Landers, California Short-Term Rental Market
Landers, CA desert STRs averaged $341/night at 63.1% occupancy in April 2026, generating $5,826 per month on a 96.3 investability score.
Quick Answer: Landers, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 46%. average monthly revenue is $3,853. average daily rate is $281. the top operator is The Cohost Company with 176 listings. market score is 91/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Joshua Tree regional market, which includes Landers. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Landers.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Landers is a small unincorporated community of 2,764 residents in San Bernardino County’s high desert, approximately 19 miles from Joshua Tree National Park. As an unincorporated area, STR regulation is handled at the county level rather than by a city government. Landers draws visitors primarily through Joshua Tree National Park, which is one of the most visited national parks in the United States, along with the Integratron (a domed acoustic structure known for sound bath experiences) and Giant Rock, a freestanding boulder said to be among the largest in the world.
The STR market recorded an average daily rate of $341 and occupancy of 63.1% in April 2026, translating to RevPAR of $215.18 and average monthly revenue of $5,826 per listing. Year-over-year, revenue grew 0.5% as a 0.2-percentage-point occupancy gain offset a 3.5% ADR decline, reflecting mild rate compression in the desert market.
The market hosts 3,993 active listings. Entire-place rentals are overwhelmingly dominant at 3,885 units (97.3% of total), with 105 private-room listings and 3 shared rooms. Cross-platform activity is high: 2,053 listings are active on both Airbnb and VRBO simultaneously, reflecting vacation-rental demand across both channels. Airbnb-only listings number 1,723; VRBO-only total 217.
By bedroom count, 2-bedroom units lead at 1,311 listings, followed by 3-bedroom (1,173), 1-bedroom (907), 4-bedroom (441), and 5-bedroom (155). The 2- and 3-bedroom concentration reflects the desert retreat demand for group and couple accommodations.
The composite market score of 91.1 is supported by an investability rating of 96.3, the highest in this batch, reflecting strong revenue relative to clear and defined regulatory requirements.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52% | $241 | $3,510 |
| Feb | 59% | $253 | $3,761 |
| Mar | 66% | $269 | $5,034 |
| Apr | 66% | $279 | $4,913 |
| May | 51% | $266 | $3,737 |
| Jun | 48% | $249 | $3,374 |
| Jul | 48% | $230 | $3,117 |
| Aug | 50% | $229 | $3,059 |
| Sep | 47% | $237 | $2,927 |
| Oct | 52% | $249 | $3,493 |
| Nov | 57% | $260 | $3,939 |
| Dec | 56% | $267 | $4,090 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Landers
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Cohost Company | 176 | 22,718 | ★ 4.88 |
| 2 | Homestead Modern | 80 | 10,926 | ★ 4.87 |
| 3 | Hi-Desert Dwellings | 78 | 16,355 | ★ 4.89 |
| 4 | Fieldtrip | 63 | 5,323 | ★ 4.90 |
| 5 | Cocoon | 50 | 10,107 | ★ 4.93 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Landers?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 907 |
| 2 bed | 1,311 |
| 3 bed | 1,173 |
| 4 bed | 441 |
| 5 bed | 155 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $284 |
| Luxury | $460 |
| Professionally Managed | $373 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,658 |
| Entire Place | $3,905 |
| House | $3,928 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 43.2% |
| vrbo | 5.4% |
| both | 51.4% |
Investment Analysis
Landers STRs generated an average of $5,826 per month in April 2026, annualizing to approximately $69,900 at that run rate. No Zillow home value data is available for this market area through our source, so gross yield estimates require current comparable desert-property sale data obtained independently. Desert land and structure values in this area vary widely based on acreage, improvements, and proximity to Joshua Tree National Park.
The investability score of 96.3 out of 100 is the highest in this batch, reflecting the combination of high per-listing revenue, clear regulatory framework (San Bernardino County Code Chapter 84.28), no owner-occupancy requirement, and no night cap. Investors can operate full-time STRs legally without a primary-residence restriction.
Rate segmentation shows strong tier differentiation. Luxury-tier listings averaged $589 per night, 72.8% above the market-wide $341. Professionally managed properties averaged $466 per night (36.7% above market). Entire-home listings averaged $346 per night, a 1.5% premium over the overall average, reflecting that the market is almost entirely entire-place rentals.
