Columbia Falls, Montana Short-Term Rental Market
Columbia Falls, MT STRs averaged $228/night at 34.6% occupancy in April 2026, with peak July averaging 77% occupancy and $6,458 monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Columbia Falls, Montana is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 35%. average monthly revenue is $2,059. average daily rate is $228. the top operator is Stay Montana with 167 listings. market score is 49/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Columbia Falls, Montana sits approximately 15 miles from Glacier National Park’s West Entrance in the Flathead Valley, making it a primary base camp for one of the most visited national parks in the US. Glacier National Park drew more than 3.2 million visitors in 2024, its fourth consecutive year above 3 million. The STR market in this town of 5,713 residents is far larger than local population would suggest: approximately 5,624 active listings by the latest dimension count, reflecting the scale of seasonal tourism demand.
April is a transitional shoulder month in this market, with occupancy at 34.6%, ADR at $228/night, and RevPAR of $78.81. Year-over-year in April, occupancy gained 5.2 percentage points and ADR grew 7.0%. The longer-term annual trend shows strong ADR appreciation: average annual ADR grew from $204 in 2017 to $322 in 2025, and average annual revenue per listing grew from $2,310 to $4,324 over the same period.
Entire-place listings dominate at 5,436 of 5,624 total listings (96.7%), with 187 private rooms and just 1 shared room. On the bedroom side, 1-bedroom units are the most common (2,096), followed by 2-bedroom (1,454), 3-bedroom (1,115), 4-bedroom (598), and 5-bedroom (352). The channel split shows strong dual-platform presence: 3,064 listings are cross-listed on both Airbnb and VRBO, with 1,873 Airbnb-only and 687 VRBO-only.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $286 | $2,947 |
| Feb | 52% | $304 | $3,497 |
| Mar | 44% | $262 | $2,966 |
| Apr | 34% | $195 | $1,794 |
| May | 51% | $217 | $2,079 |
| Jun | 68% | $297 | $4,145 |
| Jul | 77% | $333 | $6,458 |
| Aug | 68% | $318 | $5,890 |
| Sep | 54% | $266 | $3,972 |
| Oct | 33% | $200 | $2,067 |
| Nov | 33% | $178 | $1,674 |
| Dec | 51% | $286 | $2,660 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Columbia Falls
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stay Montana | 167 | 2,350 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Evolve | 130 | 6,503 | ★ 4.82 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 120 | 5,091 | ★ 4.58 |
| 4 | Whitefish Mountain Resort Lodging | 118 | 1,042 | ★ 4.64 |
| 5 | Natural Retreats | 107 | 3,956 | ★ 4.82 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Columbia Falls?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,096 |
| 2 bed | 1,454 |
| 3 bed | 1,115 |
| 4 bed | 598 |
| 5 bed | 352 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $232 |
| Luxury | $446 |
| Professionally Managed | $281 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,573 |
| Entire Place | $2,090 |
| House | $2,330 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 33.3% |
| vrbo | 12.2% |
| both | 54.5% |
Investment Analysis
Columbia Falls presents a high-ADR, high-seasonality investment profile driven by Glacier National Park proximity, with elevated home values that constrain gross yields. The typical home value is $604,818 (Zillow, April 2026 snapshot) and the median list price is $768,333, with 86 homes currently for sale. Entry costs are among the highest in this batch of markets.
At April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,059/month, annualized revenue projects to approximately $24,705/year. Against a $604,818 typical home value, the implied gross revenue yield is roughly 4.1% before expenses. This is below typical STR benchmarks and reflects the sharp seasonal concentration: the April snapshot understates peak-season performance. House listings project to approximately $27,961/year and entire-place listings to approximately $25,080/year at April 2026 rates.
Tier differences are extreme. All-listings ADR is $228/night, entire-home listings are marginally higher at $232/night, but professionally managed properties average $281/night (a 23% premium) and luxury-tier listings average $446/night, a 96% premium over the market average. The luxury tier at nearly double the market ADR represents a meaningfully different revenue curve.
