Arnolds Park, Iowa Short-Term Rental Market
Arnolds Park STRs averaged $137/night at 51.4% occupancy in April 2026, up 8.5% in revenue year over year.
Quick Answer: Arnolds Park, Iowa is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 61%. average monthly revenue is $3,283. average daily rate is $200. the top operator is Evolve with 93 listings. market score is 76/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Iowa Area regional market, which includes Arnolds Park. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Arnolds Park.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Arnolds Park sits on the shore of West Lake Okoboji at the center of Iowa’s Great Lakes resort region. With a year-round population of approximately 1,110 residents, the town is a classic seasonal lake market whose STR economy is driven by summer visitors to the historic Arnolds Park Amusement Park and the surrounding lakes. The STR inventory is heavily skewed toward entire-place rentals: 5,621 of approximately 6,202 listed properties (90.6%) are whole-unit listings, with 579 private rooms and 2 shared rooms making up the balance.
The bedroom mix reflects a cottage-market orientation: 1-bedrooms are the most numerous at 1,959 units, followed by 2-bedrooms (1,706), 3-bedrooms (1,427), 4-bedrooms (705), and 5-bedrooms (399). In April 2026, the market averaged $137 per night across all listing types with 51.4% occupancy and a RevPAR of $70. Year over year, occupancy rose 7.1%, ADR gained 2.8%, and revenue grew 8.5%. The platform split is Airbnb-dominant: 3,641 listings appear exclusively on Airbnb, 2,086 on both platforms, and 475 on VRBO only.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41% | $112 | $1,337 |
| Feb | 45% | $109 | $1,306 |
| Mar | 50% | $110 | $1,495 |
| Apr | 50% | $116 | $1,527 |
| May | 54% | $138 | $1,862 |
| Jun | 61% | $175 | $2,803 |
| Jul | 64% | $180 | $3,161 |
| Aug | 57% | $169 | $2,721 |
| Sep | 50% | $143 | $1,946 |
| Oct | 50% | $133 | $1,893 |
| Nov | 48% | $123 | $1,630 |
| Dec | 46% | $120 | $1,579 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Arnolds Park
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 93 | 2,760 | ★ 4.64 |
| 2 | Okoboji Vacation Co. | 59 | 975 | ★ 4.69 |
| 3 | 228 Spaces | 36 | 1,026 | ★ 4.76 |
| 4 | CR Short Stays | 30 | 2,429 | ★ 4.86 |
| 5 | Iowa Cabin Rentals | 23 | 378 | ★ 4.20 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Arnolds Park?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,959 |
| 2 bed | 1,706 |
| 3 bed | 1,427 |
| 4 bed | 705 |
| 5 bed | 399 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $210 |
| Luxury | $384 |
| Professionally Managed | $246 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,604 |
| Entire Place | $3,454 |
| House | $3,734 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 58.7% |
| vrbo | 7.7% |
| both | 33.6% |
Investment Analysis
Arnolds Park is a low-barrier-to-entry lake market with no dedicated STR permit program and no permit fee. Rentals are governed by zoning district rather than licensing, so the critical due-diligence step is confirming a property falls within an eligible zone (R-3 Cottage Residential, C-1, C-2, C-3, or C-4 commercial districts). No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement applies.
Average monthly revenue in April 2026 was $1,824 across all property types. House-category listings averaged $2,036 and entire-place listings averaged $1,918. Annualizing the April figure yields approximately $21,888; however, the market is strongly seasonal and summer months drive a disproportionate share of annual revenue. The 2025 annual average of $2,228 per month implies a trailing 12-month annual revenue closer to $26,736. The luxury tier averaged $259/night versus the all-listings average of $137, an 89% premium. Professionally managed properties averaged $151/night, a 10% premium over the all-listings rate. No housing price data is available in the source data, so yield calculations against entry cost are not possible here. The investability score of 84.4 out of 100 reflects favorable regulatory conditions and accessible price points; revenue growth score of 70.7 reflects moderate upside compared to higher-demand markets.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Arnolds Park guests book an average of 41 days in advance, slightly shorter than coastal markets of similar size. This 41-day window reflects the regional drive-market nature of the Iowa Great Lakes area, where weekend and holiday bookings dominate and travelers tend to plan a month or so out rather than booking many months in advance. Average length of stay is 4.4 nights, one of the longer averages in the Midwest lake segment, reflecting the vacation-week culture of the region.
A 4.4-night average means roughly 6 to 7 turnovers per month at current occupancy, a relatively manageable operational cadence for self-managed owners. The combination of a 41-day lead time and 4.4-night stays suggests a booking pattern of extended weekend and weekly rentals, particularly in summer. Operators who set minimum stays of 3 to 4 nights during peak summer weekends can protect revenue while staying competitive with the market’s booking patterns.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Arnolds Park does not operate a dedicated short-term rental licensing program. Rentals are instead regulated through the city’s zoning ordinance (Chapter 165). Short-term rentals by the week, weekend, or night are permitted only in five specific zoning districts: R-3 Cottage Residential, C-1 Downtown Commercial, C-2 General Commercial/Mixed Use, C-3 Highway Commercial, and C-4 Resort Commercial. Properties in other residential zones are not eligible. The minimum allowable rental period varies by district, so investors must confirm the applicable minimum with City Hall before listing.
There is no published per-unit permit fee and no annual night cap. Owner-occupancy and primary-residence requirements do not apply. Operators must register with the Iowa Department of Revenue to collect and remit a 7% local hotel/motel tax plus Iowa’s 5% state excise tax, for a combined 12% lodging tax on gross rental receipts. Off-street parking is mandatory: a 180-square-foot space for every three persons of occupancy, or one space per bedroom. Enforcement operates via municipal infraction, with fines accruing for each day a violation continues. Enforcement is rated moderate. No recent regulatory changes are recorded in the source data.
Market Comparison
Arnolds Park’s April 2026 occupancy of 51.4% is slightly below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, which is expected for a Midwestern lake market measured outside of peak summer. The $137 ADR sits well below the national median of approximately $220, reflecting Iowa market pricing rather than a performance shortfall. The total market score of 76.2 out of 100 is solid, with investability (84.4) the strongest sub-score, supported by accessible entry barriers and permissive zoning for eligible properties.
The property management landscape is fragmented with smaller operators. Evolve leads with 93 listings and 2,760 reviews (4.64 average rating). Okoboji Vacation Co. holds second with 59 listings and 975 reviews (4.69 average). 228 Spaces is third with 36 listings and 1,026 reviews (4.76 average). CR Short Stays is fourth with 30 listings and 2,429 reviews (4.86 average). Iowa Cabin Rentals rounds out the top five with 23 listings and 378 reviews (4.20 average). No regional or national management firm has established significant scale here, leaving the market accessible to owner-operators and small regional managers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arnolds Park, Iowa
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