Branson, Missouri Short-Term Rental Market
Branson, MO STRs posted $213 ADR and 32.2% occupancy in April 2026 across 8,584 active listings in one of the Ozarks' highest-visitor markets.
Quick Answer: Branson, Missouri is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 32%. average monthly revenue is $2,200. average daily rate is $213. the top operator is Thousand Hills Vacations with 563 listings. market score is 68/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Branson, MO is one of the most active short-term rental markets in the Midwest, drawing approximately 7.2 million visitors per year to a city of under 13,000 permanent residents. The market held 8,584 active STR listings as of the latest snapshot, with entire-place properties making up 8,493 of those (99% of supply). Private rooms account for 90 listings and shared rooms just 1.
In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $213 and an occupancy rate of 32.2%, reflecting the off-peak shoulder period between winter and the summer high season. RevPAR for the month stood at $68.71. Year-over-year, occupancy was down 4.4 percentage points, ADR was essentially flat (down 0.25%), and average monthly revenue declined 6.8% from the prior April.
By bedroom count, 2-bedroom properties are the most common (3,408 listings), followed by 1-bedroom units (2,014), 3-bedroom (1,432), 5-bedroom (1,054), and 4-bedroom (663). This spread reflects Branson’s group and multi-generational travel draw. By channel, the market is heavily cross-listed: 5,952 properties appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, with 1,601 Airbnb-only and 1,031 VRBO-only listings. The market’s overall investability score of 96/100 and revenue growth score of 71.6/100 reflect its strong track record even as near-term occupancy faces modest pressure.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16% | $179 | $1,196 |
| Feb | 30% | $177 | $1,231 |
| Mar | 53% | $207 | $2,572 |
| Apr | 34% | $196 | $2,051 |
| May | 47% | $219 | $2,481 |
| Jun | 69% | $269 | $4,724 |
| Jul | 74% | $265 | $5,331 |
| Aug | 50% | $240 | $3,499 |
| Sep | 41% | $213 | $2,432 |
| Oct | 51% | $211 | $2,986 |
| Nov | 48% | $221 | $2,906 |
| Dec | 47% | $233 | $3,240 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Branson
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thousand Hills Vacations | 563 | 17,545 | ★ 4.63 |
| 2 | Grand Welcome | 416 | 20,735 | ★ 4.78 |
| 3 | RentBranson | 371 | 16,204 | ★ 4.76 |
| 4 | Evolve | 350 | 25,613 | ★ 4.68 |
| 5 | Christian Taylor Vacations | 243 | 1,594 | ★ 4.55 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Branson?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,014 |
| 2 bed | 3,408 |
| 3 bed | 1,432 |
| 4 bed | 663 |
| 5 bed | 1,054 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $215 |
| Luxury | $361 |
| Professionally Managed | $218 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,440 |
| Entire Place | $2,216 |
| House | $3,120 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 18.7% |
| vrbo | 12% |
| both | 69.3% |
Investment Analysis
Branson’s STR investability score of 96/100 reflects the market’s size, regulatory clarity, and sustained visitor base. A typical Branson home was valued at approximately $249,728 as of April 2026, and median sale prices have come in at $242,833. At an average monthly revenue of $2,200 in April 2026 (a low-season month), annualized gross revenue projects to approximately $26,400 at that rate. However, using 2025’s full-year annual average revenue of $3,553 per month, annualized gross revenue works out to approximately $42,636, implying a gross yield of roughly 17.1% against typical home value.
Operators managing professionally commanded an ADR of $218 in April 2026 versus the all-listings average of $213. Luxury-tier properties averaged $361 that month, a 69% premium over the market average. Entire-place properties averaged $2,216 in monthly revenue versus $1,440 for apartments in the same month.
The housing market itself shows limited urgency: median days to pending sits at 47, the sale-to-list ratio is 0.971 (properties trading at a slight discount to list price), and for-sale inventory stands at 568 units. These conditions give buyers reasonable time to underwrite deals without aggressive competition. Annual revenue has generally grown since 2017 ($2,147/month average) through 2025 ($3,553/month average), though 2026 year-to-date is tracking below 2025 levels as of April.
