Crestone, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Crestone, CO STRs posted $179/night at 40.9% occupancy in April 2026, with 11,109 active listings across a broad regional market.
Quick Answer: Crestone, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 65%. average monthly revenue is $4,125. average daily rate is $244. the top operator is Evolve with 552 listings. market score is 67/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Colorado Area regional market, which includes Crestone. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Crestone.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Crestone, Colorado market as tracked in this dataset represents a large regional footprint anchored by the small mountain town of Crestone (population 123) at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Range, extending across the broader San Luis Valley area. The market holds 11,109 active STR listings. Entire-place rentals dominate at 10,381 (93.4%), with 723 private rooms and 5 shared rooms. Bedroom distribution is relatively balanced, with 1-bedroom units leading at 3,557, 3-bedroom at 3,021, and 2-bedroom at 2,842, followed by 4-bedroom (1,119) and 5-bedroom-plus (550).
Channel presence is notably Airbnb-weighted: 5,581 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 4,614 are Airbnb-only, and 914 are VRBO-only. The overall market score of 66.69 out of 100 is meaningfully higher than many mountain Colorado markets, driven by rental demand (73.27), investability (70.66), and regulation clarity (70.53). Seasonality scores 69.72, reflecting a less extreme demand swing than peak ski or canyon markets.
In April 2026, the market recorded 40.9% occupancy at $179 average daily rate, generating $2,184 average monthly revenue per listing. Year-over-year as of April 2026, all three primary metrics improved: occupancy rose 2.5%, ADR gained 2.9%, and revenue increased 2.4%. The 2025 annual average was 53.9% occupancy at $217 ADR and $3,240 monthly revenue.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42% | $189 | $2,293 |
| Feb | 50% | $191 | $2,370 |
| Mar | 54% | $193 | $2,839 |
| Apr | 41% | $155 | $1,933 |
| May | 57% | $175 | $2,319 |
| Jun | 67% | $212 | $3,508 |
| Jul | 72% | $216 | $4,201 |
| Aug | 63% | $203 | $3,570 |
| Sep | 59% | $191 | $3,034 |
| Oct | 51% | $175 | $2,540 |
| Nov | 45% | $167 | $1,986 |
| Dec | 51% | $200 | $2,558 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Crestone
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 552 | 35,001 | ★ 4.77 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 218 | 11,513 | ★ 4.60 |
| 3 | Vacation Rental Collective | 164 | 8,344 | ★ 4.82 |
| 4 | Pinon Vacation | 111 | 8,032 | ★ 4.82 |
| 5 | VIP Vacation Services | 94 | 3,083 | ★ 4.83 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Crestone?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 3,557 |
| 2 bed | 2,842 |
| 3 bed | 3,021 |
| 4 bed | 1,119 |
| 5 bed | 550 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $252 |
| Luxury | $406 |
| Professionally Managed | $302 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,363 |
| Entire Place | $4,276 |
| House | $4,513 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 41.5% |
| vrbo | 8.2% |
| both | 50.2% |
Investment Analysis
Crestone presents a lower-cost-of-entry opportunity relative to most Colorado mountain markets, though housing data from Zillow is not available for this area at this time, making direct yield calculations on typical home values impossible. Investors should source local comparable sales data independently.
Using 2025 average monthly revenue of $3,240, annualized revenue across the market averages approximately $38,880 per listing per year. April 2026 performance of $2,184/month sits below the annual average, as April is the market’s lowest-revenue calendar month (averaging $1,934 in the seasonal baseline).
ADR tiering is meaningful. The all-listing average was $179/night in April 2026. Entire-home units averaged $185/night, a modest 3.4% premium. Professionally managed properties commanded $210/night, a $31 or 17% premium over the all-listing baseline. Luxury-tier properties averaged $327/night, nearly double the market average, suggesting that premium-positioned inventory retains significantly stronger pricing power.
House-type listings averaged $2,354/month in April versus $1,717 for apartment-style units, a 37% gap. The market’s revenue growth score of 64.36 and consistent YoY improvement across occupancy, ADR, and revenue in early 2026 indicate steady market conditions rather than significant expansion or contraction.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Crestone guests book an average of 40 days in advance with an average length of stay of 3.75 nights. The 40-day lead time is shorter than typical ski resort markets (which often run 50-60 days), consistent with the market’s wellness retreat and nature-travel visitor base, who may be more spontaneous in their planning.
The 3.75-night average stay reflects a destination market where guests combine spiritual retreats, national park visits, or multi-day hiking trips with their accommodations. Stays in the 3-4 night range reduce cleaning frequency compared to urban markets with 1-2 night averages while still allowing relatively active booking calendars.
For operators, the 40-day booking horizon means the most impactful pricing window is 5-6 weeks out. Given the market’s more even seasonal distribution, last-minute rate adjustments are less critical here than in high-swing ski markets, though summer months (June-August) warrant premium pricing to capture the peak demand window.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted in the Town of Crestone but require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) plus a business license. The CUP is a discretionary land-use approval requiring planning commission review rather than over-the-counter permitting, meaning approval is not guaranteed. The annual STR fee is $150. No published cap on rental nights per year, no owner-occupancy requirement, and no primary-residence requirement were documented in town materials.
The occupancy tax rate is 2.0%, covering the Saguache County lodging tax. Combined state (2.9%) and county (2.5%) sales tax adds approximately 5.4%, bringing the total transactional tax burden to roughly 7.4%, though investors should confirm current rates directly with town and county authorities. Saguache County has discussed raising the county lodging tax from 2% to 6% under Colorado’s county lodging-tax expansion law, but a confirmed enacted increase was not verified as of the profile date.
Properties located outside the incorporated town limits fall under the Saguache County Land Development Code rather than town rules. Enforcement is rated moderate. Investors should contact the Town of Crestone (719-256-4313) and Saguache County Land Use directly to confirm the current CUP process, fee schedule, and any recent tax changes before acquiring property.
Market Comparison
Against U.S. STR benchmarks of approximately 55% median occupancy and $220 median ADR, Crestone’s 2025 averages of 53.9% occupancy and $217 ADR sit close to national medians. This positions the market as broadly in line with typical U.S. STR performance, with a modest occupancy shortfall offset by broadly market-rate pricing.
The operator landscape is nationally distributed. Evolve leads with 552 listings and 35,001 reviews (rating 4.77). Vacasa manages 218 listings (rating 4.60). Vacation Rental Collective holds 164 listings (rating 4.82). Pinon Vacation manages 111 listings (rating 4.82), and VIP Vacation Services rounds out the top five with 94 listings (rating 4.83). Together, the top 5 operators account for 1,139 listings, approximately 10.2% of the 11,109-listing market. The relatively low concentration suggests the market is primarily independently operated, with national platforms present but not dominant.
Crestone’s market score of 66.69 compares favorably to highly regulated or highly seasonal Colorado markets. The combination of a near-national-median performance profile and moderate regulatory environment makes this a market where consistent operating fundamentals are achievable without exceptional market-timing or premium property positioning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crestone, Colorado
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Do I need a permit to run an STR in Crestone, Colorado?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Crestone?
What type of traveler visits Crestone, and what drives STR demand?
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