Gold Canyon, Arizona Short-Term Rental Market
Gold Canyon, AZ STRs averaged $273/night at 59.4% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue up 3.3% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Gold Canyon, Arizona is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 59%. average monthly revenue is $4,642. average daily rate is $273. the top operator is Evolve with 986 listings. market score is 50/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Gold Canyon is an unincorporated resort community in Pinal County, Arizona, situated at the base of the Superstition Mountains approximately 40 miles east of Phoenix. It draws hikers, off-roaders, golf travelers, and winter snowbirds attracted by Lost Dutchman State Park, the Superstition Wilderness, the Apache Trail scenic drive, and Goldfield Ghost Town. The peak season runs October through April, the inverse of summer-driven markets.
As of April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $272.74 and occupancy of 59.4%, yielding a RevPAR of $162.01. Year-over-year comparisons were positive across all three primary metrics: occupancy increased 1.1%, ADR rose 3.1%, and average monthly revenue grew 3.3%. The 2025 annual average was 62.4% occupancy, $225/night ADR, and $3,912/month revenue, broadly consistent with 2024 levels.
The listing mix is dominated by entire-place rentals (approximately 30,371 listings) alongside 3,439 private-room listings and 76 shared-room listings. This is a large, diverse market. Bedroom supply is led by 1-bedroom units (10,397 listings), followed by 2-bedroom (7,617), 3-bedroom (7,310), 4-bedroom (5,504), and 5-bedroom (3,003) configurations. Approximately 16,245 listings appear on both Airbnb and Vrbo, with 14,516 on Airbnb only and 3,125 on Vrbo only.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65% | $199 | $3,370 |
| Feb | 74% | $249 | $4,348 |
| Mar | 76% | $273 | $5,542 |
| Apr | 57% | $227 | $3,711 |
| May | 56% | $191 | $3,005 |
| Jun | 58% | $168 | $2,630 |
| Jul | 60% | $150 | $2,461 |
| Aug | 60% | $151 | $2,449 |
| Sep | 59% | $161 | $2,466 |
| Oct | 63% | $183 | $2,988 |
| Nov | 63% | $196 | $3,160 |
| Dec | 58% | $199 | $3,153 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Gold Canyon
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 986 | 34,477 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 482 | 9,783 | ★ 4.56 |
| 3 | CozySuites | 332 | 4,498 | ★ 4.00 |
| 4 | Zona Multifamily | 297 | 1,800 | ★ 2.67 |
| 5 | Park Royal | 229 | 17 | ★ 4.65 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Gold Canyon?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 10,397 |
| 2 bed | 7,617 |
| 3 bed | 7,310 |
| 4 bed | 5,504 |
| 5 bed | 3,003 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $292 |
| Luxury | $571 |
| Professionally Managed | $369 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,761 |
| Entire Place | $4,947 |
| House | $5,522 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 42.8% |
| vrbo | 9.2% |
| both | 47.9% |
Investment Analysis
Gold Canyon’s April 2026 average monthly revenue of $4,642 annualizes to approximately $55,700 across all listing types. With a Zillow typical home value of $487,147, this implies a gross annual yield of approximately 11.4% before expenses, a materially higher raw return than many comparable Arizona resort-area markets.
Property-type revenue differentiation is substantial. House-type listings averaged $5,522/month versus $4,947 for entire-place units overall and $2,761 for apartment-style rentals. The gap between houses and apartments exceeds $2,760/month, making property type a critical selection criterion. The luxury ADR tier at $570.84/night is more than double the market-wide average of $272.74, reflecting strong demand for premium desert-resort accommodations near the Superstitions. Professionally managed properties average $369.48/night, about 35% above the market ADR, indicating professional management adds meaningful rate uplift in this competitive market.
The housing market shows moderate activity: median sale price of $521,990, median list price of $533,967, 273 homes for sale, a sale-to-list ratio of 0.978 (properties selling at roughly 97.8% of list price), and a median 46 days to pending. This is not a distressed-inventory market, suggesting buyers pay close to asking price. The revenue-growth score of 69.0 and investability score of 65.1 reflect a market with continued momentum despite slight softening from the 2021 peak of 68.7% occupancy.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Gold Canyon guests book an average of 49.7 days in advance and stay an average of 4.85 nights per booking. The nearly 50-day lead window is longer than most comparable markets, reflecting snowbird and extended-stay travel planning patterns common in Arizona resort communities. Operators should set pricing and minimum-stay policies at least 7 weeks ahead of the November through March peak window.
The 4.85-night average stay is notably longer than many recreation markets. This is consistent with the snowbird demographic, which often books week-long or longer stays. For operators, longer average stays reduce cleaning turnover frequency and improve operational efficiency. Minimum stay requirements of 5 to 7 nights during peak snowbird season (January through March) can be used to attract the longer-stay guest while protecting against high-demand gap nights.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Gold Canyon is in unincorporated Pinal County, Arizona, and benefits from Arizona’s statewide preemption law (A.R.S. 9-500.39), which prohibits local governments from banning STRs, capping nights, or imposing owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirements. STRs are broadly permitted.
Operators must: obtain an Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license from the Department of Revenue (approximately $12 fee); notify the Pinal County Assessor that the property is a short-term rental and provide owner contact information; list the TPT or permit number in all advertisements; provide 24/7 emergency contact access; notify adjacent neighbors before the first rental; and carry at least $500,000 in liability coverage (or rent via a platform that provides equivalent coverage).
The combined lodging tax rate is approximately 10.1%, comprising roughly 5.5% state tax plus approximately 3.5% Pinal County component, with Airbnb and Vrbo typically collecting and remitting on the host’s behalf. Counties may charge a regulatory permit fee capped at $250 or actual cost, whichever is lower. Enforcement is complaint-driven and moderate in practice, with civil penalties ranging from $500 for a first verified violation to $3,500 for a third within 12 months. Permit suspension of up to 12 months is possible for repeat or serious violations. As of January 1, 2025, Arizona eliminated municipal TPT on long-term residential rentals of 30 or more days; short-term stays under 30 days remain fully taxable.
Market Comparison
Gold Canyon’s April 2026 occupancy of 59.4% is above the approximate US STR median of 55%, driven by the strong winter snowbird demand pattern. The ADR of $272.74 is also above the US median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium resort-area positioning adjacent to the Superstition Mountains.
The management landscape is highly competitive. Evolve leads with 986 listings and 34,477 reviews at a 4.73 rating, the largest operator in the market by a significant margin. Vacasa holds 482 listings at a 4.56 rating with 9,783 reviews. CozySuites manages 332 listings at a 4.00 rating. Zona Multifamily operates 297 listings at a 2.67 rating across 1,800 reviews, a notably lower satisfaction score. Park Royal holds 229 listings at 4.65. The top five operators together represent a substantial share of professionally managed inventory in a large market. Independent operators compete for the remaining supply, with dual-platform Airbnb and Vrbo distribution being the dominant strategy given that 16,245 listings appear on both channels.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gold Canyon, Arizona
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