Arnold, California Short-Term Rental Market
Arnold, CA STRs averaged $288/night at 41.2% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 4,984 active listings.
Quick Answer: Arnold, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 41%. average monthly revenue is $3,453. average daily rate is $288. the top operator is Evolve with 209 listings. market score is 58/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Arnold sits in Calaveras County at roughly 4,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada foothills, functioning as a gateway to Calaveras Big Trees State Park and Bear Valley Mountain Resort. The STR market here is large relative to the town’s 3,288 permanent residents, with approximately 4,984 active listings as of the latest snapshot. In April 2026, the average daily rate was $287.62 and occupancy ran at 41.2%, producing a RevPAR of $118.53 and average monthly revenue of $3,453 per listing.
Year-over-year, all three headline metrics softened: occupancy declined 7.0%, ADR fell 0.83%, and revenue dropped 0.60% compared to the same month a year earlier. The 2025 annual average ADR of $310 and occupancy of 44.1% represent the high-water mark for recent years before the 2026 pullback.
Entire-place listings dominate at 4,819 units (96.7% of active listings), with private rooms at 164 and shared rooms at just 1. Three-bedroom properties are the most common bedroom configuration at 1,882 listings, followed by one-bedroom (1,083) and two-bedroom (1,037) units. Four-bedroom (735) and five-bedroom (242) properties round out the supply. By channel, 2,664 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, while 2,000 list exclusively on Airbnb and 320 exclusively on VRBO, indicating strong multi-platform distribution in this market.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37% | $265 | $2,829 |
| Feb | 46% | $271 | $2,938 |
| Mar | 40% | $258 | $2,991 |
| Apr | 46% | $262 | $3,272 |
| May | 54% | $273 | $3,613 |
| Jun | 61% | $295 | $4,568 |
| Jul | 64% | $291 | $5,034 |
| Aug | 54% | $285 | $4,294 |
| Sep | 44% | $268 | $3,252 |
| Oct | 46% | $254 | $3,278 |
| Nov | 42% | $247 | $2,615 |
| Dec | 46% | $272 | $3,162 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Arnold
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 209 | 10,374 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 139 | 6,780 | ★ 4.47 |
| 3 | Cedar Creek Realty | 131 | 2,818 | ★ 4.68 |
| 4 | The Redwoods In Yosemite | 127 | 3,345 | ★ 4.60 |
| 5 | Yosemite's Scenic Wonders | 78 | 14,742 | ★ 4.79 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Arnold?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,083 |
| 2 bed | 1,037 |
| 3 bed | 1,882 |
| 4 bed | 735 |
| 5 bed | 242 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $293 |
| Luxury | $464 |
| Professionally Managed | $361 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,567 |
| Entire Place | $3,507 |
| House | $3,540 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 40.1% |
| vrbo | 6.4% |
| both | 53.5% |
Investment Analysis
Arnold’s STR market scores 57.83 overall on investability metrics, with stronger marks for regulation compliance (71.51) and seasonality management (74.02) than for raw rental demand (57.38). The investability sub-score of 70.75 reflects the market’s established track record and predictable seasonal swing.
At the latest-month average revenue of $3,453, the annualized run rate is approximately $41,435. Against a typical home value of $424,483, that implies a gross yield of approximately 9.8% before expenses. The median list price of $462,633 in the most recent housing snapshot suggests acquisition costs have risen slightly above typical values, which compresses prospective yields for new buyers.
The ADR differential across tiers is significant: all-listings average is $287.62, entire-home listings average $292.97, professionally managed properties average $360.82, and the luxury tier averages $464.43. That $173 spread between all-listings and the luxury tier points to meaningful upside for well-positioned, well-managed properties. With 77 homes listed for sale and a median 28 days to pending, the housing market moves at a moderate pace, giving buyers reasonable time for due diligence.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Arnold guests book an average of 47.95 days in advance, placing the typical booking window at just under seven weeks. This relatively long lead time reflects the planning behavior of drive-market travelers from the Bay Area and Sacramento who secure summer cabin weekends well ahead of peak dates. For hosts, this window supports revenue management: rate adjustments made 6 to 8 weeks before arrival can capture demand before it solidifies.
The average length of stay is 3.15 nights, consistent with a weekend-plus market rather than pure weekly turnover. That means roughly 8 to 9 booking cycles per month at full occupancy, with turnover costs and cleaning fees factored into pricing for each stay. Minimum-stay policies of 3 nights on weekends are common and align with this average. Longer midweek stays can be incentivized with modest discounts to reduce vacancy gaps between weekend blocks.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted throughout unincorporated Calaveras County, including Arnold. Operators renting for 30 nights or fewer must obtain a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate from the County Tax Collector and remit a 12% occupancy tax on rent and cleaning fees. Registration and tax remittance are handled through the county’s Deckard STR portal. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement.
Outside four subdivisions in the Lake Tulloch area, no countywide zoning-based STR ban applies. Arnold operators currently comply primarily through TOT registration and standard county rules on noise, parking, and occupancy.
A countywide Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) ordinance has been in development since 2024. A public review draft was released in August 2024, and the Initial Study Checklist comment period closed September 13, 2025. The draft would require all existing and new STVRs to obtain a permit, post a 24/7 contact number on-site, cap amplified music and late-night guests, and impose financial penalties for violations. It does not propose owner occupancy requirements and uses bedroom and parking counts rather than a hard occupancy cap. Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors hearings were pending as of late 2025; adoption status as of May 2026 is unconfirmed. Enforcement severity is currently rated moderate. Permit cost under the draft ordinance was not specified in available sources.
Market Comparison
The national median STR occupancy is approximately 55% and the national median ADR is approximately $220. Arnold’s April 2026 occupancy of 41.2% is below the national median, and its ADR of $287.62 is above it, reflecting a market where pricing power is retained even as demand softens. The RevPAR of $118.53 is below what a 55%-occupancy market at $220 ADR would produce ($121), indicating the occupancy drag is the primary drag on returns.
The revenue growth score of 61.93 suggests the market is tracking at a pace slightly above neutral but below strong-growth markets. The 2021 peak (annual occupancy 60.7%, ADR $279, revenue $4,394/month) was the high point; the market has retraced to a lower demand equilibrium since.
Among top operators, Evolve leads with 209 listings and 10,374 reviews (rating 4.73). Vacasa follows with 139 listings and 4.47 average rating. Cedar Creek Realty holds 131 listings (rating 4.68) and Yosemite’s Scenic Wonders manages 78 listings with the highest rating in the top five at 4.785. The presence of five sizable regional operators indicates a competitive professional management market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arnold, California
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