Dahlonega, Georgia Short-Term Rental Market
Dahlonega, GA vacation rentals averaged $264/night at 40.6% occupancy in April 2026, with October peak revenue averaging $4,473 per listing.
Quick Answer: Dahlonega, Georgia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the North GA Mtns market area is 54%. average monthly revenue in the North GA Mtns market area is $4,483. average daily rate in the North GA Mtns market area is $309. the top operator in the North GA Mtns market area is Evolve with 470 listings. market score is 88/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the North GA Mtns regional market, which includes Dahlonega. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Dahlonega.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Dahlonega is a mountain town in Lumpkin County, Georgia, approximately one hour north of Atlanta. With a resident population of 7,537, it draws leisure travelers for wine-trail visits, gold-rush heritage tourism, Chattahoochee National Forest recreation, and a strong festival calendar anchored by Gold Rush Days in October. The STR market reflects that event-driven demand pattern with two distinct high periods: summer and fall.
April 2026 data shows an average daily rate of $264 and occupancy of 40.6%, producing a RevPAR of $107. Year-over-year, occupancy improved 2.0%, ADR rose 2.9%, and revenue grew 2.9% compared to April 2025. These figures represent the spring shoulder season, not the market peak.
The listing mix is almost entirely entire-place rentals (9,838 observations), with private rooms (117) representing a small fraction and shared rooms negligible. By bedroom count, 3-bedroom properties are the largest segment (3,276), followed by 2-bedroom (2,458), 4-bedroom (1,776), 1-bedroom (1,526), and 5-bedroom (915). This larger-unit skew reflects demand for group and retreat-style stays. The overall market score of 87.8 out of 100 is one of the stronger readings in the dataset, driven by a high investability score (91.8).
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 33% |
| Feb | 39% |
| Mar | 48% |
| Apr | 44% |
| May | 44% |
| Jun | 58% |
| Jul | 64% |
| Aug | 47% |
| Sep | 47% |
| Oct | 61% |
| Nov | 55% |
| Dec | 51% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Dahlonega are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in North GA Mtns market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the North GA Mtns market as a whole, which includes Dahlonega, so these counts are not Dahlonega-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 470 | 28,108 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 457 | 32,402 | ★ 4.58 |
| 3 | Escape To Blue Ridge | 371 | 4,391 | ★ 4.78 |
| 4 | Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals | 292 | 5,288 | ★ 4.71 |
| 5 | Georgia CFY | 187 | 4,592 | ★ 4.57 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Dahlonega?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Dahlonega 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 | 20.2% |
| vrbo | 9% |
| both | 70.8% |
Home Value Trends (Dahlonega)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Dahlonega 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 Dahlonega — 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
Short-term rentals are legal in Dahlonega but subject to active licensing at both the city and county level. Operators inside Dahlonega city limits must obtain three approvals: a Land Use Permit, a City Business and Occupational Tax Certificate, and an annual Short-Term Rental License. Properties must pass a Fire Marshal inspection, carry liability insurance, register for Georgia state sales tax and hotel-motel tax collection, and designate a local contact person.
STRs are prohibited in R-1 single-family residential zoning and are restricted to commercial, mixed-use, and downtown districts. The City of Dahlonega levies an 8% local hotel and motel excise tax, on top of Georgia’s 4% state sales tax and the $5-per-night state hotel-motel fee. The permit review cycle typically runs two to three weeks. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement and no codified cap on rental nights per year.
Operators in unincorporated Lumpkin County follow a separate county permit ($175 initial, $100 per additional property, annually renewed). Lumpkin County discontinued its third-party Host Compliance tracking in 2024. Enforcement citywide is primarily complaint-driven, with Fire Marshal inspections and tax-compliance audits. Severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Dahlonega’s April 2026 ADR of $264 is notably above the U.S. STR national median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium that wine-country and mountain-retreat demand commands near Atlanta. Occupancy of 40.6% in April is below the national median of approximately 55%, but April is the market’s trough. Peak months (July, October) at 61-64% occupancy compare well against national benchmarks.
The overall market score of 87.8 ranks Dahlonega among the higher-scoring markets in the StaySTRA dataset. The investability score of 91.8 is particularly notable.
On the operator side, Evolve leads with 470 listings and a 4.76 rating (28,108 reviews), nearly tied with Vacasa at 457 listings (4.58 rating, 32,402 reviews). Escape To Blue Ridge holds 371 listings with a 4.78 rating (4,391 reviews), focusing specifically on the North Georgia mountains. Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals has 292 listings (4.71 rating, 5,288 reviews). Georgia CFY rounds out the top five with 187 listings (4.57 rating, 4,592 reviews). The large number of mid-size specialized operators reflects a mature management ecosystem in the North Georgia cabin market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dahlonega, Georgia
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