Crosslake, Minnesota Short-Term Rental Market
Crosslake, MN short-term rentals averaged $184/night at 43.9% occupancy in April 2026, with July peaks reaching 71.5% occupancy at $255/night.
Quick Answer: Crosslake, Minnesota is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 44%. average monthly revenue is $2,119. average daily rate is $184. the top operator is Evolve with 337 listings. market score is 71/100 (grade B).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Crosslake sits on the Whitefish Chain of Lakes in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, with a year-round population of approximately 2,394 that swells to over 15,000 during peak summer. More than 60% of local housing units are seasonal, making the STR market one that serves visiting lake-country travelers rather than transient business guests. April 2026 data shows an average daily rate of $184 and occupancy of 43.9%, producing a RevPAR of $81. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 2.7% and ADR increased 6.2%, though revenue declined 3.3% compared to April 2025, reflecting some softening in total listing utilization.
The listing mix is dominated by entire-place rentals, which represent the vast majority of active inventory. Private rooms account for a small share, and shared rooms are negligible. Bedroom distribution skews toward 2-bedroom units (3,013 historical observations), followed closely by 1-bedroom (2,551) and 3-bedroom (2,537) properties, with 4-bedroom (1,420) and 5-bedroom (876) making up a meaningful portion, consistent with a market where larger lake cabin rentals are common.
The market’s overall score of 71.3 out of 100 is driven by a high investability score (88.6) and strong revenue growth trajectory (80.6), offset by moderate seasonality concerns (58.4) and a lower regulation score (57.9) reflecting active local STR oversight.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40% | $180 | $2,076 |
| Feb | 45% | $181 | $2,063 |
| Mar | 46% | $171 | $2,213 |
| Apr | 47% | $158 | $1,915 |
| May | 55% | $190 | $2,257 |
| Jun | 66% | $247 | $3,902 |
| Jul | 71% | $255 | $4,769 |
| Aug | 66% | $251 | $4,457 |
| Sep | 50% | $214 | $2,966 |
| Oct | 50% | $196 | $2,740 |
| Nov | 41% | $164 | $1,983 |
| Dec | 47% | $180 | $2,161 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Crosslake
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 337 | 13,110 | ★ 4.77 |
| 2 | Cascade Vacation Rentals | 182 | 3,861 | ★ 4.76 |
| 3 | Heirloom | 112 | 7,458 | ★ 4.82 |
| 4 | Sota Lake Home Rentals | 61 | 1,310 | ★ 4.50 |
| 5 | Woods To Water Vacation Homes | 48 | 939 | ★ 4.95 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Crosslake?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,551 |
| 2 bed | 3,013 |
| 3 bed | 2,537 |
| 4 bed | 1,420 |
| 5 bed | 876 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $196 |
| Luxury | $376 |
| Professionally Managed | $222 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,923 |
| Entire Place | $2,228 |
| House | $2,221 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 40.1% |
| vrbo | 14.3% |
| both | 45.7% |
Investment Analysis
Crosslake’s STR market presents a high-home-value, moderate-yield profile typical of premium lake-country destinations. The median list price for area properties stands at $811,000 (typical home value not separately published by Zillow for this market). At April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,119, annualized gross revenue runs approximately $25,424. Against the median list price, that implies a gross yield of approximately 3.1% before operating expenses — low by STR standards, but consistent with markets where asset appreciation and personal-use value are part of the ownership equation.
Rate tier data indicates meaningful upside from positioning. Entire-home listings average $196/night versus the all-market ADR of $184, a roughly 6% premium. Professionally managed listings reach $222/night, a 20% premium over the base rate. Luxury-tier listings command $376/night, more than double the market average. The gap between unmanaged and professionally managed ADR suggests that professional management or targeted amenity investment can materially improve revenue.
The investability score of 88.6 is notably high, driven by the revenue growth trajectory (80.6 score). Annual average revenue grew from $2,046 in 2017 to $3,335 in 2025. The 2026 year-to-date data (April snapshot) reflects the seasonal trough and should not be read as a reversal of that trend. For-sale inventory of 27 properties is moderate for the market.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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April 2026 data shows an average booking lead time of 43 days, meaning guests typically commit about six weeks in advance. This is slightly longer than many comparable lake markets, likely because Whitefish Chain cabins attract planned summer vacation bookings rather than spontaneous trips. Owners can hold firm on summer-peak pricing well past the 43-day mark given the planned nature of most bookings.
Average length of stay is 3.95 nights, essentially a four-night stay. This suggests a strong long-weekend demand pattern, consistent with Twin Cities travelers (roughly 3-hour drive) booking Thursday-Monday stays. Minimum stays of 4-5 nights on peak summer weekends align well with this booking behavior, while 2-night minimums in winter can help fill the slower calendar. At nearly 4 nights per stay, turnover is moderate, with roughly 7 checkout events per month per listing.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Crosslake regulates short-term rentals under STR Ordinance 410. Any property advertised or rented for less than 30 consecutive days requires an approved STR license before listing or operating. The license fee is $750 annually, renewable each January regardless of when the original license was issued. Properties in unincorporated areas of Crow Wing County are covered by a parallel county STR licensing ordinance.
Key requirements include: completing a Fire and Life Safety Inspection Checklist, passing a fire inspection, submitting an online application, and designating a local representative whose driver’s license shows an address within 30 miles of the rental property. The city installs an STR license sign at the property upon approval. There is no primary-residence or owner-occupancy requirement, and no hard cap on annual rental nights.
A 1% lodging tax applies through the Whitefish Area Lodging Association. Enforcement is rated moderate, with a 24/7 complaint hotline (218-270-5710) and online complaint portal. As of October 2025, the City Council was evaluating 2026 ordinance amendments, including a proposal to require commercial water meters on STR properties connected to city sewer. No final decision had been published at the time of this profile update.
Market Comparison
Crosslake’s April 2026 occupancy of 43.9% is below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, which is expected given April is the market’s seasonal trough. Peak-month occupancy of 71.5% in July is well above national benchmarks. ADR of $184 is below the national median of approximately $220, though lake-property comps in similar Midwest markets (Wisconsin Dells, Lake Minnetonka) often run in the $180-$250 range.
The market’s investability score of 88.6 is a standout metric, placing it among higher-scoring markets in the StaySTRA dataset, driven by the strong revenue growth trajectory from 2017 to 2025.
Evolve leads local operators with 337 listings and a 4.77 average rating (13,110 reviews). Cascade Vacation Rentals holds 182 listings (4.76 rating, 3,861 reviews) and focuses specifically on the Crosslake lake-country area. Heirloom has 112 listings with a high 4.82 rating (7,458 reviews). Woods To Water Vacation Homes (48 listings) carries the highest rating in the top five at 4.95 across 939 reviews, suggesting strong guest satisfaction at smaller scale.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crosslake, Minnesota
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