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 is 27%. average monthly revenue is $2,040. average daily rate is $209. the top operator is Vacation Rental Collective with 338 listings. market score is 45/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex 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 | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $284 | $3,236 |
| Feb | 48% | $274 | $3,219 |
| Mar | 50% | $287 | $3,767 |
| Apr | 27% | $187 | $1,777 |
| May | 55% | $211 | $2,345 |
| Jun | 65% | $262 | $4,091 |
| Jul | 73% | $271 | $5,264 |
| Aug | 60% | $252 | $4,249 |
| Sep | 55% | $230 | $3,385 |
| Oct | 46% | $215 | $2,814 |
| Nov | 34% | $208 | $1,954 |
| Dec | 55% | $298 | $3,495 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Bayfield
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 689 |
| 2 bed | 530 |
| 3 bed | 504 |
| 4 bed | 221 |
| 5 bed | 109 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $214 |
| Luxury | $338 |
| Professionally Managed | $247 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,696 |
| Entire Place | $2,077 |
| House | $2,296 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 29.8% |
| vrbo | 9.6% |
| both | 60.6% |
Investment Analysis
Using 2025 full-year averages, a typical Bayfield-area STR generated approximately $48,756 in gross annual revenue ($4,063/month average). Against a typical home value of $508,686 (Zillow, April 2026), that represents a gross yield of approximately 9.6%. The current median list price of $622,000 suggests acquisition costs have risen above the Zillow typical-home estimate, which would compress that yield to approximately 7.8% at list price.
The ADR tier spread provides useful context for property positioning. All-listings average ADR was $209 in April 2026, while entire-home listings averaged $214 and professionally managed properties averaged $247, an 18% premium over the market average. Luxury tier ADR reached $338, nearly 62% above the market baseline, indicating that premium properties in ski-access locations command substantially higher nightly rates.
Revenue by property type in April 2026: houses averaged $2,296/month, entire-place listings $2,077/month, and apartments $1,696/month. The gap between houses and apartments is $600/month, or approximately 35%.
Year-over-year revenue growth of 3.3% in April 2026, combined with ADR growth of 5.0%, suggests that rate gains are outpacing any occupancy softness. The 2024 full-year average revenue was $3,812/month versus $4,063 in 2025, a 6.6% annual gain. For investors evaluating entry, the non-transferable permit structure (LUP permits do not convey on property sale) adds a material acquisition risk: buyers must independently secure a permit, and EN-1 and EN-2 zones carry active waitlists.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Average booking lead time in the Bayfield-Durango market is 41 days, meaning guests book approximately six weeks in advance on average. This is a moderately short lead window relative to high-demand mountain destinations, suggesting that dynamic pricing tools that respond to 30 to 60 day booking pace data can capture meaningful yield uplift. Operators who set rates too early and too rigidly may leave revenue on the table when late-booking demand spikes around peak periods.
Average length of stay is 4.0 nights, which positions this market in a mid-range turnover profile. A 4-night stay means typical weekly revenue requires nearly two separate guest stays, increasing turnover labor and cleaning costs relative to markets with 6 to 7 night minimum stays. Given the ski-season demand pattern, operators who enforce 3-night minimums during peak December-January weekends may capture better revenue per stay while managing changeover costs. The 4-night average also means that weekend-only pricing strategies are less dominant; mid-week demand is present enough to support variable-length stays.
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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