Lakeside, Arizona Short-Term Rental Market
The Arizona White Mountains STR market averaged $229 ADR, 46.5% occupancy and $2,971 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Lakeside, Arizona is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Pinetop-Lakeside market area is 47%. average monthly revenue in the Pinetop-Lakeside market area is $2,971. average daily rate in the Pinetop-Lakeside market area is $229. the top operator in the Pinetop-Lakeside market area 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 StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers Lakeside, part of the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside in Navajo County, Arizona, and uses data for September 2026. The performance figures are tracked at a shared level for the Arizona White Mountains region, so every number below describes the Arizona White Mountains STR market rather than Lakeside alone. In September 2026 the average daily rate across all listings was $229 and occupancy was 46.5%. Average monthly revenue per listing came to $2,971. Summed across the seasonal calendar, annual revenue is $30,981 per listing.
Year over year, occupancy rose 9.7% and ADR rose 1.4%, which together lifted revenue 11.3%. Over a longer view, the region peaked in 2020 at 59.3% occupancy and $3,157 in average monthly revenue, settled to 44.6% occupancy and $2,459 in 2023, and has recovered to 46.2% occupancy and $2,835 monthly revenue across the first nine months of 2026.
Lakeside sits at roughly 7,000 to 7,200 feet in the White Mountains, about 190 miles northeast of Phoenix, and has a population of 4,148. Demand is driven by summer escapes from desert heat and a second, smaller peak in winter for snow recreation. The surrounding Ponderosa pine forest offers more than 65 lakes and streams and over 180 miles of the White Mountains Trail System, along with golf, fishing, boating and the June White Mountain Balloon Festival.
Bedroom, booking channel, and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Lakeside, so this profile omits them. Investors should read the figures as a regional benchmark and confirm local performance with comparable listings before buying.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 34% |
| Feb | 37% |
| Mar | 39% |
| Apr | 33% |
| May | 47% |
| Jun | 63% |
| Jul | 70% |
| Aug | 59% |
| Sep | 45% |
| Oct | 44% |
| Nov | 37% |
| Dec | 48% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Lakeside are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Pinetop-Lakeside market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Pinetop-Lakeside market as a whole, which includes Lakeside, so these counts are not Lakeside-only figures.
| # | 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 nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Lakeside are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 24.7% |
| vrbo | 11.7% |
| both | 63.5% |
Home Value Trends (Lakeside)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Lakeside are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Lakeside — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short term rentals are permitted in Lakeside, which is governed by the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside under Town Code Chapter 5.28 (Ordinance 23-461). Owners must obtain an Annual Town Vacation/Short-Term Rental Permit costing $250 per property, renewable each year on the anniversary of initial approval. The rules apply to stays under 30 days. Rentals of 30 days or more are not regulated as STRs and do not need this license.
The application requires a valid Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax license, proof of ownership (warranty deed or current tax bill), liability insurance with at least $500,000 aggregate coverage (or a platform such as Airbnb or VRBO that provides equal or greater primary coverage), and a local 24 hour emergency contact. Before the first rental, owners must give written notice to adjacent, across the street and diagonal neighbors.
Lodging tax totals 12.38%, combining state, Navajo County and town rates, and applies even when platforms collect it on the host’s behalf.
Arizona state law (ARS 9-500.39) preempts local bans in residential zones. The town cannot cap nights or require owner occupancy or primary residence, so non owner occupied investment STRs are allowed town wide. The one narrow exception covers certain accessory dwelling units approved on or after September 14, 2024. The property must be a legally permissible dwelling of one to four units.
Enforcement is rated moderate and runs through the permit and tax system, with state capped civil penalties for nuisance and ordinance violations. Confirm current requirements with the town before purchasing.
Market Comparison
The Arizona White Mountains STR market runs 46.5% occupancy and a $229 ADR in September 2026. Guests here pay a moderate nightly rate while properties are booked less than half the time on average, a pattern common to seasonal mountain markets where demand is concentrated in summer. July occupancy reaches 70.3%, while April falls to 32.8%.
Momentum is stronger than the level suggests. Occupancy is up 9.7% year over year, revenue is up 11.3%, and ADR is up 1.4%. Occupancy of 46.2% so far in 2026 compares with 45.4% in 2025.
Luxury listings reach a $361 ADR, and professionally managed listings reach $235.
Top operators in this market are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Lakeside, so this profile omits them. Investors should compare against the seasonal pattern when judging whether a property can meet a target return.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lakeside, Arizona
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