Long Barn, California Short-Term Rental Market
Long Barn, CA Sierra Nevada STRs averaged 41.2% occupancy and $287/night in April 2026 across approximately 5,057 active listings near Dodge Ridge.
Quick Answer: Long Barn, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 59%. average monthly revenue is $5,625. average daily rate is $360. the top operator is Evolve with 209 listings. market score is 57/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Northern Sierra Mtns regional market, which includes Long Barn. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Long Barn.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Long Barn, California short-term rental market spans approximately 5,057 active listings as of April 2026, serving this small Tuolumne County alpine hamlet (elevation 5,076 feet, population 132) along the State Route 108 corridor between Sonora and Sonora Pass. The market is almost entirely entire-place focused, with 4,891 entire-place listings (96.7% of tracked listings), 165 private rooms, and 1 shared room. Three-bedroom units are the most common configuration with 1,905 listings, followed by one-bedroom (1,098), two-bedroom (1,059), four-bedroom (745), and five-plus bedroom (245) units, reflecting the cabin and mountain-house character of this Stanislaus National Forest corridor.
Channel distribution shows strong dual-listing rates. Among channel-tracked listings, 2,016 are Airbnb-only, 2,669 appear on both platforms, and 372 are VRBO-only. The dual-listing rate of 52.8% indicates that most established operators maintain presence on both platforms.
In April 2026, occupancy was 41.2% and the average daily rate was $287.45, producing a RevPAR of $118.33. Year-over-year, occupancy fell 0.17%, ADR fell 0.82%, and revenue declined 0.69%, essentially flat performance. The 2025 full-year average is the more complete benchmark: $309 ADR at 44.1% occupancy, producing approximately $3,801 in average monthly revenue per active listing.
Market scores are moderate. The total score is 57.2 out of 100, with seasonality at 74.0, investability at 70.4, regulation at 71.4, revenue growth at 62.2, and rental demand at 56.5.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37% | $265 | $2,828 |
| Feb | 46% | $271 | $2,934 |
| Mar | 40% | $258 | $2,988 |
| Apr | 46% | $262 | $3,275 |
| May | 54% | $279 | $3,711 |
| Jun | 61% | $302 | $4,678 |
| Jul | 64% | $291 | $5,032 |
| Aug | 54% | $285 | $4,296 |
| Sep | 44% | $269 | $3,252 |
| Oct | 46% | $254 | $3,279 |
| Nov | 42% | $247 | $2,611 |
| Dec | 46% | $272 | $3,163 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Long Barn
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 209 | 10,412 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | The Redwoods In Yosemite | 153 | 3,479 | ★ 4.56 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 144 | 6,856 | ★ 4.44 |
| 4 | Cedar Creek Realty | 132 | 2,822 | ★ 4.67 |
| 5 | Yosemite's Scenic Wonders | 78 | 14,787 | ★ 4.79 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Long Barn?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,098 |
| 2 bed | 1,059 |
| 3 bed | 1,905 |
| 4 bed | 745 |
| 5 bed | 245 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $366 |
| Luxury | $615 |
| Professionally Managed | $462 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $4,740 |
| Entire Place | $5,726 |
| House | $5,915 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 39.9% |
| vrbo | 7.4% |
| both | 52.8% |
Investment Analysis
Long Barn’s investment case rests on a summer-peak and ski-winter demand split at a relatively accessible price point. The 2025 full-year average monthly revenue of $3,801 (annualized to $45,612) is the baseline for a typical listing before expenses. Housing snapshot data was not available in this data pull, so a gross yield calculation cannot be provided; investors should apply the $45,612 annual figure to current Tuolumne County mountain property prices.
ADR tiers show a meaningful professional management premium. Professionally managed properties averaged $360.84 per night in April 2026, approximately $68 above the entire-home average of $292.81 and $73 above the all-listings average of $287.45. The luxury tier averaged $463.21 per night. This $68 professional management premium suggests that leading operators in this market (Evolve, Yosemite’s Scenic Wonders, Cedar Creek Realty) are positioned in premium cabin inventory.
