.94 |
| 4 | Casago | 68 | 1,099 | ★ 4.60 |
| 5 | Blue Ridge Escapes | 59 | 1,931 | ★ 4.79 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bristol?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,844 |
| 2 bed | 2,050 |
| 3 bed | 2,252 |
| 4 bed | 1,252 |
| 5 bed | 962 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $221 |
| Luxury | $424 |
| Professionally Managed | $279 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,874 |
| Entire Place | $2,803 |
| House | $2,932 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 47.6% |
| vrbo | 10.3% |
| both | 42% |
Investment Analysis
At a typical home value of $204,956 and average monthly STR revenue of $2,656 in April 2026, a Bristol STR implies an annualized gross revenue of approximately $31,872, representing a gross yield of roughly 15.6% before expenses, management fees, and taxes. This is one of the highest gross yields in this batch, driven by the combination of very affordable Virginia home prices and above-average STR revenue.
Professionally managed listings ($279 ADR) command a 33% premium over the market average ($209). Luxury-tier properties average $424 ADR, a 103% premium. Houses average $2,932/month versus apartments at $1,874/month, a gap of $1,058/month. Annual revenue has grown from 2023 through 2025: 2022 averaged $2,997/month, 2023 $2,870, 2024 $2,943, and 2025 $3,087. Revenue growth score of 68.2 out of 100 is above average.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Bristol guests book an average of 45.1 days in advance, with an average length of stay of 3.79 nights. The 45-day lead time is near the national STR median. The 3.79-night average stay is consistent with mountain town visits, racing event trips, and Appalachian Trail excursions.
Bristol Motor Speedway events (typically March, April, August, and September) create concentrated demand spikes. Operators should implement peak pricing for race weekends well in advance of the 45-day average booking window. The combination of event-driven demand peaks and steady outdoor recreation visitors provides a more consistent year-round revenue base than purely seasonal resort markets.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Bristol, Virginia has no publicly adopted standalone short-term rental ordinance as of May 2026. The Planning Commission discussed draft STR regulations in May 2023 but no finalized permit requirement, registration fee, or owner-occupancy mandate has been confirmed in city code or public announcements. STRs currently appear to be permitted under general land use provisions.
The primary compliance obligation is the transient room rental tax, which increased from 13% to 15% effective July 1, 2024, per unanimous Bristol City Council vote as part of the FY 2024-25 budget. Virginia state law (effective January 1, 2024) bars new local ordinances from requiring special use permits for owner-occupied STRs. No owner-occupancy requirement is confirmed as in effect. Enforcement is rated minimal. Note: Bristol, Tennessee (across the state line) may have separate requirements; operators should confirm which jurisdiction their property falls under.
Market Comparison
Against national benchmarks of roughly 55% median occupancy and $220 median ADR, Bristol’s April 2026 occupancy of 48.1% is 7 percentage points below the national median, while the $209 ADR is 5% below the national baseline. The exceptionally affordable home price ($204,956 typical value) is the defining investment characteristic, producing a gross yield approximately double the national average for comparable ADR markets.
Vacasa leads with 307 listings, 10,477 reviews, and a 4.56 average rating. Evolve ranks second with 300 listings and 11,480 reviews (4.79 rating). Lakefront Luxury holds third with 72 listings and 3,402 reviews (4.94 rating). The top three operators manage 679 listings combined in a market of approximately 9,380 total listings. Lakefront Luxury’s 4.94 rating is the highest among top-three PMs in this entire 25-area batch.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bristol, Virginia
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