Leavenworth, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
Leavenworth, WA STRs averaged $275/night at 41.0% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 2,600 active listings.
Quick Answer: Leavenworth, Washington is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 60%. average monthly revenue is $6,388. average daily rate is $404. the top operator is Vacasa with 175 listings. market score is 56/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Leavenworth/Cascade Mtns regional market, which includes Leavenworth. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Leavenworth.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Leavenworth short-term rental market counted approximately 2,628 active listings as of the April 2026 snapshot, concentrated in this Bavarian-themed Cascade mountain town in Chelan County, Washington. The market posted an average daily rate of $275 and occupancy of 41.0% in April 2026, generating average monthly revenue of $2,873 per listing. RevPAR reached $113.
Listing composition is heavily skewed toward entire-place rentals. Of 2,628 total listings, 2,523 (96%) are whole-unit rentals and 105 are private-room listings. By bedroom count: 763 one-bedroom, 788 two-bedroom, 559 three-bedroom, 342 four-bedroom, and 172 five-plus-bedroom units. Platform distribution shows broad cross-listing: 1,512 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 876 are Airbnb-only, and 240 are VRBO-only.
Year-over-year from April 2025, occupancy declined 4.0% while ADR rose 7.3%, producing a net revenue decline of 4.3%. This divergence suggests some demand softness at higher price points. Annual average occupancy peaked in 2021 at 62.7% during post-pandemic travel expansion and has moderated to 50.3% for full-year 2025.
Market scores from the latest snapshot: investability 70.6, revenue growth 73.1, regulation 71.3, rental demand 67.8, seasonality 50.5, total score 56.4 (all out of 100). The low seasonality score reflects meaningful swings across the calendar year.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41% | $290 | $3,378 |
| Feb | 43% | $274 | $3,053 |
| Mar | 37% | $243 | $2,593 |
| Apr | 46% | $250 | $2,889 |
| May | 48% | $290 | $3,334 |
| Jun | 60% | $336 | $5,169 |
| Jul | 70% | $344 | $6,386 |
| Aug | 71% | $341 | $6,490 |
| Sep | 50% | $295 | $3,966 |
| Oct | 41% | $277 | $3,259 |
| Nov | 41% | $275 | $3,019 |
| Dec | 61% | $333 | $5,253 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Leavenworth
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 175 | 14,910 | ★ 4.41 |
| 2 | Chelan Lookout Rentals | 154 | 3,610 | ★ 4.78 |
| 3 | Windermere Vacation Rentals Lake Chelan | 141 | 4,256 | ★ 4.53 |
| 4 | Love Leavenworth Vacation Rentals | 140 | 20,840 | ★ 4.80 |
| 5 | NW Comfy Cabins | 62 | 7,453 | ★ 4.81 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Leavenworth?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 763 |
| 2 bed | 788 |
| 3 bed | 559 |
| 4 bed | 342 |
| 5 bed | 172 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $412 |
| Luxury | $641 |
| Professionally Managed | $475 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $5,101 |
| Entire Place | $6,550 |
| House | $7,107 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 33.3% |
| vrbo | 9.1% |
| both | 57.5% |
Investment Analysis
Leavenworth STR listings generated average monthly revenue of $2,873 in April 2026, implying annualized gross revenue of approximately $34,471 per listing. The typical home value in the area is $665,674, and the median list price is $901,500, reflecting a premium for properties in this tourist-oriented corridor. At the typical home value, the indicated gross revenue yield is approximately 5.2% before operating expenses, management fees, and capital costs.
Revenue varies by property type. Entire-place listings average $2,912/month and house-type properties average $3,305/month ($39,660 annualized). Apartment units average $1,934/month. The luxury-tier ADR of $450/night is 63% above the all-listings average of $275, indicating strong upside for large or premium units. Professionally managed listings average $314/night in ADR, 14% above the market average, a measurable premium tied to management quality and marketing reach.
Long-term revenue trends show a recovery trajectory. Annual average monthly revenue was $3,129 in 2017, peaked at $4,933 in 2021, pulled back to $4,388 in 2023, and recovered to $4,845 in 2025.
