Dunnellon, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Dunnellon, FL short-term rentals averaged $179/night at 55.8% occupancy in April 2026, anchored by Rainbow Springs State Park drawing 350,000 visitors annually.
Quick Answer: Dunnellon, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 56%. average monthly revenue is $2,828. average daily rate is $179. the top operator is Evolve with 358 listings. market score is 60/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Dunnellon is a small Marion County town of approximately 2,216 residents, located in north-central Florida. Its STR market punches well above the town’s size due to Rainbow Springs State Park and the spring-fed Rainbow River, which draw an estimated 350,000 visitors per year for tubing, kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming. Day-trippers from Ocala, Gainesville, and Tampa create a strong weekend and summer demand base, supplemented by outdoor recreation travelers, equestrian visitors, and nature tourists.
April 2026 data shows an average daily rate of $179 and occupancy of 55.8%, producing a RevPAR of $100. Year-over-year, occupancy fell 4.1% and revenue declined 1.2%, though ADR rose 3.0%. Dunnellon legalized and began actively registering STRs in September 2023, so the market is still maturing under a structured regulatory framework.
The listing mix is dominated by entire-place rentals (7,621 observations), with private rooms (468) making up a small fraction and shared rooms negligible. By bedroom count, 2-bedroom (2,787) and 3-bedroom (2,801) units are nearly equal and together represent the majority of inventory, followed by 1-bedroom (1,799), 4-bedroom (551), and 5-bedroom (129). The overall market score of 60.1 reflects strong seasonality management (81.8) and investability (83.9), offset by a lower regulation score (51.0) reflecting the newer, actively enforced registration framework.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65% | $178 | $3,127 |
| Feb | 80% | $158 | $3,056 |
| Mar | 78% | $159 | $3,290 |
| Apr | 58% | $154 | $2,467 |
| May | 53% | $152 | $2,220 |
| Jun | 61% | $161 | $2,541 |
| Jul | 64% | $168 | $3,001 |
| Aug | 52% | $149 | $2,255 |
| Sep | 48% | $136 | $1,809 |
| Oct | 54% | $134 | $1,936 |
| Nov | 58% | $139 | $2,032 |
| Dec | 57% | $148 | $2,218 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Dunnellon
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 358 | 13,225 | ★ 4.74 |
| 2 | A&J Home Concierge | 160 | 633 | ★ 4.74 |
| 3 | McCormick Management Vacation Rental | 106 | 3,510 | ★ 4.84 |
| 4 | Village Valet Property Management, LLC | 102 | 1,251 | ★ 4.68 |
| 5 | Down Home Properties | 87 | 1,128 | ★ 4.69 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Dunnellon?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,799 |
| 2 bed | 2,787 |
| 3 bed | 2,801 |
| 4 bed | 551 |
| 5 bed | 129 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $184 |
| Luxury | $283 |
| Professionally Managed | $203 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,252 |
| Entire Place | $2,909 |
| House | $2,991 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 37.9% |
| vrbo | 12.1% |
| both | 50% |
Investment Analysis
Dunnellon offers one of the more accessible entry prices in this batch. The typical home value is $270,000 and the median sale price is $254,000. At April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,828, annualized gross revenue runs approximately $33,934. Against the typical home value, that implies a gross yield of approximately 12.6% before operating expenses, a notably strong figure for an inland Florida market.
Rate tier data: all-listings ADR $179, entire-home tier $184, professionally managed listings $203 (a 13% premium), luxury tier $283 (a 58% premium). The narrower professionally managed premium compared to some peer markets may reflect a relatively straightforward product offering in a nature-recreation market, where amenities (river access, kayak storage) matter more than service differentiation.
The investability score of 83.9 is high, supported by a strong seasonality score of 81.8, which indicates relatively even demand across the year — unusual for a Florida inland market. Annual average revenue has grown from $1,489 in 2017 to $2,755 in 2025, an 85% increase over eight years. The sale-to-list ratio of 0.825 and median days to pending of 44 indicate a buyer-favorable market with negotiating room, supported by 463 active listings. Beginning April 29, 2026, Rainbow Springs State Park requires day-use reservations, which may shift demand toward overnight STR stays.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
April 2026 data shows an average booking lead time of 47 days. Guests book approximately six to seven weeks in advance, which is slightly longer than many Florida inland markets. The longer lead time may reflect visitors planning river trips and coordinating groups for tubing or kayaking.
Average length of stay is 5.1 nights, the longest in this seven-area batch. At five nights per stay, turnover is low at approximately 6 checkout events per month, reducing cleaning and operational costs. The combination of a 47-day lead time and a 5-night average stay suggests a deliberate trip-planning traveler profile. Five-night minimums on peak winter and spring weekends align with this demand pattern, while 3-night minimums in summer and fall can help fill the calendar without excessive pricing pressure.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Dunnellon legalized and began regulating short-term vacation rentals citywide in September 2023 under Chapter 18, Article VIII of the Code of Ordinances. Every STR operator must register annually with the city and renew by October 1. As of April 1, 2025, the annual registration fee is $380 per unit, plus a $40 fire inspection fee.
To register, operators must upload a current Florida DBPR transient public lodging license, a Florida Department of Revenue certificate of registration for sales and tourist taxes, and proof of a Marion County Tax Collector tourist development tax account. A Business Tax Receipt is required for operators of two or more units.
The combined lodging tax is 11.5%: 6% Florida state sales tax, 1.5% local surtax, and 4% Marion County Tourist Development Tax. Occupancy limits follow Florida Fire Prevention Code standards. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, and Florida Statute 509.032(7)(b) prohibits Dunnellon from capping rental duration or frequency (the ordinance postdates the June 1, 2011 grandfather cutoff). Enforcement is rated moderate, handled through code enforcement on complaint.
Market Comparison
Dunnellon’s April 2026 occupancy of 55.8% is essentially at the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, which is stronger than many comparable small inland Florida markets in April. ADR of $179 is below the national median of approximately $220, consistent with a nature-recreation destination without beach premium pricing.
The seasonality score of 81.8 is the highest in this batch and reflects the year-round occupancy floor provided by snowbird and winter river-recreation demand. This is a meaningful differentiator for investors who need consistent monthly cash flow rather than a concentrated peak season.
Evolve leads local operators with 358 listings and a 4.74 rating (13,225 reviews). A&J Home Concierge holds 160 listings (4.74 rating, 633 reviews). McCormick Management Vacation Rental has 106 listings with the highest rating at 4.84 (3,510 reviews). Village Valet Property Management (102 listings, 4.68 rating) and Down Home Properties (87 listings, 4.69 rating) round out the top five. The presence of several regional operators alongside the national platforms suggests a local management ecosystem suited to a nature-destination market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dunnellon, Florida
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