Mena, Arkansas Short-Term Rental Market
Mena, AR STRs averaged $159/night at 44.0% occupancy in April 2026, with occupancy up 5.1 percentage points year over year.
Quick Answer: Mena, 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
The Mena, AR market area in Polk County encompasses 6,875 tracked short-term rental listings serving the Ouachita Mountains outdoor recreation corridor. Mena (population 5,498) is the county seat of Polk County and the gateway to Queen Wilhelmina State Park, the Ouachita National Forest, and the Talimena National Scenic Byway.
In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $159, a 44.0% occupancy rate, and a $70 RevPAR. Year over year, occupancy improved 5.1 percentage points and revenue rose 4.6%, while ADR declined 1.8%, indicating volume-led recovery. The 2025 full-year average was 45.5% occupancy and a $163 ADR, generating $2,119 in average monthly revenue per listing.
Entire-place rentals dominate at 6,656 listings (96.8% of inventory), with 218 private-room listings and one shared-room listing. Bedroom distribution shows 2-bedrooms leading at 2,011 units, followed by 1-bedrooms (1,992), 3-bedrooms (1,922), 4-bedrooms (648), and 5-bedroom-plus homes (297). Channel mix shows 3,220 listings on both Airbnb and VRBO, 3,055 on Airbnb only, and 600 on VRBO only.
Market scores show an investability rating of 96.5, a seasonality score of 83.1, a total score of 85.1, a regulation score of 68.4, and a revenue growth score of 67.8. Typical home values stand at $194,380 (April 2026 snapshot), with a median list price of $247,667 and 170 active listings in inventory.
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 Mena
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 Mena?
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
The Mena market’s low typical home value of $194,380 relative to STR revenues creates a favorable entry-cost-to-income profile. Using the 2025 annual average revenue of $2,119 per month, the annualized gross is approximately $25,428, implying a gross revenue yield of approximately 13.1% on the typical home value before expenses, taxes, and operating costs.
April 2026 data shows a $159 average daily rate, 44.0% occupancy, and $1,962 average monthly revenue per listing. House listings averaged $2,091 per month, entire-place listings $1,988, and apartment-type listings $1,365. The 53% gap between house and apartment revenue reflects strong guest preference for standalone properties in this mountain corridor. The luxury ADR tier reached $295 per night versus the market average of $159, an 86% premium. Professionally managed properties averaged $198 per night, 25% above the market average.
Annual occupancy peaked at 54.4% in 2021, declined through 2023, and partially recovered to 45.5% in 2025. ADR has ranged from $155 to $168 since 2021. Revenue per listing averaged $2,119 per month in 2025, up modestly from $2,080 in 2023, a 1.9% gain over two years. The investability score of 96.5 reflects the low purchase price entry point relative to income potential.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
The Mena market shows an average booking lead time of 39.0 days (roughly 5 to 6 weeks) and an average length of stay of 3.68 nights. The lead time is consistent with regional outdoor recreation markets where guests plan within 5 to 6 weeks of arrival. The 3.68-night average stay reflects primarily weekend and short multi-night trips, consistent with the cabin and nature retreat character of the Ouachita Mountains.
Operators using a 2- to 3-night minimum can accommodate the dominant trip length without material revenue loss. For peak summer months (June and July, when occupancy reaches 57%), a 3-night minimum can be effective. For the fall foliage season in October (50.3% occupancy), 2- to 3-night minimums work given the event-driven demand pattern.
ADR ranges from $132 in January and February to $178 in July, a 35% spread. Rate management across seasons is meaningful; updating pricing 5 to 6 weeks before target dates aligns with this market’s booking window.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Mena has no dedicated short-term rental ordinance, registration program, or night cap on record as of mid-2026. Under Arkansas Act 1072 of 2019, cities and counties cannot outright ban STRs but may regulate for health and safety purposes. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Land use is governed by Mena’s general zoning ordinance; investors should confirm the property’s zoning district and any accessory-dwelling-unit rules directly with Mena City Hall before listing.
On taxes, Arkansas imposes a statewide 2% tourism tax on accommodations. State and local sales tax also applies to STR stays, with the combined sales tax rate in Mena at 9.5% (6.5% state, 2% Polk County, 1% city). Airbnb collects Arkansas state and local taxes on behalf of most hosts. No separate municipal advertising and promotion (A&P) or hotel lodging tax commission was found for Mena.
Investors should also determine whether a general city business license is required and obtain an Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration sales/use tax permit. Enforcement is rated minimal, with oversight limited to general zoning, nuisance, and building codes. Confirm current requirements with the City of Mena and Polk County before operating.
Market Comparison
Mena’s April 2026 ADR of $159 is below the U.S. STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the rural, non-resort character of the Ouachita Mountains market. April occupancy of 44.0% also trails the U.S. median of approximately 55%. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 45.5% is consistent with a rural seasonal destination that draws regional outdoor recreation visitors.
The market’s investability score of 96.5 stands out nationally, driven by the low acquisition cost (typical home value $194,380) relative to STR revenues. Occupancy improvement of 5.1 percentage points and revenue growth of 4.6% year over year in April 2026 signal recovering demand.
Evolve leads the professional management landscape with 434 listings (6.3% of the 6,875-listing market) and 17,314 reviews at a 4.78 average rating. Arkansas Vacation manages 38 listings (0.6%, 4.75 rating), and King Rhodes holds 32 listings (0.5%, 4.74 rating). Buffalo Outdoor Center manages 27 listings (0.4%, 4.91 rating), and Ivy Vacations holds 25 listings (0.4%, 4.91 rating). The top five account for 556 listings or 8.1% of market inventory, indicating a largely independent operator landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mena, Arkansas
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