Destin, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Destin area STRs averaged $393 a night at 57.5% occupancy in August 2026, earning $6,535 a month.
Quick Answer: Destin, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Destin/Ft. Walton Beach market area is 58%. average monthly revenue in the Destin/Ft. Walton Beach market area is $5,453. average daily rate in the Destin/Ft. Walton Beach market area is $347. the top operator in the Destin/Ft. Walton Beach market area is Vacasa with 1,322 listings. market score is 59/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Destin/Ft. Walton Beach regional market, which includes Destin. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Destin.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Destin and Fort Walton Beach area STR market, on Florida’s Emerald Coast, averaged a $393 daily rate and 57.5% occupancy in August 2026. Average monthly revenue was $6,535. The data provider reports one shared series for Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Mary Esther, so every performance figure on this page describes that three-city area and not Destin alone. Compared with August 2025, occupancy was 2.9% lower and revenue was 1.3% lower, while the daily rate was 4.7% higher. Rate gains offset most of the lost bookings. Destin has 14,188 residents and draws about 4.5 million visitors a year. During peak summer, the daily visitor population reaches 40,000 or more against that permanent population. The long-run record shows steady rate growth. The area average daily rate moved from $222 in 2017 to $344 in 2025. Annual average occupancy moved from 42.2% in 2017 to 58.5% in 2025, with a high of 63.8% in 2021. Revenue per listing moved from $2,618 a month in 2017 to $5,764 a month in 2025. Listing counts, bedroom mix, booking channel mix and listing-type mix are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Destin, so this profile omits them. The same limit applies to property manager rankings. Treat the figures here as a read on the broader Emerald Coast STR market that includes Destin, not as a count of Destin city rentals. Residents, buyers and operators should use the numbers to judge the direction of the broader area. The mix of visitors skews toward the South and Midwest, and Okaloosa County collected $43 million in bed tax in fiscal year 2024.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 37% |
| Feb | 64% |
| Mar | 69% |
| Apr | 55% |
| May | 68% |
| Jun | 82% |
| Jul | 82% |
| Aug | 61% |
| Sep | 56% |
| Oct | 57% |
| Nov | 35% |
| Dec | 31% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Destin are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Destin/Ft. Walton Beach market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Destin/Ft. Walton Beach market as a whole, which includes Destin, so these counts are not Destin-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 1,322 | 54,478 | ★ 4.52 |
| 2 | RealJoy | 464 | 21,248 | ★ 4.57 |
| 3 | Holiday Isle Properties | 394 | 4,766 | ★ 4.79 |
| 4 | Compass Resorts | 389 | 6,532 | ★ 4.76 |
| 5 | Scenic Stays | 252 | 7,279 | ★ 4.49 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Destin?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Destin 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 | 12.9% |
| vrbo | 14.1% |
| both | 73% |
Home Value Trends (Destin)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Destin 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 Destin — 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
Destin allows short-term rentals, with three layers of registration. Single-family homes and townhomes need a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental Dwelling license, a City of Destin Business Tax Receipt renewed each year by September 30, and a City of Destin Annual STR Registration. The city registration costs $500 for homes up to 2,499 square feet, $600 for 2,500 to 4,999 square feet and $700 for 5,000 square feet or more. Registration opens January 1. Late fees are $100 after March 31 and $500 after June 1. Homes must sit in an approved STR zoning district, roughly 12 of the city’s 20 or more zones. Condominiums and apartments skip the city STR registration but still need the state DBPR license and must follow HOA rules. Occupancy is capped at 2 adults per bedroom plus 4 additional persons, with a maximum of 24 people overnight. Each legal bedroom needs one off-street parking space. Properties must post a sign showing the responsible party’s phone number, and an emergency contact must respond within 60 minutes. Owner occupancy and primary residence are not required, and the profile lists no annual night cap. The Okaloosa County occupancy tax is 6%, and Florida sales tax also applies. The city updated its 2026 registration guide to use an online portal. Enforcement is rated moderate. Confirm current tax rates with the Okaloosa Clerk of Court.
Market Comparison
The Destin and Fort Walton Beach area sits above national norms on rate and slightly above on occupancy. The August 2026 occupancy of 57.5% compares with a US STR median near 55%. The daily rate of $393 compares with a national median near $220, which makes the area rate about 79% higher. The area also swings harder by season than most markets, with June occupancy at 81.8% and December at 30.7%. Against the area’s own history, 2025 occupancy of 58.5% was below the 2021 high of 63.8%, while the 2025 daily rate of $344 was well above 2021 at $275. Top property manager rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Destin, so this profile omits them. Buyers who want operator data should review local management companies directly. The area has also grown in revenue per listing from $2,618 a month in 2017 to $5,764 a month in 2025, which is a gain of 120% over eight years.
Frequently Asked Questions About Destin, Florida
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