Grand Lake, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Grand Lake CO STRs averaged $270/night at 30.7% occupancy in April 2026, with July historically reaching 75.9%.
Quick Answer: Grand Lake, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 72%. average monthly revenue is $8,143. average daily rate is $441. the top operator is Evolve with 225 listings. market score is 69/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Rocky Mtn Natl Park regional market, which includes Grand Lake. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Grand Lake.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Grand Lake, Colorado is the western gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, a small mountain town of approximately 410 permanent residents that draws the bulk of its economic activity from tourism centered on the national park’s west entrance and on Grand Lake itself, Colorado’s largest natural lake. In April 2026, the short-term rental market recorded an average daily rate of $270.03 and an average occupancy rate of 30.7%, producing an average monthly revenue of $2,662 per listing. RevPAR stood at $82.98. April is a shoulder-season month for Grand Lake; the summer window of June through September drives the majority of annual revenue.
The Grand County market, of which Grand Lake is the western anchor alongside Granby, holds approximately 3,700 active listings. One-bedroom units account for 1,043 listings, two-bedroom for 990, three-bedroom for 905, four-bedroom for 526, and five-bedroom-plus for 273. Entire-place listings represent the vast majority at 3,632, with private rooms at 107.
Channel distribution is predominantly cross-platform: 2,458 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 913 only on Airbnb, and 368 only on VRBO.
Year-over-year in April, occupancy rose 5.59%, ADR rose 6.00%, and revenue grew 0.44%. The market’s total score is 68.55 out of 100, with a revenue growth score of 89.90, reflecting a strong long-term revenue trajectory in the Grand County area.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34% | $276 | $2,777 |
| Feb | 42% | $279 | $2,927 |
| Mar | 47% | $272 | $3,447 |
| Apr | 34% | $248 | $2,547 |
| May | 53% | $286 | $3,470 |
| Jun | 71% | $361 | $6,268 |
| Jul | 76% | $353 | $7,124 |
| Aug | 65% | $337 | $6,070 |
| Sep | 61% | $313 | $5,135 |
| Oct | 49% | $288 | $4,040 |
| Nov | 35% | $273 | $2,582 |
| Dec | 45% | $310 | $3,322 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Grand Lake
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 Grand Lake?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,043 |
| 2 bed | 990 |
| 3 bed | 905 |
| 4 bed | 526 |
| 5 bed | 273 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $446 |
| Luxury | $744 |
| Professionally Managed | $469 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $5,567 |
| Entire Place | $8,246 |
| House | $9,493 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 24.4% |
| vrbo | 9.8% |
| both | 65.7% |
Investment Analysis
Grand Lake’s investment profile combines high nightly rates with a premium entry cost and concentrated summer demand. At an average monthly revenue of $2,662 and a typical home value of $767,240, the implied gross annualized yield based on April 2026 data is approximately 4.2% (($2,662 x 12) / $767,240), before factoring in operating costs, taxes, and vacancy. The 2025 annual average revenue of $5,091/month produces a gross yield of approximately 8.0% against the same home value, reflecting the impact of the strong summer window.
Tier differences matter. The all-listing ADR is $270.03, but professionally managed properties average $281.42, a $11.39 premium. Luxury-tier listings average $392.96, or 45.5% above the market average. Entire-home listings are priced at $272.00.
By revenue type, houses average $3,016/month and entire-place listings average $2,676/month. Apartments average $1,900/month.
The Granby/Grand Lake market shows a strong historical growth trend. Annual average revenue grew from $2,916/month in 2017 to $5,091/month in 2025, a 74.6% increase. With a median list price of $773,500 and only 93 homes for sale in April, inventory is thin and purchase competition is likely. Operators who acquire and hold benefit from both revenue growth and price appreciation in a supply-constrained mountain market with a durable demand driver in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Grand Lake guests book an average of 48.1 days in advance, and stays average 2.98 nights. The lead time of nearly seven weeks reflects advance planning common in national park gateway markets, particularly for summer peak season when summer weekends and holiday weeks fill months ahead.
At 48.1 days, operators have a meaningful forward-booking window. For peak summer weeks including the Fourth of July and late August, strategic operators set availability and pricing well in advance of the 48-day average, capturing early bookings at full rate before demand concentrates. Discounting during the 30-day approach window for any remaining gaps can help fill occupancy without sacrificing the premium weeks.
The 2.98-night average stay reflects the mix of weekend trips (2 nights) and longer stays of 4-7 nights from guests using Grand Lake as a RMNP base camp. A 3-night minimum during June through September reduces turnover costs and aligns with the majority of natural booking windows. During shoulder months (November through April), a 2-night minimum preserves flexibility to capture weekend demand.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Grand Lake requires a Nightly Rental License under Municipal Code Chapter 12, Article 2, Section 31B before any STR can operate. A December 2022 ordinance overhaul significantly changed the framework.
The license structure is now occupancy-based: a one-time application fee of $165, plus an annual license fee tiered by maximum guest occupancy: $700 for up to 3 occupants, $900 for 4-6, $1,100 for 7-10, and $2,000 for 11 or more. Licenses run 12 months from the issuance date. Applications are processed administratively through GovOs (formerly LodgingRevs) and can take up to 10 business days. No board review or neighbor-opposition window applies under the current rules.
A fire and life-safety inspection is required before initial approval and at every renewal. Operators must designate a local contact person who can respond quickly and must be within 45 minutes of the property.
No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement applies, and no annual night cap has been identified.
Enforcement is active. Fines were raised from $300 to $1,500 per violation, each day of a violation is a separate violation, 3 or more violations within 12 months triggers a 6-month suspension, and 5 or more violations results in license revocation.
Tax obligations include Colorado state sales tax (2.9%), Grand County sales tax (1.3%), Grand Lake town sales tax (5.0%), and Grand County lodging tax (2.0%), for combined obligations of approximately 11.2%. Verify current rates before filing.
Market Comparison
Against national STR benchmarks, Grand Lake’s April occupancy of 30.7% is below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, but April is Grand Lake’s slowest season. The historical July average of 75.9% substantially exceeds the national median. The April ADR of $270.03 is above the national median of approximately $220, reflecting the mountain resort premium that persists even in shoulder season.
The total market score of 68.55 out of 100 is a moderate composite, with revenue growth (89.90) the standout dimension and seasonality (47.98) the key challenge. The investability score of 67.49 is moderate, reflecting the high entry price relative to annualized revenue.
Among operators, Evolve leads the Grand County area with 225 listings and 15,838 reviews at a 4.75 average rating. SkyRun Vacation Rentals manages 141 listings with 10,759 reviews at a 4.84 average, the highest rating in the top five. Vacasa holds 157 listings with 10,044 reviews at 4.52. Rocky Mountain Resorts manages 98 listings with 10,160 reviews at 4.72 and has a local focus on the Grand County market. WorldMark holds 83 listings with 1,440 reviews at 4.82. The combination of national platforms and local/regional specialists reflects a mature market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Grand Lake, Colorado
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