Fort Smith, Arkansas Short-Term Rental Market
Fort Smith STRs averaged $159/night at 44.0% occupancy in April 2026, with a total market score of 85.1 out of 100.
Quick Answer: Fort Smith, 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 Fort Smith. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Fort Smith.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Fort Smith is a regional city in western Arkansas on the Oklahoma border, anchored by history, outdoor recreation, and convention tourism. Its short-term rental market is smaller and more affordable than better-known Arkansas markets, with approximately 6,875 active listings based on bedroom-segment counts, almost entirely in the entire-place category (6,660 listings, or 97% of the market). Private rooms account for 219 listings and shared rooms are negligible at one.
In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $159, occupancy of 44.0%, and a RevPAR of $70. Year-over-year, occupancy improved 5.1 percentage points and revenue grew 4.6%, even as ADR slipped 1.8%. This combination, rising occupancy with slight rate compression, suggests the market is broadening its guest base rather than raising prices.
Channel distribution shows 3,238 listings active on both Airbnb and VRBO, 3,041 Airbnb-only, and 601 VRBO-only, indicating a more Airbnb-dominant market relative to VRBO than coastal leisure markets. The bedroom mix is notably balanced: 1,997 one-bedrooms, 2,014 two-bedrooms, 1,921 three-bedrooms, 647 four-bedrooms, and 296 with five or more bedrooms. The market’s total score of 85.1 out of 100 and investability score of 96.5 out of 100 reflect strong underlying economics relative to the low entry cost.
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 Fort Smith 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 Fort Smith, so these counts are not Fort Smith-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 434 | 17,398 | ★ 4.78 |
| 2 | Arkansas Vacation | 38 | 768 | ★ 4.74 |
| 3 | King Rhodes | 32 | 413 | ★ 4.75 |
| 4 | Buffalo Outdoor Center | 27 | 308 | ★ 4.91 |
| 5 | Ivy Vacations | 25 | 3,144 | ★ 4.90 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Fort Smith?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Fort Smith 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 | 44.2% |
| vrbo | 8.7% |
| both | 47.1% |
Home Value Trends (Fort Smith)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Fort Smith 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 Fort Smith — 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
Fort Smith has no dedicated STR-specific ordinance. Short-term rentals (stays under 30 days) are regulated through general business licensing and zoning rules. The city classifies STRs as a temporary use permitted in residential districts, and operators must confirm that their specific property’s zoning classification allows the use with the Planning and Development Department.
There is no published owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence rule, and no maximum nights per year cap. Operators are expected to obtain a city business license (general; no STR-specific permit type or published per-unit cost) on an annual renewal basis.
On taxes, Fort Smith’s 3% Advertising and Promotion (A&P) tax applies to stays of 29 nights or fewer, stacking on top of Arkansas’s 6.5% state sales tax and the 2% state tourism tax on lodging. The city’s combined local sales tax is approximately 9.5%. Hosts should register with both state and local tax authorities. Airbnb and VRBO typically collect and remit applicable taxes on transactions through their platforms, but hosts using other booking channels must handle registration and remittance independently.
Enforcement is minimal, handled through standard business-license and zoning oversight without a dedicated STR inspection program.
Market Comparison
Fort Smith’s April 2026 ADR of $159 sits well below the US STR median of approximately $220/night, consistent with an inland, non-destination market with a lower cost of living. However, the gross yield profile (approximately 12% on the typical home value of $195,664) compares favorably to higher-cost markets where ADRs are higher but acquisition costs are proportionally much larger.
The 44.0% occupancy rate trails the US median of approximately 55%, though the year-over-year improvement of 5.1 percentage points suggests the market is trending in the right direction. The 5.1 point occupancy gain is faster than most comparable markets.
Professional management is concentrated. Evolve leads with 434 listings, 17,398 reviews, and a 4.78 average rating, making it by far the dominant operator in the market. Arkansas Vacation (38 listings, 4.74 rating), King Rhodes (32 listings, 4.75 rating), Buffalo Outdoor Center (27 listings, 4.91 rating), and Ivy Vacations (25 listings, 4.90 rating) fill out the top five. The top five operators collectively manage 556 listings, representing approximately 8% of the estimated 6,875-listing market. Evolve alone accounts for roughly 6% of all listings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Smith, Arkansas
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