Lakeside, Arizona Short-Term Rental Market
Lakeside, AZ STRs averaged $185/night at 32.2% occupancy in April 2026, with July peak at 70.4% and $4,159 average monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Lakeside, Arizona is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 59%. average monthly revenue is $3,799. average daily rate is $239. the top operator is Evolve with 229 listings. market score is 49/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Pinetop-Lakeside regional market, which includes Lakeside. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lakeside.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Lakeside, AZ short-term rental market sits within the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside in Arizona’s White Mountains (Navajo County), at approximately 7,000 to 7,200 feet elevation about 190 miles northeast of Phoenix. The area is primarily a seasonal mountain retreat where Phoenix-area and Tucson travelers seek cooler temperatures in summer and snow recreation in winter. In April 2026, the average daily rate across all active listings was $185, with occupancy at 32.2% for that spring-trough month and revenue per available rental (RevPAR) at $60. Year-over-year through April 2026, occupancy declined 7.2% compared with April 2025, ADR rose 2.2%, and monthly revenue fell 2.2%.
Approximately 2,043 active listings are in the market, nearly all entire-place units (2,031), with 12 private rooms. Three-bedroom properties are the largest segment (744 listings), followed by two-bedroom (573), one-bedroom (320), four-bedroom (255), and five-or-more-bedroom (149) listings. The channel mix shows dual-platform dominance: 1,298 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 505 are Airbnb-only, and 240 are VRBO-only.
The StaySTRA scorecard rates Lakeside at 49.5 out of 100 overall. Regulation scores 70.0, seasonality 61.1, investability 67.8, rental demand 54.4, and revenue growth 66.5. The 2025 annual average occupancy was 45.4% and ADR was $220.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34% | $218 | $2,200 |
| Feb | 37% | $207 | $2,019 |
| Mar | 39% | $190 | $2,134 |
| Apr | 33% | $176 | $1,710 |
| May | 47% | $200 | $2,062 |
| Jun | 63% | $222 | $3,579 |
| Jul | 70% | $222 | $4,158 |
| Aug | 59% | $200 | $3,225 |
| Sep | 45% | $202 | $2,490 |
| Oct | 44% | $199 | $2,514 |
| Nov | 37% | $206 | $1,975 |
| Dec | 48% | $228 | $2,761 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lakeside
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 229 | 11,437 | ★ 4.81 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 92 | 985 | ★ 4.79 |
| 3 | CoolVacay | 47 | 48 | ★ 4.65 |
| 4 | Greer Cabin Keepers | 44 | 327 | ★ 4.59 |
| 5 | Rim Lakes Vacation Rentals | 31 | 1,346 | ★ 4.79 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lakeside?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 320 |
| 2 bed | 573 |
| 3 bed | 744 |
| 4 bed | 255 |
| 5 bed | 149 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $240 |
| Luxury | $398 |
| Professionally Managed | $252 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,955 |
| Entire Place | $3,804 |
| House | $3,985 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 24.7% |
| vrbo | 11.7% |
| both | 63.5% |
Investment Analysis
Arizona’s state preemption statute (ARS 9-500.39) prevents local governments from banning non-owner-occupied STRs in residential zones, which makes Lakeside one of the more investor-accessible markets in the Mountain West. No owner-occupancy requirement exists; no annual night cap applies; pure investment STR operations are fully permitted.
At the 2025 annual average of $2,772/month in revenue, total annual revenue projects to approximately $33,300 per year. Against a typical home value of $414,224, that implies a gross yield of approximately 8.0%, before platform fees, management costs, and property expenses. The median active list price of $498,258 with 114 units for sale suggests the for-sale inventory skews somewhat above the typical home value.
Luxury-tier listings averaged $345/night in ADR in April 2026, an 86% premium over the all-listing average of $185. A notable feature of this market: professionally managed listings averaged $181/night in ADR, slightly below the $185 all-market average. This atypical result may reflect professional management clustering in lower-tier or smaller-property segments while the luxury tier pulls the all-market average upward. House listings averaged $1,900/month in revenue, compared with $1,824 for entire-place listings broadly and $1,422 for apartment-style units.