A critical constraint for new investors: the Leavenworth zone within unincorporated Chelan County is over its 6% housing-stock cap for STR permits, so no new county permits are being issued. After September 26, 2026, permits will not transfer on property sale. Investors must confirm permit status and transferability before acquisition, as regulatory exposure directly limits the addressable investment opportunity in this market.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
The average booking lead time in Leavenworth is 43 days, meaning guests typically reserve approximately six weeks in advance. This mid-range window reflects a mix of spontaneous weekend-trip bookers and planners who secure specific event-oriented dates (Oktoberfest, Christmas Lighting Festival, summer holiday weekends) well ahead of time. Average length of stay is 3.0 nights.
The 3.0-night average stay supports revenue efficiency: it reduces per-night turnover cost relative to one-night stays while still allowing two reservations per week during high occupancy periods. At a 3-night average, a fully occupied seven-day week accommodates roughly two reservations.
For pricing strategy, the 43-day lead window suggests last-minute discounting should begin around the 30-day mark for unfilled shoulder-season dates. Peak-season and festival weekends may sustain premium rates well beyond 60 days out. Operators who set minimum stays of 2-3 nights for high-demand weekends protect against low-margin single-night bookings during periods when every date fills regardless. Holding firm on rates in the 45-60 day window before major festivals is supported by the booking pattern data.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Leavenworth operates under two distinct STR regulatory regimes depending on property location.
Within the City of Leavenworth, short-term rentals are prohibited in residential zones. The only legal options are an owner-occupied bed-and-breakfast (requiring an on-site owner, a Conditional Use Permit, and a business license) or a unit in a commercial zone that has passed building and life-safety code conversions. This effectively eliminates investment-focused residential STRs within city limits.
In unincorporated Chelan County around Leavenworth, STRs require an annual operating permit under a three-tier system. Tier 1 covers owner-occupied whole-home rentals (maximum 8 guests, up to 15 days per year of whole-home rental). Tier 2 covers non-owner-occupied rentals (maximum 12 guests). Tier 3 covers owner or non-owner rentals with up to 16 guests. Permit fees are approximately $600/year for Tier 1 and Tier 2, and $900/year for Tier 3. Permits require $1 million liability insurance and a fire marshal inspection every two years.
The county caps STRs at approximately 6% of housing stock per zone. The Leavenworth, Lake Wenatchee, and Plain zones are over that cap, and new permits are not being issued. After September 26, 2026, permits will not transfer when a property is sold. The buyer of a currently permitted property must reapply but cannot receive a new permit in a full zone.
Guests pay a lodging/occupancy tax of approximately 3% in addition to applicable Washington State sales tax. Enforcement is rated strict.
Market Comparison
Nationally, STR markets average approximately 55% occupancy and $220 in ADR. Leavenworth’s April 2026 occupancy of 41.0% falls below the national benchmark, though April is a seasonally soft month for this market. The ADR of $275 is approximately 25% above the national median, reflecting the Cascade mountain location and Bavarian tourism draw.
The top five property managers active in this market are: Vacasa (175 listings, 14,910 reviews, 4.41 rating), Chelan Lookout Rentals (154 listings, 3,610 reviews, 4.78 rating), Windermere Vacation Rentals Lake Chelan (141 listings, 4,256 reviews, 4.53 rating), Love Leavenworth Vacation Rentals (140 listings, 20,840 reviews, 4.80 rating), and NW Comfy Cabins (62 listings, 7,453 reviews, 4.81 rating). The top 5 collectively manage approximately 672 listings, roughly 26% of total inventory. Vacasa holds the largest listing share at about 6.7% of the market, while Love Leavenworth’s 20,840 reviews indicate the deepest guest engagement of any single operator.
Leavenworth’s permit cap on new supply distinguishes it structurally from unregulated markets where inventory can grow freely. The 6% housing-stock ceiling in effect creates a finite listing count, which could support ADR and occupancy stability over time but also constrains the investment entry window for new operators.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leavenworth, Washington
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