Crestline, California Short-Term Rental Market
Crestline STRs averaged $254/night with 26.4% occupancy in April 2026, a strong winter market with December averaging $460/night.
Quick Answer: Crestline, 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 Crestline. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Crestline.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Crestline is a small mountain resort community at approximately 4,600 feet elevation in the San Bernardino Mountains, about 90 minutes from Los Angeles. The short-term rental market here follows an inverted seasonal pattern compared to coastal markets: peak demand occurs in December and January when Southern California visitors seek mountain snow and cool-weather recreation at Lake Gregory.
As of April 2026 (a historically soft month for this market), the all-listings average daily rate is $254 and occupancy is 26.4%, generating a RevPAR of $66.90. Year-over-year, occupancy improved 13.3 percentage points in April while ADR declined 4.2% and revenue fell 6.7%, reflecting rate compression during an otherwise recovering shoulder period.
Entire-place listings dominate at 8,385 of approximately 8,471 total non-shared listings. By bedroom count, 3-bedroom units are the largest segment at 2,942, followed by 2-bedroom (2,527), 4-bedroom (1,388), 1-bedroom (907), and 5-bedroom-plus (702). More than half of listings (5,178) appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, with 2,896 Airbnb-only and 397 VRBO-only. The market’s total investment score is 46.4 out of 100, with revenue growth scoring 74.6 and regulation scoring 69.8, but rental demand scoring only 41.5, reflecting the concentrated seasonal demand pattern.
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 Crestline
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 Crestline?
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
Crestline’s investment case rests on a high winter revenue concentration and above-average nightly rates rather than strong occupancy. December averages $460/night and $6,143 in monthly revenue; January averages $420/night and $5,258. A 3-bedroom property targeting the winter window can earn in two months what many lower-tier mountain markets take four to five months to accumulate.
The April 2026 market-wide revenue average of $2,202 is not representative of annual performance. The 2025 annual average revenue of $3,393 per month is a more useful underwriting baseline, representing roughly $40,716 in annualized gross revenue across all listing types. Houses averaged $2,231 and entire-place listings $2,216 in April 2026, with apartments at $1,251.
Housing price data is not available from the current snapshot for Crestline, so gross yield cannot be computed from this data set. Investors should source current local comparable sales separately. The revenue growth market score of 74.6 signals positive momentum, and the investability score of 67.2 is above average despite the lower rental demand score. Enforcement is rated strict under San Bernardino County’s ordinance, which is a meaningful operational factor to underwrite alongside permit costs.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Crestline guests book with a very short lead time of 25.7 days on average, and the average length of stay is only 2.85 nights. The roughly four-week booking window is among the shortest for a mountain resort market, reflecting the spontaneous drive-market nature of the Southern California visitor base.
The near-three-night average stay indicates a weekend-trip pattern. Two-night minimums are common but may push some bookings to competitors accepting one-night stays; three-night minimums during peak winter weekends are common among top operators to maximize revenue per occupied period. Given that most guests book within 30 days, operators should not heavily discount inventory more than 30 days out and should hold rates firm until the two-to-three-week window before check-in, when Southern California weekend travelers make their final decisions.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Crestline is an unincorporated community regulated by San Bernardino County’s Short-Term Residential Rental ordinance (Chapter 84.28) for unincorporated mountain and desert regions. A Short-Term Rental Permit is required to advertise or rent a dwelling for 30 days or less.
As of July 1, 2025, a new permit application costs $1,144, comprising a $600 application fee, $285 permit fee, and $259 surrounding-property-owner notification fee. Permits are valid for one year and must be renewed annually; renewal fees range from $550 (no changes) to $1,144 (all changes). A $150 one-time credit is available for installing a noise-monitoring device. There is no owner-occupancy requirement and no annual night cap for the mountain region.
Guests staying 30 days or fewer owe a 7% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT); operators must register with the County Tax Collector. Notably, county voters rejected Measure K in November 2024, which would have raised the TOT from 7% to 11%; the rate remains 7%. A Code Enforcement officer conducts an exterior inspection verifying parking and compliance standards. Enforcement is rated strict: a 24/7 complaint line (1-833-SBC-STR1) handles reports, and violations carry escalating administrative citations of $1,000, $2,000, and $5,000, plus potential permit suspension or revocation. Multi-family residential units are ineligible for STR permits under this ordinance.
Market Comparison
At $254 average ADR in April 2026, Crestline’s nightly rate exceeds the US STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium associated with mountain cabin inventory. However, 26.4% occupancy in April is well below the national median of approximately 55%, which is expected given this market’s extreme seasonal concentration in the winter months.
The market is operationally dominated by regional mountain operators. Destination Big Bear leads with 486 listings and 27,786 reviews (4.72 average rating). Big Bear Vacations manages 439 listings (4.35 rating) and Big Bear Cool Cabins operates 429 listings (4.49 rating). Despite the Big Bear-branded naming, these operators manage inventory across the broader San Bernardino Mountains region including Crestline. Evolve holds 268 listings (11,254 reviews, 4.66 rating) and Sky High Cabins rounds out the top five with 189 listings and a 4.91 average rating. The total investment score of 46.4 reflects the real risk of seasonal concentration, but the revenue growth score of 74.6 suggests recent upward momentum for operators who have navigated the shoulder months effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crestline, California
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