Idyllwild, California Short-Term Rental Market
Idyllwild caps STRs at 500 certificates; the Inland region averaged $200 ADR, 57.7% occupancy, $3,340 monthly revenue in August 2026.
Quick Answer: Idyllwild, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Riverside market area is 55%. average monthly revenue in the Riverside market area is $2,968. average daily rate in the Riverside market area is $198. the top operator in the Riverside market area is Evolve with 88 listings. market score is 53/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Riverside regional market, which includes Idyllwild. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Idyllwild.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Idyllwild is an unincorporated mountain community of 4,163 residents in the San Jacinto Mountains of Riverside County. Apivex tracks its short-term rental performance together with five other Inland Southern California communities in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The group spans mountain towns (Idyllwild, Mountain Center, Wrightwood) and valley cities (Ontario, Temecula, Murrieta). Every performance figure on this page therefore describes the Inland Southern California region STR market, not Idyllwild alone.
In August 2026, STRs in the region averaged $200 per night at 57.7% occupancy. Average monthly revenue per listing was $3,340. Against August 2025, occupancy rose 1.7%, average daily rate rose 1.2%, and revenue fell 1.0%.
Regional annual occupancy peaked at 65.6% in 2021, and annual ADR peaked at $213 in 2022. Since 2022, occupancy has stayed between 55.8% and 58.3%, and ADR has stayed between $200 and $205. The 2026 figures cover eight months, January through August. Those months show 58.3% occupancy, $205 ADR, and $3,317 average monthly revenue.
Entire-place listings carry the revenue. They earned $4,319 per month in August 2026. Houses earned $3,469 and apartments earned $2,401.
Apivex also publishes listing-type, bedroom, and booking-channel counts for this market. Those counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Idyllwild, so this profile omits them.
Idyllwild sits about an hour southeast of Palm Springs at roughly one mile of elevation. Visitors come for hiking in Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness, rock climbing at Tahquitz Rock, and events tied to Idyllwild Arts Academy. No authoritative annual visitor count was found, so this page cites none.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 51% |
| Feb | 57% |
| Mar | 58% |
| Apr | 56% |
| May | 56% |
| Jun | 62% |
| Jul | 63% |
| Aug | 57% |
| Sep | 55% |
| Oct | 57% |
| Nov | 54% |
| Dec | 57% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Idyllwild are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Riverside market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Riverside market as a whole, which includes Idyllwild, so these counts are not Idyllwild-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 88 | 1,904 | ★ 4.58 |
| 2 | New Spirit Vacation Homes | 60 | 3,545 | ★ 4.46 |
| 3 | Host / Eric | 45 | 40 | ★ 4.67 |
| 4 | Holidale | 44 | 11 | ★ 4.57 |
| 5 | Vacasa | 43 | 2,764 | ★ 4.53 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Idyllwild?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Idyllwild 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 | 69.5% |
| vrbo | 2.5% |
| both | 28% |
Home Value Trends (Idyllwild)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Idyllwild 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 Idyllwild — 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
Idyllwild limits new short-term rentals. Idyllwild-Pine Cove has a hard cap of 500 STR certificates under Riverside County Ordinance 927 (Chapter 5.84). When demand exceeds supply, the County awards new certificates through a biannual lottery. Newly certificated STRs must sit at least 500 feet from the nearest residence.
Idyllwild is unincorporated, so the County Planning Department governs STRs, not a city. Operators need a Short-Term Rental Certificate, a registration with the County Treasurer-Tax Collector, and a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax. The initial application fee is about $740, and annual renewal is roughly $540. The certificate renews every year. The County defines an STR as a rental of 2 to 30 days.
The rules set no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Guest limits scale with lot size, up to 10 guests on lots of half an acre or less and up to 16 on lots of 0.5 to 2 acres. Owners must verify that parcel zoning permits STR use. Rules also cover parking, noise, and safety.
Enforcement is rated moderate. Escalating citations and fines apply, and the County has acknowledged gaps in after-hours code enforcement. Ordinance 927.2 was adopted on December 12, 2023. In February 2026 the Board of Supervisors delayed proposed amendments on enforcement tools and operator fees, and a draft Ordinance 927.3 remained pending.
Market Comparison
US STR benchmarks are roughly 55% occupancy and a $220 ADR. The Inland Southern California region ran 57.7% occupancy in August 2026, which is 2.7 points above that benchmark. Its ADR of $200 is $20, or about 9%, below.
The pattern is a market that fills well at moderate rates. Idyllwild itself carries a mountain premium over valley cities, but Apivex does not split the two, so the regional average blends them.
Regional revenue has been flat since 2022 while the 500-certificate cap limits new Idyllwild supply. That cap is the main structural difference from open-entry markets. Buyers should weigh the 500-certificate limit and lottery risk, plus the 500 foot separation rule, before they rely on the regional revenue averages.
Apivex also ranks the top property managers for this market. That ranking is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Idyllwild, so this profile omits it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Idyllwild, California
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