Revenue by property type in April 2026 shows a compressed spread: apartment listings averaged $3,567, entire-place listings averaged $3,502, and house listings averaged $3,533. The differences between these categories are small ($65 range), suggesting that all property types in this mountain cabin market are similarly positioned from a revenue standpoint.
Revenue has grown substantially over the data series, from $2,643 per month in 2017 to $3,801 in 2025, a 44% increase. ADR has driven most of this growth, rising from $232 in 2017 to $309 in 2025. Occupancy peaked at 60.65% in 2021 during the pandemic-era surge and has since normalized to 44%. Revenue has held relatively flat since 2022 ($3,683 to $3,803), indicating a market in a consolidation phase after the post-pandemic correction.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Long Barn, CA guests book an average of 47.9 days in advance, with stays averaging 3.2 nights. The roughly 48-day lead window is consistent with mountain recreation destinations where Central Valley and Bay Area travelers plan getaways four to seven weeks out.
For operators, a 48-day booking window means rate decisions made 50 to 65 days before arrival capture most demand. Summer peak bookings (July and August) tend to fill in May and June, with holiday weekend blocks (July 4, Labor Day) filling even earlier. Ski-season weekend bookings for December through February similarly flow in October and November.
The 3.2-night average length of stay is short for a mountain recreation destination, suggesting most guests are taking extended weekends rather than full week stays. Operators can accommodate this pattern with 2- or 3-night minimums during shoulder months to maximize occupancy. During peak summer weeks, a 4- to 5-night minimum helps fill the gap between check-in and check-out without leaving 1- to 2-night orphan gaps in the calendar.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted in Long Barn, an unincorporated census-designated place governed by Tuolumne County. The county adopted its first dedicated STR ordinance (County Code Chapter 8.70) on December 19, 2023, effective January 19, 2024.
To operate legally, all STR owners must: (1) obtain a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate from the county Tax Collector, and (2) apply for and pass a Fire and Life Safety Inspection through the county’s online portal, paying a $300 nonrefundable application fee. This inspection must be renewed every two years. Operators must maintain a 24/7 local contact reachable within 60 minutes, display visible address signage, and comply with defensible space and hazardous-vegetation rules applicable to this high fire-hazard Stanislaus National Forest area.
Guests pay a 12% transient occupancy tax (TOT) on the rental amount. There is no countywide night cap, no owner-occupancy requirement, and no primary-residence mandate. STRs are explicitly allowed in unincorporated Tuolumne County.
Enforcement focuses on the mandatory fire inspection and TOT compliance. Operating without a completed inspection is unlawful under the ordinance. The regime is compliance-oriented, with enforcement assessed as moderate. Investors should note that the ordinance is recent (in effect since January 2024) and implementation expectations may evolve. Contact the Tuolumne County Planning Department to confirm current requirements before operating.
Market Comparison
Long Barn’s 44.1% annual average occupancy (2025) sits below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, reflecting the seasonal concentration of this alpine market. Its 2025 annual ADR of $309 significantly exceeds the approximate U.S. median of $220, consistent with the premium pricing that Sierra Nevada mountain properties command.
The market’s total score of 57.2 positions Long Barn as a moderate performer in the broader California mountain STR landscape, with the investability score of 70.4 indicating reasonable acquisition opportunity relative to revenue potential.
The operator landscape is moderately concentrated. The top five property managers collectively hold 716 listings, representing approximately 14.2% of the 5,057 total active listings. Evolve leads with 209 listings and a 4.73 rating across 10,412 reviews. The Redwoods In Yosemite follows with 153 listings at a 4.56 rating. Vacasa holds 144 listings at a 4.44 rating. Cedar Creek Realty operates 132 listings at a 4.67 rating. Yosemite’s Scenic Wonders rounds out the top five with 78 listings and a 4.79 rating across 14,787 reviews, the highest review volume and one of the highest ratings among the top five.
The name recognition of Yosemite in several PM brands (The Redwoods In Yosemite, Yosemite’s Scenic Wonders) reflects this market’s positioning as part of the broader Yosemite gateway corridor, even though Long Barn sits on the SR-108 Sonora Pass approach rather than the Yosemite Valley approach roads. Operators marketing proximity to Pinecrest Lake and Dodge Ridge can differentiate from the Yosemite gateway positioning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Long Barn, California
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