Bigfork, Montana Short-Term Rental Market
Bigfork, MT STRs averaged $227/night at 35% occupancy in April 2026, with July reaching 77% occupancy at $333/night.
Quick Answer: Bigfork, Montana is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 35%. average monthly revenue is $2,057. average daily rate is $227. the top operator is Stay Montana with 165 listings. market score is 50/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bigfork is an unincorporated resort village on the northeast shore of Flathead Lake in Flathead County, Montana, positioned as a gateway to both Glacier National Park (approximately 45 minutes north) and the state’s largest natural freshwater lake. The short-term rental market is overwhelmingly entire-place properties: 5,451 entire-place listings are tracked, alongside 192 private rooms and 1 shared room, out of 5,644 total units.
Bedroom distribution skews toward smaller accommodations: 1-bedroom properties lead with 2,106 tracked units, followed by 2-bedrooms (1,455), 3-bedrooms (1,120), 4-bedrooms (603), and 5-bedroom-plus properties (353). Channel distribution shows strong dual-platform presence, with 3,073 dual-channel listings and 1,879 Airbnb-only versus 692 VRBO-only properties.
As of April 2026, average daily rate was $227.47 and occupancy was 34.62%. April is a shoulder month in this summer-concentrated market. Year-over-year, occupancy improved 5.17 percentage points and ADR rose 7.0%, though revenue declined 4.61%, likely reflecting a shift in listing mix or count during the period. The market’s overall score is 49.54 out of 100, with revenue growth as the standout dimension at 80.72 out of 100 and investability at 68.02.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $286 | $2,950 |
| Feb | 52% | $304 | $3,496 |
| Mar | 44% | $263 | $2,969 |
| Apr | 34% | $195 | $1,794 |
| May | 51% | $217 | $2,080 |
| Jun | 68% | $297 | $4,145 |
| Jul | 77% | $333 | $6,457 |
| Aug | 68% | $318 | $5,890 |
| Sep | 54% | $266 | $3,972 |
| Oct | 33% | $200 | $2,068 |
| Nov | 33% | $178 | $1,672 |
| Dec | 51% | $286 | $2,661 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Bigfork
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stay Montana | 165 | 2,400 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Evolve | 131 | 6,513 | ★ 4.82 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 122 | 5,100 | ★ 4.57 |
| 4 | Whitefish Mountain Resort Lodging | 118 | 1,034 | ★ 4.65 |
| 5 | Natural Retreats | 108 | 3,953 | ★ 4.82 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bigfork?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,106 |
| 2 bed | 1,455 |
| 3 bed | 1,120 |
| 4 bed | 603 |
| 5 bed | 353 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $232 |
| Luxury | $449 |
| Professionally Managed | $280 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,576 |
| Entire Place | $2,088 |
| House | $2,328 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 33.3% |
| vrbo | 12.3% |
| both | 54.4% |
Investment Analysis
Bigfork’s revenue growth score of 80.72 out of 100 is one of the stronger signals in the market despite the moderate overall score of 49.54. Annual average revenue per listing has climbed consistently: from $3,727 per month in 2023 to $3,967 in 2024 and $4,323 in 2025, a 16.0% gain over two years.
As of April 2026, average monthly revenue across all listing types was $2,057. Houses average $2,328 per month, entire-place listings average $2,088 per month, and apartment-style listings average $1,576 per month. At the management-tier level, professionally managed properties averaged $280 per night in ADR versus $227 for the all-listings average, a premium of $53 per night or roughly 23.3%. Luxury-tier listings averaged $449 per night, a $222 premium over the market average, reflecting Flathead Lake frontage and premium amenity properties at the high end.
No housing price data was available in the current snapshot, so a gross yield calculation cannot be provided. Investors should factor in Montana’s combined 8% state lodging tax (4% Lodging Facility Use Tax plus 4% Lodging Sales Tax), which applies to stays of 29 days or fewer and is typically collected and remitted by platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. A 2025 Montana law reclassified short-term rental properties into a higher property-tax tier at approximately 1.90% of full assessed value, raising carrying costs relative to owner-occupied or long-term rental classifications. Permit requirements vary by zoning district and should be confirmed with Flathead County.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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As of April 2026, the average booking lead time in Bigfork is 50.42 days, meaning guests typically reserve approximately seven weeks before arrival. That lead time is among the longer in this batch and reflects the market’s appeal as a planned destination trip to Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake rather than a spontaneous getaway.
Average length of stay is 3.85 nights. That is notably longer than the 3.0 to 3.1 night averages seen in many comparable destination markets and reflects the travel commitment involved in reaching northwest Montana. Longer stays reduce per-booking cleaning costs and turnover frequency: at 77% peak July occupancy, operators can expect roughly 6 guest rotations per month on average rather than the 10-plus typical of shorter-stay markets.
The seven-week lead time combined with a nearly four-night average stay suggests that operators who lock in rates early in the planning cycle will capture the most committed guests at full ADR. Shoulder-month pricing should account for shorter notice periods when guests make less certain plans.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Bigfork is unincorporated, so short-term rentals are governed by Flathead County rather than a city authority. Requirements vary by zoning classification.
In unzoned areas, no county STR permit is required. In zoned areas, STRs are allowed outright in RR, B-2, B-4, BM-1, BM-2, BR-2, BR-4, CVR, SC, and NF zones. In AG, SAG, R, RA, RC, B-3, B-5, B-6, AL, LBL, LL, LS, RL, and WV zones, STRs require an administrative conditional use permit, which can take up to approximately six weeks to process. STRs are prohibited in all other zones. Canyon-area parcels are subject to additional CALURS review (up to 30 days).
All operators in zoned areas must hold a Montana Public Accommodation License, which is annual and includes inspection. Properties with more than two bedrooms must meet Montana Bed and Breakfast safety and health standards. In permitted-use zones, operators must also submit a compliance certification letter and provide proof of certified-mail notice to neighbors within 150 feet.
Montana levies a combined 8% state lodging tax (4% Lodging Facility Use Tax plus 4% Lodging Sales Tax) on stays of 29 days or fewer. Platforms like Airbnb and VRBO typically collect and remit this tax. No statewide night cap or owner-occupancy requirement exists. A 2025 Montana law reclassified STR-used properties into a higher property-tax tier at approximately 1.90% of full assessed value. County permit fees were not published online as of mid-2026. Operators should confirm current zoning and permit requirements directly with Flathead County Planning.
Market Comparison
The US short-term rental market posts a median occupancy of approximately 55% and a median ADR near $220. Bigfork’s April 2026 occupancy of 34.62% is below the national median, though April is a shoulder month. The 2025 annual average was 51.37%, close to the national median. The 2025 annual average ADR of $322 is well above the national median, consistent with Flathead Lake and Glacier Country destination pricing.
The professionally managed tier commands a particularly strong premium here: $280 per night versus $227 for the market overall, a 23.3% uplift that is one of the largest spreads across the markets analyzed. That gap suggests meaningful opportunity for operators willing to invest in professional management or premium positioning.
Within the local operator landscape, Stay Montana leads with 165 listings and 2,400 reviews (4.73 average rating). Evolve follows with 131 listings and 6,513 reviews (4.82 rating). Vacasa holds 122 listings (4.57 rating, 5,100 reviews). Whitefish Mountain Resort Lodging manages 118 listings (4.65 rating, 1,034 reviews). Natural Retreats rounds out the top five with 108 listings and 3,953 reviews (4.82 rating). These five operators collectively account for approximately 644 identified listings. The market’s regulation score of 69.65 out of 100 reflects the zoning-dependent permitting complexity of an unincorporated county-regulated area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bigfork, Montana
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