Lake Arrowhead, California Short-Term Rental Market
Lake Arrowhead STRs averaged $254/night at 26.4% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 8,400 active listings.
Quick Answer: Lake Arrowhead, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Big Bear market area is 40%. average monthly revenue in the Big Bear market area is $2,980. average daily rate in the Big Bear market area is $288. the top operator in the Big Bear market area is Destination Big Bear with 486 listings. market score is 46/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Big Bear regional market, which includes Lake Arrowhead. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lake Arrowhead.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Lake Arrowhead is a mountain resort community in the San Bernardino Mountains at approximately 5,100 feet elevation, drawing an estimated 2.4 million annual visitors to the surrounding San Bernardino National Forest. The short-term rental market here is large: roughly 8,400 active listings, with 8,324 (99%) configured as entire-place rentals. Just 81 private rooms and 6 shared rooms round out the supply.
As of April 2026, average daily rate stood at $254, with occupancy at 26.4% for that month. April is seasonally the softest month of the year, so these figures reflect trough conditions, not the annual average. RevPAR was $66.95. Year-over-year, occupancy improved 13.1% compared to April 2025, while ADR slipped 4.1% and overall revenue declined 6.9%.
By bedroom count, the inventory skews toward larger properties: 3-bedroom units lead with 2,929 listings, followed by 2-bedrooms (2,509), 4-bedrooms (1,370), 1-bedrooms (904), and 5-bedrooms (692). Distribution across booking channels shows the market is heavily multi-platform: 5,176 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, while 2,840 are Airbnb-only and 395 are VRBO-only.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 44% |
| Feb | 43% |
| Mar | 32% |
| Apr | 30% |
| May | 33% |
| Jun | 41% |
| Jul | 47% |
| Aug | 40% |
| Sep | 28% |
| Oct | 34% |
| Nov | 40% |
| Dec | 53% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Lake Arrowhead are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Big Bear market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Big Bear market as a whole, which includes Lake Arrowhead, so these counts are not Lake Arrowhead-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Destination Big Bear | 486 | 27,721 | ★ 4.72 |
| 2 | Big Bear Cool Cabins | 417 | 7,860 | ★ 4.50 |
| 3 | Big Bear Vacations | 416 | 7,402 | ★ 4.35 |
| 4 | Evolve | 269 | 11,248 | ★ 4.66 |
| 5 | Sky High Cabins | 189 | 9,233 | ★ 4.91 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lake Arrowhead?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Lake Arrowhead 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 | 33.8% |
| vrbo | 4.7% |
| both | 61.5% |
Home Value Trends (Lake Arrowhead)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Lake Arrowhead 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 Lake Arrowhead — 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
Lake Arrowhead is an unincorporated community governed by San Bernardino County rather than a city. Short-term rentals (stays of 30 days or fewer) require a county Short-Term Rental Permit before listing or renting. As of July 1, 2025, a new permit costs approximately $1,144 (comprising a $600 application fee, $285 permit fee, and $259 notification fee). Permits are valid for one year and must be renewed annually, with renewal costing approximately $550 when no changes occur.
The application process requires a site plan, a certification of compliance with county STR standards, and an in-person exterior inspection by a Code Enforcement Officer verifying parking and other requirements. Operators must provide a 24-hour contact for complaint resolution.
A 7% Transient Occupancy Tax applies to all stays under 30 days. A November 2024 ballot measure (Measure K) that would have raised this rate to 11% was defeated with approximately 57% voting no. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, and no explicit annual night cap. However, the county limits STR density in mountain communities to one STR per parcel under 2 acres and two STRs per parcel over 2 acres. Enforcement is classified as strict: unpermitted operation can result in fines of $1,000 per day, escalating to $2,000 and $5,000 for repeat violations, with potential misdemeanor penalties. A county density study is ongoing and could produce additional caps.
Market Comparison
Nationally, STR markets average roughly 55% occupancy and $220 ADR. Lake Arrowhead’s April 2026 occupancy of 26.4% sits well below the national average, but April is the market’s trough month; the annual average occupancy across all months is closer to 37%, still below national norms. ADR at $254 exceeds the national median, reflecting the premium mountain-resort positioning.
The operator landscape is dominated by regional specialists rather than national platforms. Destination Big Bear leads with 486 listings, 27,721 reviews, and a 4.72 average rating. Big Bear Cool Cabins holds 417 listings (rating 4.50), and Big Bear Vacations manages 416 listings (rating 4.35). Evolve, a national operator, ranks fourth with 269 listings and a 4.66 rating. Sky High Cabins rounds out the top five with 189 listings and the highest rating in the group at 4.91.
The top three regional operators collectively hold roughly 1,319 listings, representing about 15.7% of the 8,411-listing market. Market concentration is relatively low, leaving room for independent operators who invest in quality and hospitality. The market’s regulation score of 69.6/100 reflects the county’s active permitting and enforcement posture.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Arrowhead, California
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