Kalispell, Montana Short-Term Rental Market
Kalispell STRs averaged $228/night at 34.6% occupancy in April 2026, with July historically averaging $6,458/month.
Quick Answer: Kalispell, 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
Kalispell, Montana is the commercial hub of the Flathead Valley and the primary gateway community to Glacier National Park, drawing approximately 1.9 million visitors annually according to Discover Kalispell. About 82% of visitors to the area also visit Glacier National Park. The city’s permanent population is approximately 31,296, with a STR market that reflects its position as a seasonal outdoor-recreation destination.
As of April 2026, Kalispell STRs averaged $228/night ADR at 34.6% occupancy, producing RevPAR of $79 and average monthly revenue of $2,059. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 5.2% and ADR gained 7.0% from April 2025, while April 2026 monthly revenue showed a 4.4% decline. The composite market score is 49.4 out of 100, with revenue growth at 80.7 and regulation at 69.7.
The active listing pool totals approximately 5,615 properties. Entire-place rentals dominate at 5,436 listings (96.8% of the market), with 187 private rooms and 1 shared room. One-bedroom properties lead the bedroom mix at 2,096 listings, followed by two-bedroom (1,454), three-bedroom (1,115), four-bedroom (598), and five-bedroom (352). The channel distribution shows 3,064 listings on both Airbnb and VRBO, 1,873 exclusively on Airbnb, and 687 exclusively on VRBO.
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 Kalispell
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 Kalispell?
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
Kalispell’s STR investment case centers on its access to Glacier National Park and a strong summer demand peak, offset by significant winter and spring shoulder softness. April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,059 is below the annual average: in 2025, the annual average monthly revenue was $4,324, driven heavily by July at $6,458 and August at $5,890.
At April 2026’s monthly average of $2,059, annualized gross revenue runs approximately $24,705. Against a typical home value of $556,983, this implies a gross yield of approximately 4.4%, based on April rates. Using the 2025 full-year average monthly revenue of $4,324, the annualized figure is approximately $51,888, implying a gross yield of approximately 9.3% on a full-year basis. Investors should note that April is one of the weakest months historically (33.9% average occupancy), so per-month figures from this period understate annual potential significantly.
ADR tiering shows meaningful upside at higher quality levels. The all-listing average was $228, entire-home listings averaged $232, professionally managed properties averaged $281, and luxury-tier listings commanded $446. Houses averaged $2,330 per month in April, above entire-place listings at $2,090 and apartments at $1,573. Montana’s 2025 Legislature changed STR property tax treatment starting in 2026, taxing STR properties at approximately 1.9%, higher than owner-occupied rates, which increases holding costs and should be factored into investment projections.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Kalispell STR guests book an average of 51 days in advance, roughly a seven-week lead time. This window is longer than typical domestic leisure markets and reflects the planning requirements of Glacier National Park trips: visitors often book park-adjacent lodging well in advance, particularly for peak summer months when demand concentrates and the park itself operates on vehicle reservation systems.
Average length of stay is 3.9 nights, indicating guests typically stay for a long weekend to four nights. This is consistent with the park-visit pattern of arriving, spending two to three days hiking or touring, and departing. Minimum-stay requirements of three to four nights during the July and August peak align well with guest expectations and reduce turnover costs. During the winter ski season, guests may plan shorter visits around Whitefish Mountain Resort weekend trips, making two-night minimums potentially appropriate for December through February.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals (stays under 30 days) in Kalispell require an administrative conditional use permit from the City, adopted under rules effective December 5, 2016. Operators must also pass a building department safety inspection, a county health department review, and obtain a Montana public accommodation license from the state. As part of permitting, the city notifies property owners within 150 feet of the proposed rental and allows public comment. Operators must confirm no neighborhood covenants prohibit STRs. No permit cost was published.
Kalispell imposes a 2% cap on the share of residential-zone homes that can be short-term rentals, effectively limiting citywide permits to approximately 200 in residential zones. Commercial and mixed-use areas are more permissive. R-1 and R-2 zones face the strictest treatment. Owner-occupancy and primary-residence requirements do not apply.
Montana levies a combined 8% state lodging tax (4% Lodging Facility Use Tax plus 4% Lodging Sales Tax) on stays under 30 days. No additional local resort or bed tax applies in Kalispell. Hosting platforms typically collect state taxes, but operators should confirm remittance. Beginning in 2026, Montana’s Legislature changed property tax treatment so that STR properties are assessed at approximately 1.9%, a higher rate than owner-occupied residential rates. No annual night cap was published. Enforcement is classified as moderate.
Market Comparison
Kalispell’s April 2026 occupancy of 34.6% is well below the US STR median of approximately 55%, consistent with its spring shoulder timing in a market where 70% to 77% occupancy occurs only in summer months. ADR of $228 is close to the national median of approximately $220, reflecting solid per-night pricing even in the off-season.
The composite market score of 49.4 is below average but the revenue growth score of 80.7 signals that per-property revenue has been trending upward: from $2,310 average monthly in 2017 to $4,324 in 2025, a near-doubling. A 2025 decline in Canadian visitation (approximately 36% in cross-border card spending) represents a near-term risk that Discover Kalispell has acknowledged by pausing Canadian marketing.
The operator landscape is led by Stay Montana with 167 listings and a 4.73 average rating. Evolve manages 130 listings at 4.82, Vacasa holds 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 and a 4.82 rating. The top five operators collectively manage 642 listings, representing approximately 11.4% of the roughly 5,615 active listings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kalispell, Montana
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