Revenue has been relatively stable: $2,738/month in 2024, $2,772 in 2025. The peak years were 2020 and 2021 ($3,157 and $3,197) during the compressed outdoor-travel boom; since then the market has settled into a $2,459 to $2,772 range.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Lakeside)
Booking Insights
In April 2026, the average booking lead time for Lakeside rentals was 33.0 days, roughly five weeks in advance. The average length of stay was 3.5 nights, consistent with extended weekend getaways from the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas.
A 33-day lead time is shorter than many comparable mountain resort markets. For summer peak dates, particularly the Fourth of July weekend and mid-July, pricing should be set at least four to six weeks in advance. The December holiday peak is worth pricing aggressively starting in late October, as winter snow recreation demand can be concentrated and lead time for holiday trips tends to be longer.
At 3.5 nights average stay, monthly turnover at full occupancy is approximately 8 to 9 changeovers. The deep spring trough (April at 32.8% occupancy) suggests hosts may benefit from flexible minimum-stay policies in March and April to reduce vacancy rather than holding weekend-minimum policies that work well in July.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Lakeside operates under the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside’s short-term rental licensing framework (Town Code Chapter 5.28, Ordinance 23-461). Operators must obtain an annual Vacation Rental Permit for stays under 30 days, costing $250 per property, renewable each year on the anniversary of initial approval.
Required application elements include a valid Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license, proof of property ownership (warranty deed or current tax bill), proof of liability insurance with at least $500,000 aggregate coverage (or a booking platform that provides equivalent primary coverage), and a local 24-hour emergency contact with photo ID showing local residency. Before the first rental, the owner must provide written notification to adjacent, across-the-street, and diagonally adjacent single-family neighbors.
The combined lodging/transient tax rate is 12.38%, encompassing state, Navajo County, and town rates. This applies even when booking platforms remit on the host’s behalf.
Arizona’s state preemption statute (ARS 9-500.39) controls: the town cannot require owner-occupancy or primary residence (with a narrow exception for accessory dwelling units permitted on or after September 14, 2024), cannot cap rental nights, and cannot ban STRs in residential zones. Investment, non-owner-occupied STRs are fully permitted. There is no annual night cap. Enforcement is moderate, operating via the permit and TPT license system.
Market Comparison
Lakeside’s April 2026 occupancy of 32.2% is below the US STR median of approximately 55%, but April is the spring-trough month in this market. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 45.4% remains below national norms. The April ADR of $185 and 2025 annual average ADR of $220 are both close to the US STR median of approximately $220.
Arizona’s state preemption law distinguishes Lakeside from most competitors in the Mountain West. While markets in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah contend with night caps, primary-residence requirements, and zoning bans that limit investor access, Lakeside has no such restrictions.
On the operator side, Evolve leads with 229 listings and 11,437 reviews (4.81 average rating). Vacasa follows with 92 listings (4.79 rating). Regional specialists CoolVacay (47 listings, 4.65 rating), Greer Cabin Keepers (44 listings, 4.59 rating), and Rim Lakes Vacation Rentals (31 listings, 4.79 rating) round out the top five. The presence of White Mountains-specific local operators alongside national managers reflects a destination where local knowledge of cabins and outdoor access points adds visible value to guests.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lakeside, Arizona
What was the average daily rate for Lakeside, AZ short-term rentals in April 2026?
Can I own a non-owner-occupied investment STR in Lakeside, AZ?
What permits and taxes are required for STRs in Lakeside, AZ?
When is peak STR season in Lakeside, AZ?
What is the estimated gross yield for an STR in Lakeside, AZ?
How far in advance do guests book Lakeside, AZ rentals?
Who are the leading property managers in the Lakeside, AZ market?
Analyze Lakeside Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Lakeside.
Free Lakeside STR Calculator →
