Bull Shoals, Arkansas Short-Term Rental Market
Bull Shoals, AR STRs averaged $159/night at 44.0% occupancy in April 2026, with an investability score of 96.5 out of 100.
Quick Answer: Bull Shoals, Arkansas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 44%. average monthly revenue is $1,962. average daily rate is $159. the top operator is Evolve with 434 listings. market score is 85/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bull Shoals sits on the Arkansas-Missouri border along Bull Shoals Lake, a 45,000-acre reservoir on the White River that draws anglers, boaters, and outdoor recreation visitors. In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $159 and occupancy of 44.0%, generating $70 in RevPAR. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 5.1 percentage points while ADR dipped 1.8% and average monthly revenue grew 4.6%, a positive trajectory driven by volume gains.
The listing mix is heavily entire-place: 6,656 entire-place listings versus 218 private rooms and 1 shared room. Bedroom distribution is relatively even: two-bedroom units lead at 2,011 listings, followed by one-bedroom (1,992), three-bedroom (1,922), four-bedroom (648), and five-bedroom-plus (297). Channel distribution shows 3,220 listings on both Airbnb and VRBO, 3,055 on Airbnb only, and 600 on VRBO only. The market’s investability score of 96.5 out of 100 is exceptionally high, and the total market score of 85.1 reflects strong fundamentals for an affordable lake destination. Annual visitor count stands at 905,000.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32% | $132 | $1,364 |
| Feb | 40% | $132 | $1,298 |
| Mar | 51% | $153 | $2,029 |
| Apr | 43% | $151 | $1,813 |
| May | 49% | $161 | $2,038 |
| Jun | 57% | $176 | $2,694 |
| Jul | 57% | $178 | $2,880 |
| Aug | 44% | $163 | $2,086 |
| Sep | 42% | $155 | $1,800 |
| Oct | 50% | $156 | $2,184 |
| Nov | 45% | $152 | $1,891 |
| Dec | 38% | $146 | $1,698 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Bull Shoals
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 434 | 17,314 | ★ 4.78 |
| 2 | Arkansas Vacation | 38 | 748 | ★ 4.75 |
| 3 | King Rhodes | 32 | 408 | ★ 4.74 |
| 4 | Buffalo Outdoor Center | 27 | 308 | ★ 4.91 |
| 5 | Ivy Vacations | 25 | 3,140 | ★ 4.91 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bull Shoals?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,992 |
| 2 bed | 2,011 |
| 3 bed | 1,922 |
| 4 bed | 648 |
| 5 bed | 297 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $161 |
| Luxury | $295 |
| Professionally Managed | $198 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,365 |
| Entire Place | $1,988 |
| House | $2,091 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 44.4% |
| vrbo | 8.7% |
| both | 46.8% |
Investment Analysis
At a typical home value of $207,705 and average monthly STR revenue of $1,962 in April 2026, a Bull Shoals STR implies an annualized gross revenue of approximately $23,538, representing a gross yield of roughly 11.3% before expenses, management fees, and taxes. The market’s investability score of 96.5 out of 100 is driven by the combination of low acquisition cost and permissive regulations.
Luxury-tier properties ($295 ADR) and professionally managed listings ($198 ADR) command premiums over the market average ($159). Houses average $2,091/month versus apartments at $1,365/month, a gap of $726/month. Annual average revenue has been relatively stable: 2022 averaged $2,199/month, 2023 dipped to $2,080, 2024 recovered slightly to $2,101, and 2025 reached $2,119. The occupancy gain of 5.1 percentage points year-over-year is the most encouraging recent datapoint, suggesting demand is rebuilding after a 2022-2023 softening. Revenue growth score of 67.8 out of 100 reflects moderate growth momentum.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Bull Shoals guests book an average of 39.0 days in advance, with an average length of stay of 3.68 nights. The roughly 5-week lead time is near the national STR median, giving operators moderate advance visibility. This window is sufficient for basic dynamic pricing but shorter than the 50-60 day horizons seen in some Arizona markets.
The 3.68-night average stay is consistent with a lake vacation destination serving weekend-to-extended-weekend trip patterns. Minimum-stay policies of 2-3 nights are well-matched to demand patterns during peak summer months. In the slow winter months (January-February), reducing minimums to 1-2 nights may improve occupancy, though these periods will remain soft regardless of minimum-stay policy given the lake recreation demand profile.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Bull Shoals expressly permits short-term rentals under Ordinance 2025-09, the city’s current primary STR framework. Operators must obtain a City STR Permit by submitting an application to the Planning and Zoning Department, including proof of ownership, a site and floor plan, and a management plan for non-owner-managed properties. STRs are restricted to R-1 and R-2 zoning districts. No annual night cap applies, and no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement exists, making this an investor-accessible market.
On taxes, all STR operators must collect the combined Arkansas lodging rate of 8.5% on stays of 29 nights or fewer: 6.5% state gross receipts tax plus 2.0% state tourism tax. Marion County and the City of Bull Shoals add additional lodging taxes on top of the state rate, though specific city and county add-on rates were not confirmed in available public records. Operators must also obtain a State Business Privilege Tax Certificate from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Enforcement is rated minimal. No permit cost was confirmed in available data.
Market Comparison
Against national benchmarks of roughly 55% median occupancy and $220 median ADR, Bull Shoals’ April 2026 occupancy of 44.0% is below the national median by 11 percentage points, and the $159 ADR is well below the national baseline, reflecting the affordable rural Arkansas market. However, the investability score of 96.5 out of 100 is one of the highest in the dataset, driven by the combination of low acquisition costs, permissive regulations, and 905,000 annual visitors.
Evolve leads the market with 434 listings, 17,314 reviews, and a 4.78 average rating. Arkansas Vacation ranks second with 38 listings and a 4.75 rating. King Rhodes holds third with 32 listings and a 4.74 rating. Ivy Vacations (25 listings, 4.91 rating) and Buffalo Outdoor Center (27 listings, 4.91 rating) are notable for high ratings. The top three operators manage 504 listings in a market of approximately 6,875 total listings, meaning the large majority of inventory is independently operated.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bull Shoals, Arkansas
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