Dahlonega, Georgia Short-Term Rental Market
Dahlonega, GA vacation rentals averaged $264/night at 40.6% occupancy in April 2026, with October peak revenue averaging $4,473 per listing.
Quick Answer: Dahlonega, Georgia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 41%. average monthly revenue is $3,097. average daily rate is $264. the top operator is Evolve with 470 listings. market score is 88/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Dahlonega is a mountain town in Lumpkin County, Georgia, approximately one hour north of Atlanta. With a resident population of 7,537, it draws leisure travelers for wine-trail visits, gold-rush heritage tourism, Chattahoochee National Forest recreation, and a strong festival calendar anchored by Gold Rush Days in October. The STR market reflects that event-driven demand pattern with two distinct high periods: summer and fall.
April 2026 data shows an average daily rate of $264 and occupancy of 40.6%, producing a RevPAR of $107. Year-over-year, occupancy improved 2.0%, ADR rose 2.9%, and revenue grew 2.9% compared to April 2025. These figures represent the spring shoulder season, not the market peak.
The listing mix is almost entirely entire-place rentals (9,838 observations), with private rooms (117) representing a small fraction and shared rooms negligible. By bedroom count, 3-bedroom properties are the largest segment (3,276), followed by 2-bedroom (2,458), 4-bedroom (1,776), 1-bedroom (1,526), and 5-bedroom (915). This larger-unit skew reflects demand for group and retreat-style stays. The overall market score of 87.8 out of 100 is one of the stronger readings in the dataset, driven by a high investability score (91.8).
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33% | $239 | $2,413 |
| Feb | 39% | $239 | $2,387 |
| Mar | 48% | $240 | $3,213 |
| Apr | 44% | $235 | $2,867 |
| May | 45% | $238 | $2,748 |
| Jun | 58% | $257 | $3,848 |
| Jul | 64% | $257 | $4,471 |
| Aug | 47% | $237 | $3,147 |
| Sep | 47% | $243 | $3,085 |
| Oct | 61% | $261 | $4,473 |
| Nov | 55% | $262 | $3,970 |
| Dec | 51% | $263 | $3,934 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Dahlonega
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 470 | 28,108 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 457 | 32,402 | ★ 4.58 |
| 3 | Escape To Blue Ridge | 371 | 4,391 | ★ 4.78 |
| 4 | Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals | 292 | 5,288 | ★ 4.71 |
| 5 | Georgia CFY | 187 | 4,592 | ★ 4.57 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Dahlonega?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,526 |
| 2 bed | 2,458 |
| 3 bed | 3,276 |
| 4 bed | 1,776 |
| 5 bed | 915 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $264 |
| Luxury | $397 |
| Professionally Managed | $285 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,933 |
| Entire Place | $3,114 |
| House | $3,194 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 20.2% |
| vrbo | 9% |
| both | 70.8% |
Investment Analysis
Dahlonega presents a compelling STR investment case. At April 2026 average monthly revenue of $3,097, annualized gross revenue across all listing types runs approximately $37,167. With a typical home value of $383,000, that implies a gross yield of approximately 9.7% before expenses, a high figure relative to most U.S. STR markets.
The rate tier data adds further signal. All-listings ADR is $264. Entire-home-tier listings average nearly the same at $264. Professionally managed listings reach $285/night, an 8% premium over the base. Luxury-tier listings command $397/night, a 50% premium, indicating strong ceiling potential for well-positioned properties.
The investability score of 91.8 is among the highest in the StaySTRA dataset. Annual average revenue grew from $2,546 in 2017 to $3,807 in 2025 — a 49.5% increase over eight years. The market corrected from a post-pandemic high in 2021 ($4,263 annual average) but has stabilized, with 2025 showing $3,807. The sale-to-list ratio of 0.814 and median days to pending of 80 indicate a buyer-friendly housing market, with 135 properties for sale and a median sale price of $391,000 providing accessible entry points relative to the income potential.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
April 2026 data shows an average booking lead time of 43 days for Dahlonega listings, meaning guests typically book about six weeks in advance. For a destination with major event weekends (Gold Rush Days in October, Wine Trail weekends), lead time on peak dates likely runs considerably longer. Operators should set minimum-stay requirements and firm pricing well in advance for those weekends.
Average length of stay is 3.3 nights, consistent with a weekend-getaway market. The shorter stay length compared to some mountain markets (e.g., 3.8-4 nights in lake destinations) suggests more frequent calendar turnover, with roughly 9 checkout events per month per listing. A 2-night weekend minimum is standard, while mid-week flexibility can boost overall occupancy in shoulder months.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are legal in Dahlonega but subject to active licensing at both the city and county level. Operators inside Dahlonega city limits must obtain three approvals: a Land Use Permit, a City Business and Occupational Tax Certificate, and an annual Short-Term Rental License. Properties must pass a Fire Marshal inspection, carry liability insurance, register for Georgia state sales tax and hotel-motel tax collection, and designate a local contact person.
STRs are prohibited in R-1 single-family residential zoning and are restricted to commercial, mixed-use, and downtown districts. The City of Dahlonega levies an 8% local hotel and motel excise tax, on top of Georgia’s 4% state sales tax and the $5-per-night state hotel-motel fee. The permit review cycle typically runs two to three weeks. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement and no codified cap on rental nights per year.
Operators in unincorporated Lumpkin County follow a separate county permit ($175 initial, $100 per additional property, annually renewed). Lumpkin County discontinued its third-party Host Compliance tracking in 2024. Enforcement citywide is primarily complaint-driven, with Fire Marshal inspections and tax-compliance audits. Severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Dahlonega’s April 2026 ADR of $264 is notably above the U.S. STR national median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium that wine-country and mountain-retreat demand commands near Atlanta. Occupancy of 40.6% in April is below the national median of approximately 55%, but April is the market’s trough. Peak months (July, October) at 61-64% occupancy compare well against national benchmarks.
The overall market score of 87.8 ranks Dahlonega among the higher-scoring markets in the StaySTRA dataset. The investability score of 91.8 is particularly notable.
On the operator side, Evolve leads with 470 listings and a 4.76 rating (28,108 reviews), nearly tied with Vacasa at 457 listings (4.58 rating, 32,402 reviews). Escape To Blue Ridge holds 371 listings with a 4.78 rating (4,391 reviews), focusing specifically on the North Georgia mountains. Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals has 292 listings (4.71 rating, 5,288 reviews). Georgia CFY rounds out the top five with 187 listings (4.57 rating, 4,592 reviews). The large number of mid-size specialized operators reflects a mature management ecosystem in the North Georgia cabin market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dahlonega, Georgia
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