Bark River, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Bark River, MI STRs averaged $166/night at 33.2% occupancy in April 2026, with peak-summer rates reaching $208 and occupancy hitting 76.6%.
Quick Answer: Bark River, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 33%. average monthly revenue is $1,424. average daily rate is $166. the top operator is Evolve with 99 listings. market score is 82/100 (grade B).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Bark River, Michigan short-term rental market recorded an average daily rate of $166 and an occupancy rate of 33.2% in April 2026, producing an average monthly revenue of $1,424 per active listing. RevPAR stood at $55 in that period. The market carries a total score of 82.4 out of 100 on the StaySTRA investability index, with an investability sub-score of 99.83 reflecting strong entry-point economics relative to rental income potential.
By listing count, the market spans approximately 4,699 active listings across bedroom configurations. Two-bedroom properties represent the largest share at 1,552 listings (33%), followed by three-bedroom at 1,254 (27%) and one-bedroom at 1,174 (25%). Four-bedroom and five-bedroom properties account for 485 and 234 listings respectively.
Entire-place listings dominate at 4,481 out of 4,703 channel-tracked listings (95.3%), with private rooms at 221 and shared rooms at just 1. On the platform side, 2,134 listings appear on Airbnb, 703 on VRBO, and 1,866 across both platforms.
Year-over-year for April 2026, occupancy declined 6.92 percentage points, ADR rose 2.47%, and total revenue fell 5.03%. The 2025 full-year average revenue per listing was $2,820, up from $2,664 in 2024 and $2,631 in 2023, reflecting gradual improvement in per-listing yield even as occupancy softened.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43% | $186 | $2,164 |
| Feb | 50% | $192 | $2,308 |
| Mar | 31% | $161 | $1,587 |
| Apr | 36% | $146 | $1,388 |
| May | 47% | $169 | $1,649 |
| Jun | 64% | $201 | $2,984 |
| Jul | 77% | $208 | $4,303 |
| Aug | 73% | $206 | $4,162 |
| Sep | 55% | $189 | $2,863 |
| Oct | 50% | $180 | $2,480 |
| Nov | 31% | $152 | $1,510 |
| Dec | 45% | $173 | $1,678 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Bark River
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 99 | 4,068 | ★ 4.65 |
| 2 | Freshwater Vacation Rentals | 75 | 5,309 | ★ 4.85 |
| 3 | Northwoods Resort | 49 | 6,899 | ★ 4.86 |
| 4 | Northern Properties | 49 | 228 | ★ 4.71 |
| 5 | Pictured Rocks Vacation Rentals & Property Management, LLC | 36 | 3,262 | ★ 4.74 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bark River?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,174 |
| 2 bed | 1,552 |
| 3 bed | 1,254 |
| 4 bed | 485 |
| 5 bed | 234 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $169 |
| Luxury | $284 |
| Professionally Managed | $216 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,254 |
| Entire Place | $1,469 |
| House | $1,496 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 45.4% |
| vrbo | 14.9% |
| both | 39.7% |
Investment Analysis
Bark River’s appeal for STR investors rests primarily on its low entry cost relative to income potential. The typical home value in the area is $216,727 (Zillow estimate, April 2026 snapshot). At April 2026’s average monthly revenue of $1,424, annualized revenue projects to approximately $17,092 per year, representing a gross yield of approximately 7.9% before expenses. April is one of the softer months; the 2025 annual average revenue was $2,820 per month, which annualizes to approximately $33,840 and implies a gross yield near 15.6% using the same home value baseline.
Tier comparisons show meaningful spread: all-listings ADR was $166 in April 2026, while entire-home listings averaged $169 and professionally managed properties averaged $216. Luxury-tier properties averaged $284. Hosts entering the professionally managed tier can expect roughly 30% higher nightly rates versus the all-listings average.
Revenue YoY was down 5.03% in April 2026, consistent with a broader occupancy softening. However, the 2025 annual average ADR of $206 represented the highest on record in the data history, and full-year 2025 revenue per listing at $2,820 was also a multi-year high. The investability score of 99.83 reflects the combination of low acquisition cost, absence of confirmed permit requirements, and sustained revenue growth from 2020 onward.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
In April 2026, the average booking lead time for Bark River STRs was 68.6 days, meaning guests book roughly 10 weeks in advance on average. The average length of stay was 3.87 nights.
A 68-day lead time gives operators meaningful pricing flexibility. Hosts can hold rates firm through the advance booking window and apply last-minute discounts only in the final two weeks if needed. For the summer peak, where July occupancy averages 76.6%, demand is strong enough that aggressive lead-time discounting is likely unnecessary.
At 3.87 nights average stay, turnover frequency is moderate (roughly 7-8 turnovers per month at full occupancy). This is higher than pure weekly-rental resort markets but lower than urban-style short-stay markets. Operators should budget cleaning and restocking costs accordingly and consider minimum-stay policies of 3-4 nights to reduce turnover friction without meaningfully suppressing demand.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Bark River is an unincorporated community in Delta County, Michigan. As of May 2026, no adopted permit or registration requirement for short-term rentals has been confirmed for Bark River Township or Delta County. Michigan has no statewide STR permit requirement; regulatory authority rests entirely with local jurisdictions.
A draft Bark River Township Zoning Ordinance was prepared by CUPPAD in February 2025 and circulated for public comment. Its adoption status and any STR-specific provisions are not confirmed in publicly available sources as of the profile update date.
The one confirmed tax obligation is Michigan’s 6% state use tax on all lodging stays shorter than 30 consecutive days. Operators must register with the Michigan Department of Treasury before collecting this tax. Airbnb remits the 6% state use tax automatically on behalf of hosts; VRBO and direct-booking operators must collect and remit it independently. No county-level lodging or accommodations tax specific to Delta County has been confirmed.
Michigan HB 4554 (2025), the Short-Term Rental Promotion Act, was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism in June 2025. If enacted, it would require statewide STR registration and mandate $1 million liability insurance. As of May 2026 the bill has not passed.
Investors should contact Delta County Building and Zoning at (906) 789-5189 and Bark River Township at (906) 466-2331 to confirm current zoning and any permit requirements before operating. Enforcement severity is rated minimal.
Market Comparison
Bark River’s April 2026 ADR of $166 sits below the U.S. STR median ADR of approximately $220, consistent with its rural Upper Peninsula location and smaller market size. Occupancy at 33.2% in April is also below the U.S. median of roughly 55%, though April is a seasonally weak month; the July peak of 76.6% significantly exceeds the national median.
The market’s total score of 82.4 and investability score of 99.83 suggest it ranks favorably among smaller rural markets specifically on value-to-income metrics, driven by the low typical home value of $216,727.
On the operator side, the market has a mix of large national platforms and local specialists. Evolve leads by listing count with 99 properties and 4,068 reviews at a 4.65 average rating. Freshwater Vacation Rentals manages 75 properties with 5,309 reviews at a 4.85 average rating. Northwoods Resort operates 49 properties and holds the highest review count in the top 5 at 6,899 reviews with a 4.86 average. Northern Properties also has 49 listings with a 4.71 average rating. Pictured Rocks Vacation Rentals and Property Management rounds out the top five with 36 listings and 3,262 reviews at 4.74. The top five operators collectively manage 308 listings, representing about 6.6% of the approximately 4,699 total listing count, indicating a largely owner-operated market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bark River, Michigan
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What is the typical home value in Bark River and what gross yield can investors expect?
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