Mena, Arkansas Short-Term Rental Market
Mena, AR STRs averaged $159/night at 44.0% occupancy in April 2026, with occupancy up 5.1 percentage points year over year.
Quick Answer: Mena, 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 Mena. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Mena.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Mena, AR market area in Polk County encompasses 6,875 tracked short-term rental listings serving the Ouachita Mountains outdoor recreation corridor. Mena (population 5,498) is the county seat of Polk County and the gateway to Queen Wilhelmina State Park, the Ouachita National Forest, and the Talimena National Scenic Byway.
In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $159, a 44.0% occupancy rate, and a $70 RevPAR. Year over year, occupancy improved 5.1 percentage points and revenue rose 4.6%, while ADR declined 1.8%, indicating volume-led recovery. The 2025 full-year average was 45.5% occupancy and a $163 ADR, generating $2,119 in average monthly revenue per listing.
Entire-place rentals dominate at 6,656 listings (96.8% of inventory), with 218 private-room listings and one shared-room listing. Bedroom distribution shows 2-bedrooms leading at 2,011 units, followed by 1-bedrooms (1,992), 3-bedrooms (1,922), 4-bedrooms (648), and 5-bedroom-plus homes (297). Channel mix shows 3,220 listings on both Airbnb and VRBO, 3,055 on Airbnb only, and 600 on VRBO only.
Market scores show an investability rating of 96.5, a seasonality score of 83.1, a total score of 85.1, a regulation score of 68.4, and a revenue growth score of 67.8. Typical home values stand at $194,380 (April 2026 snapshot), with a median list price of $247,667 and 170 active listings in inventory.
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 Mena 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 Mena, so these counts are not Mena-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 Mena?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Mena 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 (Mena)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Mena 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 Mena — 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
Mena has no dedicated short-term rental ordinance, registration program, or night cap on record as of mid-2026. Under Arkansas Act 1072 of 2019, cities and counties cannot outright ban STRs but may regulate for health and safety purposes. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Land use is governed by Mena’s general zoning ordinance; investors should confirm the property’s zoning district and any accessory-dwelling-unit rules directly with Mena City Hall before listing.
On taxes, Arkansas imposes a statewide 2% tourism tax on accommodations. State and local sales tax also applies to STR stays, with the combined sales tax rate in Mena at 9.5% (6.5% state, 2% Polk County, 1% city). Airbnb collects Arkansas state and local taxes on behalf of most hosts. No separate municipal advertising and promotion (A&P) or hotel lodging tax commission was found for Mena.
Investors should also determine whether a general city business license is required and obtain an Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration sales/use tax permit. Enforcement is rated minimal, with oversight limited to general zoning, nuisance, and building codes. Confirm current requirements with the City of Mena and Polk County before operating.
Market Comparison
Mena’s April 2026 ADR of $159 is below the U.S. STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the rural, non-resort character of the Ouachita Mountains market. April occupancy of 44.0% also trails the U.S. median of approximately 55%. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 45.5% is consistent with a rural seasonal destination that draws regional outdoor recreation visitors.
The market’s investability score of 96.5 stands out nationally, driven by the low acquisition cost (typical home value $194,380) relative to STR revenues. Occupancy improvement of 5.1 percentage points and revenue growth of 4.6% year over year in April 2026 signal recovering demand.
Evolve leads the professional management landscape with 434 listings (6.3% of the 6,875-listing market) and 17,314 reviews at a 4.78 average rating. Arkansas Vacation manages 38 listings (0.6%, 4.75 rating), and King Rhodes holds 32 listings (0.5%, 4.74 rating). Buffalo Outdoor Center manages 27 listings (0.4%, 4.91 rating), and Ivy Vacations holds 25 listings (0.4%, 4.91 rating). The top five account for 556 listings or 8.1% of market inventory, indicating a largely independent operator landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mena, Arkansas
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