Afton, Oklahoma Short-Term Rental Market
Afton, Oklahoma STRs averaged $199/night at 33.1% occupancy in April 2026, anchored by Grand Lake o' the Cherokees lake recreation demand.
Quick Answer: Afton, Oklahoma is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 33%. average monthly revenue is $1,968. average daily rate is $199. the top operator is Evolve with 108 listings. market score is 47/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Afton is a small Route 66 town in Ottawa County, northeastern Oklahoma, with a population of approximately 734. Its STR market is driven primarily by recreation visitors to Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees, a 46,500-acre reservoir with over 1,300 miles of shoreline that is one of the more active bass-fishing and boating destinations in the region. A secondary visitor stream consists of Route 66 heritage travelers.
The STR inventory is nearly entirely whole-property rentals: entire-place listings account for 886 of the 893 total listings tracked. The bedroom distribution is relatively balanced, with one-bedroom (234), two-bedroom (240), and three-bedroom (216) properties each holding similar share, tapering to 111 four-bedroom and 92 five-bedroom-plus units. Cross-listed properties are the most common channel approach, with 534 listings appearing on both Airbnb and VRBO, 237 Airbnb-only, and 122 VRBO-only.
In April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $199 and occupancy of 33.1%, producing a RevPAR of $66. Year over year, occupancy increased 2.1% and ADR edged up 0.3%, while average monthly revenue dipped 2.8% compared to April 2025. The market’s investability score of 80.5 out of 100 is notably high relative to its overall score of 46.5, suggesting the data supports a favorable cost-to-revenue relationship even at modest occupancy levels.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 18% | $195 | $1,237 |
| Feb | 29% | $191 | $1,251 |
| Mar | 41% | $216 | $1,960 |
| Apr | 33% | $205 | $1,854 |
| May | 41% | $258 | $2,319 |
| Jun | 50% | $320 | $4,079 |
| Jul | 54% | $332 | $4,897 |
| Aug | 39% | $303 | $3,401 |
| Sep | 32% | $273 | $2,421 |
| Oct | 33% | $218 | $2,102 |
| Nov | 29% | $223 | $1,855 |
| Dec | 24% | $199 | $1,624 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Afton
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 108 | 4,038 | ★ 4.75 |
| 2 | Grand Lake Vacation Rentals | 23 | 1,511 | ★ 4.94 |
| 3 | NexResorts | 10 | 20 | ★ 4.97 |
| 4 | Coastal Grand Vacations | 10 | 0 | ★ 0.00 |
| 5 | WorldMark | 10 | 39 | ★ 4.81 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Afton?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 234 |
| 2 bed | 240 |
| 3 bed | 216 |
| 4 bed | 111 |
| 5 bed | 92 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $200 |
| Luxury | $310 |
| Professionally Managed | $196 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,412 |
| Entire Place | $1,974 |
| House | $2,119 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 26.5% |
| vrbo | 13.7% |
| both | 59.8% |
Investment Analysis
Afton’s STR economics reflect a lake-recreation market with moderate occupancy and lower ADR compared to mountain or coastal resort markets. At April 2026 figures, the average listing generates approximately $1,968 per month. Annualizing the 2025 full-year average of $2,568 per month yields approximately $30,816 in annual gross revenue per listing.
The ADR spread between tiers is present but compressed relative to higher-cost markets. Entire-home listings averaged $200/night compared to the all-listings ADR of $199, indicating minimal segmentation at the mid-market. Luxury-tier properties averaged $310/night, a 56% premium over the market average. Professionally managed listings averaged $196/night, slightly below the market average, which may reflect Evolve’s large volume of more standardized properties.
Housing price data for Afton is not available in our current dataset, so a gross yield figure cannot be computed. Given the lower ADR and occupancy levels relative to national benchmarks, prospective investors should model acquisition costs carefully against the revenue profile above.
Revenue declined from a 2020-2021 peak (averaging $2,817 and $2,991 per month annually) and has stabilized in the $2,490-$2,568 range for 2024-2025. The market’s investability score of 80.5 suggests relatively favorable entry economics, likely reflecting lower property acquisition costs in the area.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Afton STR guests book an average of 37 days in advance, and the average length of stay is 3.60 nights. The 37-day lead time is moderate, giving operators roughly five weeks of advance visibility into upcoming demand. This is somewhat shorter than resort markets with longer planning horizons, suggesting that some lake visitors make decisions closer to their travel dates.
The 3.6-night average stay is shorter than markets dominated by week-long vacation rental bookings, reflecting a mix of extended-weekend lake trips and shorter getaway visitors. Operators should consider minimum-night settings that capture the weekend-trip demand that dominates this market without losing midweek stays that can fill gaps between weekend blocks. During summer peak, a three-night minimum on weekend-adjacent nights can help optimize revenue without sacrificing occupancy.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Afton is a small incorporated town in Ottawa County, Oklahoma. No dedicated Afton STR ordinance, permit program, owner-occupancy rule, or nightly cap was identified in city or county records. Oklahoma has no statewide STR licensing requirement; regulation is left to individual municipalities and counties.
The primary obligation for STR operators in Afton is tax compliance. The combined sales tax rate in Afton is approximately 9.7%, comprising Oklahoma state sales tax, Ottawa County tax, and a 3.5% city rate. Short-term lodging gross receipts are subject to this combined sales tax. Airbnb and VRBO typically collect and remit Oklahoma state sales tax automatically, but operators must register with the Oklahoma Tax Commission and may owe local taxes independently.
No separate voter-approved municipal lodging or occupancy tax was confirmed specifically for Afton. Because Afton sits near Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees, properties may also be affected by Grand River Dam Authority shoreline regulations and Ottawa County zoning. Enforcement is characterized as minimal given the town’s size and the absence of a formal STR program. Investors should confirm current requirements directly with Afton Town Hall and Ottawa County before operating.
Market Comparison
The US median STR occupancy is approximately 55% and the national median ADR is approximately $220. Afton’s April 2026 occupancy of 33.1% and ADR of $199 both fall below national medians, consistent with a smaller, seasonal lake market with a more limited geographic draw than major resort destinations.
The market’s investability score of 80.5 out of 100 is the standout metric, suggesting that at current pricing levels the cost-to-revenue relationship is favorable relative to other markets. The overall score of 46.5 reflects the drag from lower rental demand (51.6) and modest revenue growth (67.4).
Among top operators, Evolve leads by a wide margin with 108 listings and 4,038 reviews at a 4.75 average rating. Grand Lake Vacation Rentals follows at 23 listings with 1,511 reviews and a 4.94 rating, the highest average rating among the top five operators. WorldMark holds 10 listings with a 4.81 average rating across 39 reviews. NexResorts manages 10 listings with a 4.97 rating, though based on only 20 reviews. The presence of Evolve as the dominant operator suggests many Afton property owners use a light-touch management model rather than full-service local management.
Frequently Asked Questions About Afton, Oklahoma
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