Estes Park, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Capped at 322 residential licenses, the RMNP gateway region averaged $395 ADR, 65.1% occupancy and $7,006 revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Estes Park, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Rocky Mtn Natl Park market area is 65%. average monthly revenue in the Rocky Mtn Natl Park market area is $7,006. average daily rate in the Rocky Mtn Natl Park market area is $395. the top operator in the Rocky Mtn Natl Park market area is Evolve with 225 listings. market score is 69/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Rocky Mtn Natl Park regional market, which includes Estes Park. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Estes Park.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers the Rocky Mountain National Park gateway region STR market, made up of Estes Park, Drake, Grand Lake and Granby in Colorado. These four towns report one shared metric series, so every performance figure on this page describes the region rather than Estes Park alone. As of September 2026, short-term rentals in the region averaged an ADR of $395 at 65.1% occupancy, with average monthly revenue of $7,006 per listing. Year over year, occupancy rose 6.1%, ADR rose 4.9% and revenue rose 9.0%, so growth came from both more booked nights and higher rates. Entire-home ADR was $400, nearly identical to the all-listings figure. On an annual basis, 2026 through September shows 53.0% occupancy, a $364 ADR and $5,535 in average monthly revenue, ahead of full-year 2025 at 50.8%, $351 and $5,073. Occupancy has recovered from its 2024 low of 50.3% but remains below the 58.1% reached in 2020, while ADR has climbed from $263 in 2020 to $364. Seasonal-sum annualized revenue is $50,407. Demand is anchored by Rocky Mountain National Park, which drew about 4.2 million recreation visits in 2024, and Estes Park (population 5,824) is its main eastern gateway. Most visitors are leisure travelers concentrated in summer and fall, and the Denver and Front Range metro is about 90 minutes away, which supports short stays. That reliance on one park and a short peak season is the main trade-off for investors. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Estes Park, so this profile omits it. Estes Park also caps residential vacation home licenses at 322, which limits how many new operators can enter the town’s residential zones.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 34% |
| Feb | 42% |
| Mar | 47% |
| Apr | 34% |
| May | 53% |
| Jun | 71% |
| Jul | 76% |
| Aug | 65% |
| Sep | 62% |
| Oct | 49% |
| Nov | 35% |
| Dec | 45% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Estes Park are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Rocky Mtn Natl Park market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Rocky Mtn Natl Park market as a whole, which includes Estes Park, so these counts are not Estes Park-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 225 | 15,838 | ★ 4.75 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 157 | 10,044 | ★ 4.52 |
| 3 | SkyRun Vacation Rentals | 141 | 10,759 | ★ 4.84 |
| 4 | Rocky Mountain Resorts | 98 | 10,160 | ★ 4.72 |
| 5 | WorldMark | 83 | 1,440 | ★ 4.82 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Estes Park?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Estes Park 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 | 24.4% |
| vrbo | 9.8% |
| both | 65.7% |
Home Value Trends (Estes Park)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Estes Park 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 Estes Park — 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
Estes Park permits short-term rentals but caps them, and the restriction is the first thing buyers should understand. Any rental under 30 days requires a Vacation Home License. Residentially zoned licenses inside Town limits are capped at 322, while commercial-zoned units have no cap. Because the cap is full, new residential applications were under a moratorium from October 2021. Ordinance 18-25, effective December 15, 2025, replaced the old waitlist with an annual lottery capped at 30 positions, and the 2026 drawing was held March 30, 2026. Costs include a $50 application fee, an annual renewal of $200 base plus $50 per bedroom, and a Workforce Housing Regulatory Linkage Fee of about $1,500 in 2026, all due by January 31 each year. Owner-occupancy and primary residence are not required, but a local resident or property manager within the Estes Park rec or school district must be reachable by phone during rentals. Occupancy is limited to 2 per bedroom plus 2 per home, with a maximum of 8 in residential zones, and at least 2 off-street parking spaces are required outside the downtown district. Outdoor solid-fuel burning appliances are prohibited. Residential licenses are generally non-transferable on sale, with limited grandfather exceptions. Operators must collect the 5.5% Local Marketing District lodging tax plus sales taxes of 5.0% Town, 2.9% State and 0.8% County. The 5.5% lodging tax took effect January 1, 2023, up from 2%. Enforcement is rated strict, with fines escalating from $250 to $1,000 per violation and possible suspension or revocation.
Market Comparison
September 2026 occupancy was 65.1% with a $395 ADR, and luxury listings reached $621. The draw of Rocky Mountain National Park, which received about 4.2 million recreation visits in 2024, and a visitor economy where visitors account for about 77.5% of local sales tax receipts support that demand. Annual figures are more modest than the September snapshot, with 2026 through September at 53.0% occupancy and a $364 ADR. Performance therefore depends on a strong June to September window. Revenue is up 9.0% year over year. Investors should weigh that against the 322 residential license cap and a strict enforcement posture in Estes Park, which restrict supply but add compliance requirements. Top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Estes Park, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Estes Park, Colorado
What is the average Airbnb occupancy in the Estes Park area?
How much do short-term rentals earn in the Estes Park area?
Does Estes Park cap short-term rental licenses?
What does an Estes Park Vacation Home License cost?
What is the best month for STR income near Rocky Mountain National Park?
How much does a home cost in Estes Park?
What taxes do Estes Park STR operators collect?
Analyze Estes Park Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Estes Park.
Free Estes Park STR Calculator →
