Mckinleyville, California Short-Term Rental Market
McKinleyville, CA-area STRs averaged $233/night at 52.3% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue up 5.2% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Mckinleyville, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 65%. average monthly revenue is $4,715. average daily rate is $273. the top operator is Vacasa with 383 listings. market score is 69/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the California North Area regional market, which includes Mckinleyville. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Mckinleyville.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
McKinleyville is an unincorporated coastal community in Humboldt County on California’s North Coast, roughly 10 miles north of Arcata and adjacent to the Arcata-Eureka Airport. The STR market data for this area_id covers the broader Humboldt County North Coast region and shows 9,339 active listings. The market recorded an average daily rate of $233 and occupancy of 52.3% in April 2026, producing a RevPAR of $122. Entire-place units account for 8,508 listings (91.1% of total), private rooms for 829 (8.9%), and shared rooms for 2. By bedroom count among the 9,325 bedroom-categorized listings, one-bedroom units lead at 3,775 (40.5%), followed by two-bedroom at 2,233 (23.9%), three-bedroom at 2,104 (22.6%), four-bedroom at 853 (9.1%), and five-bedroom at 360 (3.9%). Channel distribution shows 4,873 Airbnb-only listings, 628 VRBO-only, and 3,838 listed on both platforms. Year-over-year as of April 2026, revenue is up 5.2% and ADR has risen 2.9%, while occupancy edged up 0.3 percentage points, a positive reversal after several years of post-2021 occupancy compression. The market total score is 68.6 out of 100, with rental demand at 75.9, seasonality at 73.8, revenue growth at 67.3, regulation at 68.0, and investability at 66.2.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42% | $180 | $2,217 |
| Feb | 49% | $183 | $2,216 |
| Mar | 52% | $187 | $2,624 |
| Apr | 55% | $194 | $2,811 |
| May | 58% | $206 | $2,976 |
| Jun | 66% | $226 | $3,857 |
| Jul | 70% | $222 | $4,173 |
| Aug | 65% | $217 | $3,818 |
| Sep | 56% | $205 | $3,078 |
| Oct | 53% | $195 | $2,830 |
| Nov | 51% | $195 | $2,520 |
| Dec | 49% | $193 | $2,591 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Mckinleyville
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 383 | 38,837 | ★ 4.67 |
| 2 | Evolve | 221 | 9,277 | ★ 4.68 |
| 3 | Casago | 123 | 6,561 | ★ 4.74 |
| 4 | Humboldt Retreats | 71 | 4,291 | ★ 4.88 |
| 5 | Grand Welcome | 55 | 4,143 | ★ 4.68 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Mckinleyville?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 3,775 |
| 2 bed | 2,233 |
| 3 bed | 2,104 |
| 4 bed | 853 |
| 5 bed | 360 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $285 |
| Luxury | $474 |
| Professionally Managed | $358 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,111 |
| Entire Place | $4,969 |
| House | $5,149 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 52.2% |
| vrbo | 6.7% |
| both | 41.1% |
Investment Analysis
Average monthly STR revenue in the McKinleyville area was $3,229 in April 2026, projecting to approximately $38,744 annualized. No Zillow housing data is available for this area in the StaySTRA dataset, so investors should obtain current property values independently to calculate gross yield. House-type properties averaged $3,499 per month, entire-place listings averaged $3,384, and apartments averaged $2,050. The professionally managed tier commands a significant premium: PM-tier ADR of $307 is 31.9% above the market-wide $233, and luxury-tier properties averaged $427 per night, 83.4% above the market rate. Revenue has trended upward in recent years: annual per-listing revenue rose from $3,173 in 2024 to $3,351 in 2025 and stood at $3,229 in April 2026. Occupancy has stabilized near 52% from 2024 through the April 2026 reading, having declined from a 68.2% peak in 2021. ADR has appreciated steadily from $204 in 2021 to $231 in 2025 and $233 in April 2026. The Humboldt County STR concentration cap (2% of housing stock in the Greater Humboldt Bay Cap Area) limits new permit supply, which may support long-term pricing for existing permit-holders. However, the March 2025 county amendment making the ordinance less permissive adds regulatory risk that investors should weigh carefully.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
McKinleyville area guests book an average of 45 days in advance and stay approximately 3.6 nights per visit. The 45-day booking window aligns with outdoor recreation trip planners who research coastal and redwood destinations well in advance but commit closer to departure than typical resort markets. A 3.6-night average stay indicates a mix of weekend getaways and mid-week extended trips. Operators can generally hold pricing for 6 weeks out without losing demand, and should tighten minimum-stay requirements during the summer peak (June through August) to reduce single-night gaps that leave revenue on the table during the market’s highest-demand period.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
McKinleyville is unincorporated, so short-term rentals are regulated by Humboldt County under the inland Short-Term Rental Ordinance (HCC Section 314-60), adopted March 5, 2024. Operators must obtain an annual Short-Term Rental Permit, most commonly an Administrative Permit; specific permit fees were not confirmed in available data and operators should verify current fee schedules with Humboldt County directly. Applications require a current grant deed and delivery of a Good Neighbor Guide to neighbors within 300 feet and to the five nearest properties up and down the access road. Two STR types are recognized: Home-share (a caretaker remains on-site during guest stays) and Whole-unit rentals (entire dwelling). No blanket owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement applies, but whole-unit rentals are subject to concentration caps. McKinleyville falls within the Greater Humboldt Bay Area Cap Area, where STRs are capped at 2% of total housing stock and 2% within each Community Plan Area (most other county areas use a 5% cap). Exceeding neighborhood concentration limits requires a Special Permit with public noticing and a hearing. Permits are not transferable between property owners, a critical consideration for buyers acquiring existing STR properties. Guests owe a 12% Transient Occupancy Tax on stays of 30 nights or fewer in unincorporated Humboldt County, increased from 10% via Measure J in 2022. In March 2025 the Board of Supervisors amended the ordinance to make it less permissive; operators and prospective investors should confirm current requirements with the county.
Market Comparison
The McKinleyville area’s 52.3% occupancy in April 2026 is slightly below the U.S. national STR median of approximately 55%, but its $233 ADR is above the national median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium travelers pay for coastal and redwood access on the California North Coast. Revenue growth of 5.2% year-over-year is a positive indicator after the post-2021 correction. Among professional operators, Vacasa leads with 383 listings (38,837 reviews, 4.67 avg rating), the single largest operator in this market by a wide margin. Evolve holds 221 listings (9,277 reviews, 4.68 rating), Casago has 123 listings (6,561 reviews, 4.74 rating), Humboldt Retreats has 71 listings (4,291 reviews, 4.88 rating), and Grand Welcome holds 55 listings (4,143 reviews, 4.68 rating). The top five operators collectively manage 853 listings, approximately 9.1% of the 9,339 total. Vacasa alone accounts for about 4.1% of the market. The county’s 2% housing-stock cap on new STR permits creates a structural supply constraint that may differentiate this market from regions where permitting is unrestricted.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mckinleyville, California
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