Bass Lake, California Short-Term Rental Market
Bass Lake, CA STRs averaged $277/night at 47.8% occupancy in April 2026 across a market with 3,712 entire-place listings near Yosemite.
Quick Answer: Bass Lake, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 65%. average monthly revenue is $6,360. average daily rate is $358. the top operator is Vacasa with 143 listings. market score is 79/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Southern Sierra Mtns regional market, which includes Bass Lake. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bass Lake.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bass Lake is an unincorporated mountain lake community in Madera County, California, situated 16-17 miles from Yosemite National Park’s south entrance. The short-term rental market here is dominated by entire-place listings, which account for 3,712 of 3,935 total listing-type entries (94.3%). Private rooms make up the remaining 222 (5.6%), with a single shared-room listing rounding out the inventory.
In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $277 and occupancy of 47.8%, generating average monthly revenue of $3,675 per active listing. RevPAR stood at $132.55. Year-over-year, occupancy slipped 1.4 percentage points while ADR gained 3.2%, resulting in a modest 1.0% decline in revenue versus April 2025.
The bedroom mix is broad. One-bedroom listings lead at 1,240 units, followed by 3-bedroom (1,100), 2-bedroom (749), 4-bedroom (536), and 5-bedroom (306) properties. Larger cabins and houses are well-represented, which supports the above-average ADR for a market of this size.
Channel distribution shows Airbnb as the primary standalone platform with 1,754 listings; VRBO has 188 standalone listings; and 1,993 listings appear on both platforms. Dual-listed properties represent the largest channel segment, indicating that serious operators in this market tend to maximize reach across both platforms.
The market’s overall score is 79.5 out of 100, with revenue growth scoring particularly high at 84.7 and investability at 77.6. Seasonality scores 63.0, reflecting the market’s pronounced summer concentration.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | $240 | $2,524 |
| Feb | 40% | $240 | $2,359 |
| Mar | 41% | $222 | $2,576 |
| Apr | 49% | $231 | $3,033 |
| May | 56% | $249 | $3,495 |
| Jun | 66% | $291 | $5,030 |
| Jul | 70% | $290 | $5,436 |
| Aug | 58% | $268 | $4,302 |
| Sep | 46% | $238 | $3,000 |
| Oct | 46% | $221 | $2,884 |
| Nov | 44% | $229 | $2,480 |
| Dec | 45% | $258 | $3,037 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Bass Lake
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 143 | 7,885 | ★ 4.45 |
| 2 | Evolve | 68 | 2,967 | ★ 4.63 |
| 3 | Acorn Vacation Properties | 57 | 9,776 | ★ 4.79 |
| 4 | The Cabin Host | 55 | 2,942 | ★ 4.96 |
| 5 | www loveyosemitepm com | 52 | 5,387 | ★ 4.89 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bass Lake?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,240 |
| 2 bed | 749 |
| 3 bed | 1,100 |
| 4 bed | 536 |
| 5 bed | 306 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $370 |
| Luxury | $560 |
| Professionally Managed | $431 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,553 |
| Entire Place | $6,591 |
| House | $6,919 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 44.6% |
| vrbo | 4.8% |
| both | 50.6% |
Investment Analysis
Bass Lake’s investment case rests primarily on summer demand tied to Yosemite proximity and lake recreation. At an April 2026 ADR of $277 and average monthly revenue of $3,675, annualized revenue for an average active listing runs approximately $44,100. Against Zillow’s typical home value of $592,227, that implies a gross yield of roughly 7.5% before expenses.
Professionally managed listings command a meaningfully higher rate. The tier_professionally_managed ADR was $307 in April 2026, a 10.9% premium over the all-listings average of $277. Luxury-tier listings ($441 ADR) operate in a distinct segment, suggesting there is upside for well-appointed properties. Entire-home listings averaged $287 ADR, slightly above the all-listings figure, consistent with their 94.3% share of inventory.
The YoY trend through 2025 annual data shows a market that has stabilized after a 2021 peak. Annual average revenue per listing reached $4,006 in 2021, pulled back to $3,611 in 2022 and $3,540 in 2023, and recovered to $3,817 in 2024 and $3,954 in 2025. ADR has risen steadily from $210 in 2020 to $296 in 2025, suggesting pricing power even as occupancy has moderated from the 59.7% recorded in 2021. The investability score of 77.6 and revenue growth score of 84.7 are consistent with this picture: rates are moving up, volumes are stable, and the market is not oversaturated.
The median list price of $793,967 for active listings is notably above Zillow’s typical home value of $592,227, which may indicate that currently listed properties skew larger or are priced at a premium. Buyers who can acquire at or near the Zillow typical value will see stronger yield economics than those purchasing from the current listing pool.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Bass Lake guests book an average of 40.8 days in advance, and the average length of stay is 2.9 nights. These two metrics shape the practical pricing and availability management strategy for operators.
A roughly 41-day lead window means that in the peak summer season, most bookings for July arrivals will land during May and early June. Operators who delay rate adjustments past that window risk leaving inventory priced below actual demand. Rates should be set and reviewed at the 45 to 60 day mark ahead of key summer weekends.
The 2.9-night average stay is characteristic of weekend-focused leisure demand. Operators can use minimum-night requirements to reduce costly single-night turnovers while still capturing the majority of the guest base. A 2-night minimum is consistent with this profile; a 3-night minimum during peak July weekends may reduce gap nights without materially reducing revenue.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are legally permitted in Bass Lake, which sits in unincorporated Madera County. Currently, hosts are required to obtain a county business license and register for a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, and no annual nights cap is in effect.
Guests pay a combined 11.5% tax rate: a 9% TOT plus a 2.5% Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment, remitted quarterly to the county.
Madera County has been developing a dedicated Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) ordinance. The draft ordinance would require a non-transferable STVR permit in addition to the existing business license and TOT registration, and would establish operational standards covering occupancy limits tied to unit size, parking minimums, quiet hours, waste management, and fire code compliance including defensible space. The draft was scheduled for a Madera County Planning Commission hearing on February 4, 2026. As of May 2026, it is unclear whether the ordinance has been formally adopted.
If adopted, a fire inspection fee of $196 per year would apply. Enforcement to date has been minimal. HOA communities within Bass Lake, such as Cascadel Heights, may have CC&R-based restrictions that apply independently of county rules. The market’s regulation score is 72.2 out of 100, reflecting the currently permissive environment with some uncertainty from the pending ordinance.
Market Comparison
Bass Lake’s April 2026 ADR of $277 is above the U.S. STR median of approximately $220, placing it in the upper third of national markets by rate. Occupancy at 47.8% is below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, consistent with a seasonal resort market where summer demand is strong but off-season demand is limited.
The gap between Bass Lake’s ADR premium and its occupancy discount still produces a favorable RevPAR outcome: at $132.55, Bass Lake’s RevPAR exceeds the implied median-market figure of $121 (55% occupancy at $220 ADR).
Professional management is a meaningful presence in the market. Vacasa leads with 143 listings, 7,885 reviews, and a 4.45 average rating. Evolve follows with 68 listings, 2,967 reviews, and a 4.63 rating. Acorn Vacation Properties holds 57 listings with 9,776 reviews and a 4.79 rating, suggesting a long-established local operator. The Cabin Host has 55 listings at a 4.96 rating, and Love Yosemite PM rounds out the top five with 52 listings and a 4.89 average rating.
The top 5 operators account for 375 listings combined. Against the 3,935 total listing-type entries, that represents roughly 9.5% of inventory under professional management, leaving the large majority of listings in independent hands.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bass Lake, California
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