Bull Shoals, Arkansas Short-Term Rental Market
Bull Shoals, AR STRs averaged $159/night at 44.0% occupancy in April 2026, with an investability score of 96.5 out of 100.
Quick Answer: Bull Shoals, Arkansas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Arkansas Area market area is 55%. average monthly revenue in the Arkansas Area market area is $2,842. average daily rate in the Arkansas Area market area is $186. the top operator in the Arkansas Area market area is Evolve with 434 listings. market score is 85/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Arkansas Area regional market, which includes Bull Shoals. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bull Shoals.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bull Shoals sits on the Arkansas-Missouri border along Bull Shoals Lake, a 45,000-acre reservoir on the White River that draws anglers, boaters, and outdoor recreation visitors. In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $159 and occupancy of 44.0%, generating $70 in RevPAR. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 5.1 percentage points while ADR dipped 1.8% and average monthly revenue grew 4.6%, a positive trajectory driven by volume gains.
The listing mix is heavily entire-place: 6,656 entire-place listings versus 218 private rooms and 1 shared room. Bedroom distribution is relatively even: two-bedroom units lead at 2,011 listings, followed by one-bedroom (1,992), three-bedroom (1,922), four-bedroom (648), and five-bedroom-plus (297). Channel distribution shows 3,220 listings on both Airbnb and VRBO, 3,055 on Airbnb only, and 600 on VRBO only. The market’s investability score of 96.5 out of 100 is exceptionally high, and the total market score of 85.1 reflects strong fundamentals for an affordable lake destination. Annual visitor count stands at 905,000.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 32% |
| Feb | 40% |
| Mar | 51% |
| Apr | 43% |
| May | 49% |
| Jun | 56% |
| Jul | 57% |
| Aug | 44% |
| Sep | 42% |
| Oct | 50% |
| Nov | 45% |
| Dec | 38% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Bull Shoals are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Arkansas Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Arkansas Area market as a whole, which includes Bull Shoals, so these counts are not Bull Shoals-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 434 | 17,314 | ★ 4.78 |
| 2 | Arkansas Vacation | 38 | 748 | ★ 4.75 |
| 3 | King Rhodes | 32 | 408 | ★ 4.74 |
| 4 | Buffalo Outdoor Center | 27 | 308 | ★ 4.91 |
| 5 | Ivy Vacations | 25 | 3,140 | ★ 4.91 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bull Shoals?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Bull Shoals 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 | 44.4% |
| vrbo | 8.7% |
| both | 46.8% |
Home Value Trends (Bull Shoals)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Bull Shoals 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 Bull Shoals — 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
Bull Shoals expressly permits short-term rentals under Ordinance 2025-09, the city’s current primary STR framework. Operators must obtain a City STR Permit by submitting an application to the Planning and Zoning Department, including proof of ownership, a site and floor plan, and a management plan for non-owner-managed properties. STRs are restricted to R-1 and R-2 zoning districts. No annual night cap applies, and no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement exists, making this an investor-accessible market.
On taxes, all STR operators must collect the combined Arkansas lodging rate of 8.5% on stays of 29 nights or fewer: 6.5% state gross receipts tax plus 2.0% state tourism tax. Marion County and the City of Bull Shoals add additional lodging taxes on top of the state rate, though specific city and county add-on rates were not confirmed in available public records. Operators must also obtain a State Business Privilege Tax Certificate from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Enforcement is rated minimal. No permit cost was confirmed in available data.
Market Comparison
Against national benchmarks of roughly 55% median occupancy and $220 median ADR, Bull Shoals’ April 2026 occupancy of 44.0% is below the national median by 11 percentage points, and the $159 ADR is well below the national baseline, reflecting the affordable rural Arkansas market. However, the investability score of 96.5 out of 100 is one of the highest in the dataset, driven by the combination of low acquisition costs, permissive regulations, and 905,000 annual visitors.
Evolve leads the market with 434 listings, 17,314 reviews, and a 4.78 average rating. Arkansas Vacation ranks second with 38 listings and a 4.75 rating. King Rhodes holds third with 32 listings and a 4.74 rating. Ivy Vacations (25 listings, 4.91 rating) and Buffalo Outdoor Center (27 listings, 4.91 rating) are notable for high ratings. The top three operators manage 504 listings in a market of approximately 6,875 total listings, meaning the large majority of inventory is independently operated.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bull Shoals, Arkansas
What is the average nightly rate for STRs in Bull Shoals, AR?
What occupancy can I expect for a Bull Shoals short-term rental?
What permits are required for a Bull Shoals STR?
How much monthly revenue does a typical Bull Shoals STR generate?
Why does Bull Shoals have such a high investability score?
How far in advance do Bull Shoals guests book?
Who are the top property managers in the Bull Shoals STR market?
Analyze Bull Shoals Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Bull Shoals.
Free Bull Shoals STR Calculator →