Revenue by type: houses averaged $5,953 per month, entire-place listings $5,922. The apartment segment ($2,079 per month) has very few listings and is not representative of the market’s investment profile.
Annual revenue has shown recovery after a post-pandemic correction: the market averaged $4,976 per month in 2021, fell to $3,808 in 2023, and has recovered to $4,431 in 2025. The 2026 April result of $5,826 significantly outperforms the 2025 annual average, reflecting spring peak season strength in a bimodal market.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Landers guests book an average of 53 days in advance, the longest lead time in this batch and well above the national STR average of roughly 20 to 25 days. They stay an average of 2.9 nights, the shortest average stay in this batch. These two data points together define a market where travelers plan desert escapes weeks or months ahead but treat them as short weekend retreats.
The 53-day lead time has direct pricing implications: operators should set spring rates (March through May) early, ideally by January, to capture this planning horizon before early-booking demand is absorbed. Leaving spring rates at placeholder levels through January and February likely costs revenue.
At 2.9 nights average length of stay, Landers sees the highest turnover rate of the markets in this batch, roughly 10 turnovers per month at full occupancy. Cleaning costs are therefore a significant variable in net return. Some operators use a minimum 2-night stay requirement to reduce single-night bookings; the 2.9-night average suggests this is already common practice.
The combination of long lead time and short stay suggests a guest base that plans the trip carefully but treats it as a quick reset rather than a long vacation. Listings that emphasize the Integratron experience, Joshua Tree access, stargazing, and unique desert architecture in their descriptions are likely to perform better than generic property listings in this market.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Landers is an unincorporated community regulated by San Bernardino County under Code Chapter 84.28. Short-term rentals (stays of 30 days or fewer) are explicitly permitted in the county’s Desert Region, which includes Landers. Operators must obtain a Special Use Permit before beginning operations.
The initial permit application totals $1,144, broken down as a $600 application fee, a $285 permit fee, and a $259 Surrounding Property Owner Notification Fee. This fee schedule took effect July 1, 2025. The process includes an exterior inspection by a County Code Enforcement Officer plus a self-certified interior safety checklist.
Permits must be renewed annually. Renewal cost varies: $550 when there are no changes to the property or operation (application fee only), $885 for physical changes (application plus permit fees), $859 for occupancy or property-management changes (application plus notification fees), and $1,144 when both types of changes apply.
There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement and no cap on the number of nights per year, allowing full-time investment-only STR operations. Guests must pay the county’s 7% Transient Occupancy Tax. In November 2024, county voters rejected Measure K (defeated approximately 56.8% to 43.2%), which would have raised the unincorporated TOT to 11%; the rate remains at 7%.
Operational requirements include occupancy limits tied to permit approval, a 24-hour complaint hotline, and compliance with fire, building, and health codes. Enforcement is characterized as strict, with per-violation penalties and the ability to revoke permits for non-compliance. The regulation score of 64.4 out of 100 reflects a well-defined but compliance-demanding framework.
Market Comparison
Landers’ April 2026 occupancy of 63.1% is above the approximate U.S. STR median of 55%, strong performance for a remote desert community. The average daily rate of $341 significantly exceeds the U.S. median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium Joshua Tree and desert-wellness tourism commands.
Compared to other California desert markets, Landers competes most directly with neighboring unincorporated communities in San Bernardino County (Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, Pioneertown) under the same county STR framework. The county’s consistent regulatory structure across these communities simplifies multi-property management for investors.
Property management is moderately concentrated in this small market. The Cohost Company leads with 176 listings and 22,718 reviews (rating 4.88). Homestead Modern manages 80 listings (rating 4.87, 10,926 reviews), and Hi-Desert Dwellings holds 78 listings (rating 4.89, 16,355 reviews). Fieldtrip manages 63 listings (rating 4.90) and Cocoon operates 50 listings (rating 4.93). The top five operators collectively manage 447 listings, approximately 11.2% of total supply, the highest management concentration in this batch, reflecting professional market maturity in desert leisure property.
Frequently Asked Questions About Landers, California
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