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 (Branson)
Booking Insights
In April 2026, the average booking lead time in Branson was 43 days and the average length of stay was 3.18 nights. These two numbers shape how operators should structure their pricing and availability windows.
A 43-day lead time means most guests are booking approximately six weeks before arrival, which is long enough to support a meaningful early-bird discount strategy while still allowing close-in revenue optimization. Operators who open inventory 90 or more days in advance can apply tiered pricing: higher rates for summer bookings secured early, with modest incentives for stays booked 60-plus days out that fall in shoulder months.
At 3.18 nights average stay, Branson is a short-stay market. This increases turnover frequency and cleaning costs relative to markets with 5-plus night averages. Operators should factor cleaning fees accordingly and consider minimum stay requirements of 3 nights for peak season weekends to reduce single-night gaps and associated labor costs. For January and February, where demand is structurally low, lowering or eliminating minimum stay requirements can recover nights that would otherwise go vacant.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Branson STRs are permitted under Ordinance No. 2024-0065, which took effect May 1, 2025. The ordinance replaced the prior Nightly Rental classification with a unified Short-Term Rental designation and standardized the permitting structure city-wide.
Operators must obtain two items: (1) an annual Short-Term Rental Business License at $100 per address, renewing May 1 to April 30 each year, and (2) a one-time STR Permit from the Branson Fire Department following an approved fire safety inspection, costing $150 and valid for 3 years. The fire safety permit transfers with property ownership. A refundable Tourism Tax Bond is collected at application and returned after 3 consecutive years of on-time tax payments. Combined permit cost is $250.
STRs are permitted in commercial districts and high-density residential (HDR) zones. They are restricted or prohibited in low-density residential zones, single-family planned developments without explicit STR authorization, and certain named subdivisions including Hideaway Hills. Operators must verify address eligibility via the city’s mapping tool before applying. Owner-occupancy and primary residence requirements do not apply.
The city charges a 4% tourism tax on gross rental receipts, due by the 20th of each following month. Neither Airbnb nor VRBO remits this city tourism tax on behalf of operators; hosts must file and pay directly. Missouri state sales tax applies at 4.225%, and the Branson/Lakes Tourism Community Enhancement District adds a 1% local sales tax on lodging within the district. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. No maximum nights-per-year cap is on record.
Market Comparison
Branson’s April 2026 occupancy of 32.2% is below the US STR median of approximately 55%, but April is the market’s off-peak shoulder month. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 48.1% is closer to national norms, and the market’s seasonal peaks (74.1% in July) exceed median benchmarks substantially. The April ADR of $213 is below the national median of approximately $220, while 2025’s full-year average ADR of $251 ran above it.
The market’s total score of 68.4/100 and seasonality score of 42.7/100 reflect the concentration of revenue into summer months, which investors should model carefully. The investability score of 96/100 stands out as among the highest in the dataset.
Five property managers dominate the Branson market. Thousand Hills Vacations leads with 563 listings and 17,545 reviews (4.63 rating). Grand Welcome holds 416 listings with 20,735 reviews (4.78 rating). RentBranson operates 371 listings (16,204 reviews, 4.76 rating). Evolve manages 350 listings across 25,613 reviews (4.68 rating). Christian Taylor Vacations rounds out the top five with 243 listings and 1,594 reviews (4.55 rating). Together these five operators account for 1,943 listings, or approximately 22.6% of the market’s 8,584 total listings. The concentration is moderate, meaning independent operators retain the majority of supply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Branson, Missouri
What is the average daily rate for Branson, MO short-term rentals?
What is the typical occupancy rate for Branson STRs?
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental in Branson?
What taxes apply to Branson short-term rental operators?
What is the best month to own a Branson STR?
How does Branson compare to national STR benchmarks?
What is the average home price in Branson relative to STR income?
Analyze Branson Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Branson.
Free Branson STR Calculator →