The market scores 49.4 out of 100 overall, constrained by extreme seasonality (44.7 score) and moderate investability (68.1). The revenue growth score is the standout at 80.7, consistent with the strong ADR appreciation observed from 2017 to 2025. Investors should model revenue using peak-season months (June-August) and account for near-zero occupancy in November (32.6%) and April-October shoulder dynamics.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
The April 2026 data shows an average booking lead time of 50.6 days, approximately seven weeks in advance. This is among the longer lead times in this batch of markets, consistent with a destination that requires planning: Glacier National Park entry requires timed entry permits in summer, and Going-to-the-Sun Road access is limited, prompting visitors to book lodging well in advance of their trips.
Average length of stay is 3.85 nights, suggesting extended long-weekend and week-partial trips rather than quick overnight stays. This LOS is favorable for operator margins and reduces turnover frequency.
For pricing strategy, the long lead time means peak summer dates (especially July) should carry premium pricing as far as 8-10 weeks out, and last-minute discounting in peak season should be avoided. The winter ski shoulder (February peak at 51.6% occupancy) represents a secondary pricing window. Spring (March-April) and fall (October-November) will require aggressive pricing to move inventory at all.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Columbia Falls permits short-term rentals under a regulatory framework that is currently transitioning. As of mid-2026, the operating rules depend on the property’s zoning: in residential and agricultural zones, an Administrative Conditional Use Permit (ACUP) is required at approximately $325, which includes a 15-day public comment period and written notice to neighbors within 150 feet. In commercial zones CB2, CB4, and CB5, STRs are a permitted use without a CUP. All operators also need a city business license.
A major overhaul is in progress. In April 2026, the City Council voted to adopt city staff’s single consolidated STR permit framework, rejecting the Planning Commission’s proposal to restrict new permits to primary homeowners. The new system is expected to take effect in June 2026 with new fees starting January 2027: $350 initial permit, $250 annual renewal, $150 fire inspection fee, and escalating civil penalties ($300/day for first violation, $500/day for second). Compliance technology (Deckard Technologies) will be used to monitor platforms. The city plans to revisit the policy one year after adoption.
There is no owner-occupancy requirement, primary-residence requirement, or maximum nights per year under current or proposed rules.
On taxes: operators collect a 3% city resort tax (effective October 1, 2021) plus Montana state lodging taxes (4% Lodging Facility Use Tax plus 4% Lodging Sales Tax), bringing total guest tax burden to approximately 11%. Platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO typically collect and remit these on behalf of hosts. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Columbia Falls’ April occupancy of 34.6% is well below the US STR median of approximately 55%, but April is genuinely the off-season here. The market’s annual 2025 average occupancy of 51.4% is closer to national norms, while the 2025 annual average ADR of $322 is well above the national STR median of approximately $220. This ADR premium reflects Glacier National Park’s draw and the limited lodging supply in a constrained geographic corridor.
The market’s total score of 49.4 is below the other markets in this batch, reflecting the extreme seasonality (44.7) as the main drag. The revenue growth score of 80.7 is the strongest dimension, consistent with ADR having grown 58% from 2017 to 2025 ($204 to $322 annual average).
Stay Montana leads professional management with 167 listings and a 4.73 average rating across 2,350 reviews. Evolve operates 130 listings with a 4.82 average rating across 6,503 reviews, the highest-reviewed operator by volume. Vacasa manages 120 listings at 4.58, and Whitefish Mountain Resort Lodging operates 118 listings at 4.64. Natural Retreats rounds out the top five with 107 listings at a 4.82 average. Together the top three operators control 417 listings, approximately 7.4% of the 5,624 total active listings. The top five operators manage 642 listings combined.
Frequently Asked Questions About Columbia Falls, Montana
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