Cedar Glen, California Short-Term Rental Market
Cedar Glen STRs averaged $254/night at 26.4% occupancy in April 2026, a soft shoulder month in this San Bernardino Mountains market.
Quick Answer: Cedar Glen, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 40%. average monthly revenue is $2,980. average daily rate is $288. the top operator is Destination Big Bear with 486 listings. market score is 46/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Big Bear regional market, which includes Cedar Glen. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Cedar Glen.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Cedar Glen is a small unincorporated mountain community in the San Bernardino Mountains, roughly 10 minutes from Lake Arrowhead and approximately two hours from Los Angeles. Its short-term rental market reflects a classic mountain getaway pattern: strong winter and holiday demand with soft shoulder seasons.
In April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $253.93 and occupancy of 26.4%, producing a RevPAR of $66.90. Average monthly revenue per listing was $2,202. April sits well below this market’s seasonal peak — occupancy ranges from 52.7% in December to 26.4% in April based on the latest data point.
The listing base consists of approximately 8,466 properties across the five bedroom tiers tracked. Three-bedroom homes are the most common (2,942 listings), followed by 2-bedroom (2,527) and 4-bedroom (1,388). One-bedroom units (907) and 5-bedroom properties (702) round out the supply. Entire-place listings account for 8,385 of the roughly 8,471 listing-type records; private rooms (80) and shared rooms (6) are minimal.
Channel distribution leans toward cross-listing: 5,178 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, while 2,896 are Airbnb-only and 397 VRBO-only. Year-over-year, occupancy improved 13.3 percentage points in April 2026 versus April 2025, but ADR fell 4.2% and overall revenue declined 6.69%, indicating more listings competing for similar total demand.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44% | $420 | $5,261 |
| Feb | 43% | $404 | $4,568 |
| Mar | 32% | $315 | $3,166 |
| Apr | 30% | $255 | $2,196 |
| May | 33% | $266 | $2,006 |
| Jun | 41% | $289 | $2,818 |
| Jul | 47% | $307 | $3,734 |
| Aug | 40% | $289 | $3,133 |
| Sep | 28% | $275 | $2,149 |
| Oct | 34% | $274 | $2,440 |
| Nov | 40% | $326 | $3,104 |
| Dec | 53% | $460 | $6,149 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Cedar Glen
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Destination Big Bear | 486 | 27,786 | ★ 4.72 |
| 2 | Big Bear Vacations | 439 | 7,588 | ★ 4.35 |
| 3 | Big Bear Cool Cabins | 429 | 7,943 | ★ 4.49 |
| 4 | Evolve | 268 | 11,254 | ★ 4.66 |
| 5 | Sky High Cabins | 189 | 9,267 | ★ 4.91 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Cedar Glen?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 907 |
| 2 bed | 2,527 |
| 3 bed | 2,942 |
| 4 bed | 1,388 |
| 5 bed | 702 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $291 |
| Luxury | $509 |
| Professionally Managed | $336 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,700 |
| Entire Place | $2,997 |
| House | $3,035 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 34.2% |
| vrbo | 4.7% |
| both | 61.1% |
Investment Analysis
Cedar Glen’s investment case is shaped by its mountain resort character and dependence on winter and holiday demand. April 2026 average revenue of $2,202/month is low compared to annual peak months; December historically averages $6,143/month, nearly three times April’s figure, meaning investors must plan for sharp off-peak softness.
By listing type, entire-place units average $2,216/month in revenue versus $1,251 for apartments, a 77% premium. Houses average $2,231/month, nearly identical to the entire-place average, which makes sense given the market is overwhelmingly house-type product.
ADR tiers show a 14% premium for professionally managed properties ($289.50/night versus the market average of $253.93) and a 73% premium for the luxury tier ($440.55/night). These premiums suggest that well-positioned, well-managed properties can substantially outperform the market average.
Zillow housing data for Cedar Glen is not available in our dataset, so a home-value-to-revenue ratio cannot be computed. Buyers should source local comparable sales independently. The market’s revenue growth score of 74.6 out of 100 is the highest of the five scored dimensions, suggesting the data provider sees upside potential. However, the investability score (67.2) and rental demand score (41.5) indicate moderate fundamentals, and the annual revenue trend from 2022 through 2025 shows relatively flat average revenue ($3,539 / $3,209 / $3,353 / $3,393 annually). Investors should underwrite around historical annual averages rather than peak-month projections.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Cedar Glen’s average booking lead time of 26 days is notably short compared to many resort markets. This reflects the market’s drive-to character: most visitors are Southern California residents making relatively spontaneous weekend decisions, often triggered by weather conditions, snow reports, or holiday availability.
For operators, the 26-day lead window means last-minute pricing adjustments have high impact. Listing management tools that respond to real-time demand signals — including nearby snowfall, school breaks, and local event schedules — are effective in this market. Holding rates too early and too rigid risks missing the demand spikes that materialize on short notice.
Average length of stay of 2.85 nights is close to the 3-night weekend stay pattern, consistent with a drive-to mountain market primarily attracting short getaway trips rather than week-long vacations. This means moderate to high turnover relative to resort markets with longer stays, and operators should factor cleaning costs and turnaround logistics into their unit economics. Properties that can accommodate efficient same-day or next-morning turnovers are better positioned in this market than those requiring longer gaps between stays.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Cedar Glen is an unincorporated community in San Bernardino County, so STR regulations are set at the county level. Short-term rentals are permitted but require a county Short-Term Rental Permit before advertising or operating.
As of the July 1, 2025 fee schedule, a new permit application costs $1,144 (comprising a $600 application fee, $285 permit fee, and $259 neighbor-notification fee). Renewals with no changes cost approximately $550. Permits are valid for one year and must be renewed annually; failure to renew within 45 days of expiration closes the permit and requires a new application.
The county charges a 7% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on stays of 30 days or fewer. A November 2024 measure (Measure K) that would have raised the TOT to 11% was defeated by voters (56.77% opposed), so the rate remains at 7%.
Cedar Glen has no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, meaning investors can operate without living on site. Permits cap occupancy at a maximum of 12 guests, limit vehicles based on dwelling size, and require a designated 24-hour local contact who can respond within one hour. Properties must comply with fire, building, zoning, and health and safety codes.
Enforcement is strict. Operating without a valid permit carries fines of $1,000 per violation per day, escalating administrative citations ($1,000, $2,000, then $5,000), and potential criminal penalties.
Market Comparison
Cedar Glen’s ADR of $254 in April 2026 is slightly above the US STR median of approximately $220, but occupancy of 26.4% is materially below the US median of approximately 55%. This reflects April as an off-peak shoulder month in a winter-and-summer-driven market rather than a structural weakness.
The revenue growth market score of 74.6 is the strongest scored dimension for this market, suggesting the data provider’s model sees upward momentum. The regulation score of 69.8 indicates relatively permissive rules compared to many California coastal markets, and the absence of an owner-occupancy requirement makes Cedar Glen accessible to non-resident investors.
Professional management is well established and concentrated around the Lake Arrowhead corridor. Destination Big Bear leads with 486 listings and 27,786 reviews (rating 4.72), reflecting long-standing local brand strength. Big Bear Vacations manages 439 listings (4.35 rating) and Big Bear Cool Cabins 429 listings (4.49 rating). Evolve (268 listings, 4.66 rating) and Sky High Cabins (189 listings, 4.91 rating) round out the top five. The presence of multiple regional specialists, rather than national chains dominating, is characteristic of mountain cabin markets where local knowledge and maintenance networks matter significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cedar Glen, California
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