Huddleston, Virginia Short-Term Rental Market
Huddleston STRs averaged $209/night at 48.1% occupancy in April 2026 across a lakefront market of 9,400+ active listings.
Quick Answer: Huddleston, Virginia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 54%. average monthly revenue is $4,228. average daily rate is $285. the top operator is Vacasa with 312 listings. market score is 68/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Virginia Area regional market, which includes Huddleston. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Huddleston.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Huddleston, Virginia sits on the shores of Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia’s second-largest reservoir, and its short-term rental market reflects the area’s role as a regional lake-recreation destination. As of April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $209 and an occupancy rate of 48.1%, producing a RevPAR of $101. The active listing pool totals approximately 9,400 properties across all bedroom sizes.
Entire-place listings dominate the market at 8,481 units (90.1% of supply), with private rooms accounting for 932 listings and shared rooms representing just 3. Airbnb carries the largest channel presence with 4,462 listings, followed by 3,981 properties listed on both Airbnb and VRBO simultaneously, and 973 VRBO-only listings.
The bedroom mix is well-distributed: 1-bedroom units lead at 2,856 listings, 3-bedroom at 2,265, 2-bedroom at 2,053, 4-bedroom at 1,260, and 5-bedroom-plus at 962. Year-over-year, occupancy slipped 1.41 percentage points while ADR gained 3.74%, leaving revenue nearly flat at +0.19% versus the prior April. The market’s composite investment score from the platform is 67.84 out of 100, with the investability sub-score notably higher at 88.58.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | $152 | $1,674 |
| Feb | 45% | $151 | $1,663 |
| Mar | 49% | $166 | $2,074 |
| Apr | 50% | $186 | $2,424 |
| May | 51% | $224 | $2,892 |
| Jun | 58% | $246 | $3,720 |
| Jul | 63% | $238 | $4,053 |
| Aug | 59% | $237 | $3,818 |
| Sep | 49% | $215 | $2,811 |
| Oct | 50% | $203 | $2,835 |
| Nov | 45% | $195 | $2,401 |
| Dec | 40% | $173 | $2,106 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Huddleston
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 312 | 10,504 | ★ 4.56 |
| 2 | Evolve | 300 | 11,552 | ★ 4.79 |
| 3 | Casago | 93 | 1,125 | ★ 4.58 |
| 4 | Lakefront Luxury | 72 | 3,462 | ★ 4.95 |
| 5 | Blue Ridge Escapes | 57 | 1,928 | ★ 4.78 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Huddleston?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,856 |
| 2 bed | 2,053 |
| 3 bed | 2,265 |
| 4 bed | 1,260 |
| 5 bed | 962 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $302 |
| Luxury | $568 |
| Professionally Managed | $425 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,427 |
| Entire Place | $4,497 |
| House | $4,820 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 47.4% |
| vrbo | 10.3% |
| both | 42.3% |
Investment Analysis
Huddleston’s investability score of 88.58 out of 100 reflects the combination of a distinct waterfront location, established visitor demand, and a relatively permissive regulatory framework. At April 2026’s average revenue of $2,657 per month, an investor annualizes approximately $31,886 in gross rental income per listing.
With the Zillow typical home value at $512,773 (April 2026), that annualized gross revenue implies a gross yield of approximately 6.2%. Entry cost is somewhat softened by the median list price of $476,500 and 51 active for-sale listings providing some selection.
Tier differentiation is meaningful. Professionally managed properties averaged $280/night in ADR versus the market-wide $209, a 34% premium. Luxury-tier listings averaged $423/night, serving high-end waterfront demand. Entire-place properties earned an average of $2,804/month versus $1,876 for apartment-type units. House-type listings averaged $2,933/month, the top category by property type.
Revenue growth scored 68.30 and rental demand 64.59, both above midpoint. The ADR trend is positive (up 3.74% year-over-year through April 2026), and the market’s 2025 full-year average revenue of $3,085/month was meaningfully above the 2023 average of $2,873, signaling recovery from post-pandemic normalization.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
April 2026 data shows an average booking lead time of 45 days and an average length of stay of 3.8 nights. A 45-day lead window means most guests are committing to their Smith Mountain Lake trip roughly six weeks out, giving operators a reasonable forward-visibility window for pricing adjustments.
A 3.8-night average stay is longer than a typical urban short-term rental, consistent with the lake-vacation use case where guests often arrive for long weekends or mid-week escapes. For operators, this length of stay reduces per-booking turnover costs and supports cleaning fee structures that spread costs over more nights. Pricing for mid-week gaps becomes important in a market where the 3-4 night stay is the norm, as weekday availability can sit idle if not priced attractively relative to adjacent weekends.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals in Huddleston are governed by Bedford County, which adopted its first comprehensive STR ordinance in August 2023, effective November 1, 2023. STRs are permitted, and operators must register annually with the county’s Planning and Zoning office. The annual zoning permit costs approximately $50.
Permitted zoning districts include AP, AR, AV, R-1, R-2, C1, C2, PCD, and PRD. Properties in A-1 Agricultural require a special use permit. A management plan is mandatory and must include floor plans, a local 24/7 contact, safety measures, and posted operational rules. Guest parking must be on the property. An annual site inspection verifies the bedroom count matches the certificate of occupancy.
Bedford County levies a 7% transient occupancy tax on rentals under 30 days. There is no maximum-nights-per-year cap and no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Operating without registration carries a $500 penalty. Enforcement is complaint-driven and graduated: more than three violations allows the county to bar a property from STR registration for up to two years. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. Operators near Smith Mountain Lake’s 795-foot elevation contour face additional residential-use STR rules.
Market Comparison
Huddleston’s April 2026 occupancy of 48.1% sits below the US STR market median of approximately 55%, reflecting the off-season nature of April in a lake-recreation market. ADR of $209 is near the US median of approximately $220, reasonable for a inland lakefront market in rural southwestern Virginia.
The professional management tier at $280/night versus the market’s $209 represents a 34% premium, above what many self-managed markets show.
Vacasa leads the Huddleston area with 312 listings and 10,504 reviews (rating 4.56). Evolve is a close second at 300 listings and 11,552 reviews (rating 4.79). Casago holds third at 93 listings with a 4.58 rating, followed by Lakefront Luxury with 72 listings and the highest rating in the top five at 4.95, and Blue Ridge Escapes with 57 listings at 4.78. The combined top-5 operators account for 834 listings, representing approximately 8.9% of the roughly 9,400-listing market, indicating a fragmented landscape where independent operators retain the large majority of supply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Huddleston, Virginia
What is the average daily rate for STRs in Huddleston, VA?
What occupancy rate can I expect for a short-term rental near Smith Mountain Lake?
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental in Huddleston?
What is the estimated gross rental income for a Huddleston STR?
When is peak season for Smith Mountain Lake short-term rentals?
How far in advance do guests typically book in this market?
What is the typical home value in Huddleston and how does it affect STR returns?
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