Bayfield, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Bayfield-area STRs averaged $209/night at 27.3% occupancy in April 2026, with July peak occupancy reaching 73.3% across 2,053 active listings.
Quick Answer: Bayfield, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Durango market area is 64%. average monthly revenue in the Durango market area is $4,959. average daily rate in the Durango market area is $321. the top operator in the Durango market area is Vacation Rental Collective with 338 listings. market score is 45/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Durango regional market, which includes Bayfield. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bayfield.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Bayfield short-term rental market is part of the broader La Plata County, Colorado corridor anchored by Durango, covering approximately 2,053 active STR listings as of the April 2026 snapshot. The market draws guests year-round to the San Juan Mountains, with access to Purgatory Resort, Mesa Verde National Park, and the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad shaping demand patterns significantly.
In April 2026, the average daily rate stood at $209 and occupancy reached 27.3%, reflecting the spring shoulder season. Year-over-year, occupancy improved 3.8%, ADR rose 5.0%, and revenue grew 3.3% compared to April 2025, indicating steady upward momentum on all three key metrics. The 2025 full-year average was $297 ADR and 51.2% occupancy, generating average monthly revenue of $4,063 per listing.
Entire-place listings dominate the inventory at 1,971 properties (96% of all listings), with just 82 private rooms and 3 shared rooms. On the channel side, 1,246 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 613 are Airbnb-only, and 197 are VRBO-only, suggesting that multi-channel distribution is the standard operating approach in this market.
The bedroom mix leans toward larger properties: 1-bedroom units account for 689 listings, 2-bedrooms for 530, 3-bedrooms for 504, 4-bedrooms for 221, and 5-bedrooms for 109. This spread toward larger cabins and mountain homes aligns with the group-travel profile typical of ski-and-outdoor destinations. The market’s investability score of 64 out of 100 and rental demand score of 63 reflect a market with real seasonal upside, though the seasonality score of 53 and total score of 45 signal meaningful variance between peak and off-season performance.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 39% |
| Feb | 48% |
| Mar | 50% |
| Apr | 27% |
| May | 55% |
| Jun | 65% |
| Jul | 73% |
| Aug | 60% |
| Sep | 55% |
| Oct | 46% |
| Nov | 34% |
| Dec | 55% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Bayfield are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Durango market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Durango market as a whole, which includes Bayfield, so these counts are not Bayfield-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacation Rental Collective | 338 | 15,052 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Purgatory Resort | 138 | 151 | ★ 4.49 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 88 | 5,452 | ★ 4.52 |
| 4 | Durango Colorado Vacations | 86 | 3,702 | ★ 4.76 |
| 5 | Durango Red Cliff Properties | 51 | 1,918 | ★ 4.85 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bayfield?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Bayfield 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 | 29.8% |
| vrbo | 9.6% |
| both | 60.6% |
Home Value Trends (Bayfield)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Bayfield 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 Bayfield — 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
The Bayfield area falls under La Plata County and the City of Durango STR framework. STRs are permitted but require a Limited Use Permit (LUP) issued by the Community Development Department before operating or advertising. The LUP application fee is $750, renewed annually. Operators also need a city business license and a Lodgers Tax license.
STRs are only permitted in the Central Business Zone, Mixed-Use Zones, select Planned Development Zones, and Established Neighborhoods EN-1 and EN-2. They are prohibited in newer residential developments including Twin Buttes, Three Springs, Rock Ridge, and Sky Ridge. EN-1 is capped at 22 total permits with an active waitlist; EN-2 is capped at 17 permits with an active waitlist. A second STR on the same street segment requires Planning Commission approval.
Permits are non-transferable: purchasing a property with an existing LUP does not convey the permit to the new owner. This is a critical due-diligence item for investors, as cap zones with active waitlists mean permit availability cannot be assumed at acquisition.
Occupancy is capped at two guests per bedroom plus two additional guests. Off-street parking is required. Tax obligations include the city lodgers tax (5.25%), the La Plata County lodgers tax (2%), plus applicable sales taxes, for a combined lodgers tax burden of 7.25%. City lodgers tax was increased from 2% to 5.25% effective June 1, 2021, following voter approval. LUP applications are processed via the OpenGov online portal as of July 2024. Enforcement is rated strict, with an active Code Enforcement Division that accepts community complaints about unpermitted rentals.
Market Comparison
The Bayfield-Durango STR market’s 2025 annual average ADR of $297 sits well above the US STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium pricing commanded by mountain and ski-adjacent destinations. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 51.2% is broadly in line with the national median of approximately 55%, though this market’s dual-season pattern creates higher variance than coastal or urban year-round markets.
On the operator side, Vacation Rental Collective leads with 338 listings and 15,052 total reviews at a 4.73 average rating, making it the dominant local operator. Purgatory Resort manages 138 listings (tied to the ski resort itself, with only 151 reviews). Vacasa operates 88 listings at a 4.52 rating with 5,452 reviews, representing the national platform footprint. Durango Colorado Vacations manages 86 listings at a 4.76 rating with 3,702 reviews, while Durango Red Cliff Properties holds 51 listings at a 4.85 rating with 1,918 reviews.
The top five operators collectively manage 701 listings, representing approximately 34% of the 2,053-listing inventory. This is a moderately concentrated operator market, with a strong local operator (Vacation Rental Collective) holding a clear lead over national platforms. Investors choosing professional management have multiple established options with verified review histories.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bayfield, Colorado
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