Ellijay, Georgia Short-Term Rental Market
Ellijay, GA STRs averaged $264/night at 40.6% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 9,950 active listings.
Quick Answer: Ellijay, Georgia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 41%. average monthly revenue is $3,097. average daily rate is $264. the top operator is Evolve with 470 listings. market score is 88/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Ellijay sits in Gilmer County in the North Georgia mountains, about 90 miles north of Atlanta, and is one of the South’s most active cabin rental markets. Across approximately 9,951 tracked listings in April 2026, operators posted an average daily rate of $263.67 and an occupancy rate of 40.6%, yielding a RevPAR of $106.96. Average monthly revenue per listing reached $3,097 that month.
The market trends modestly positive on a year-over-year basis: occupancy improved 2.0 percentage points, ADR rose 2.9%, and revenue grew 2.9% compared to the same month a year earlier. The 2025 full-year annual average came in at 46.9% occupancy, $283 ADR, and $3,807 monthly revenue, continuing a gradual recovery from the 2022 post-pandemic pullback.
The listing mix is almost entirely entire-place rentals: 9,838 of the roughly 9,956 tracked listings (about 98.8%) are entire-place bookings, with just 117 private rooms and 1 shared room. By bedroom count, 3-bedroom cabins dominate with 3,276 listings, followed by 2-bedroom (2,458), 4-bedroom (1,776), 1-bedroom (1,526), and 5-bedroom (915). Distribution skews toward multi-channel operators: 7,045 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 2,014 are Airbnb-only, and 897 are VRBO-only. The market’s total investability score of 91.82 out of 100 is among the higher readings in the region.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33% | $239 | $2,413 |
| Feb | 39% | $239 | $2,387 |
| Mar | 48% | $240 | $3,213 |
| Apr | 44% | $235 | $2,867 |
| May | 45% | $238 | $2,748 |
| Jun | 58% | $257 | $3,848 |
| Jul | 64% | $257 | $4,471 |
| Aug | 47% | $237 | $3,147 |
| Sep | 47% | $243 | $3,085 |
| Oct | 61% | $261 | $4,473 |
| Nov | 55% | $262 | $3,970 |
| Dec | 51% | $263 | $3,934 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Ellijay
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 Ellijay?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,526 |
| 2 bed | 2,458 |
| 3 bed | 3,276 |
| 4 bed | 1,776 |
| 5 bed | 915 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $264 |
| Luxury | $397 |
| Professionally Managed | $285 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,933 |
| Entire Place | $3,114 |
| House | $3,194 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 20.2% |
| vrbo | 9% |
| both | 70.8% |
Investment Analysis
Ellijay’s cabin market generates meaningful cash flow relative to local home values. With an average monthly revenue of $3,097 in April 2026 and a typical home value of $414,452 (Zillow, April 2026), a fully occupied property implies an annualized gross revenue of approximately $37,164, representing a gross yield near 9.0%. That figure reflects a peak-adjacent month and should be tested against full-year averages: the 2025 annual average monthly revenue was $3,807, implying an annualized total of roughly $45,684 and a gross yield closer to 11.0% on the same home value baseline.
Professionally managed listings command meaningfully higher rates. The tier_professionally_managed ADR in April 2026 was $284.80, approximately 8% above the all-listing average of $263.67. Luxury tier listings reached $397.04 per night, 51% above average. This spread suggests that operators who invest in professional management or higher-end finishes can capture a material pricing premium.
Entry costs are rising: the median sale price reached $426,333 in April 2026 and the median list price was $493,500, while the sale-to-list ratio of 0.864 indicates sellers are accepting discounts, which creates negotiating room for buyers. With 410 homes for sale and 58 median days to pending, inventory is available without extreme urgency.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Ellijay guests book an average of 42.5 days in advance as of April 2026, roughly a six-week planning window. This is a meaningful lead time for a mountain cabin market and suggests guests plan their Georgia mountain getaways deliberately rather than booking last-minute. Operators can use this pattern to set full-price rates well out on the calendar and reserve discounts for the final 7 to 14 days before arrival if occupancy targets are not met.
The average length of stay is 3.33 nights, slightly above the typical 2 to 3 night weekend baseline common in drive-to leisure markets. This reflects the mix of weekend escapes and longer holiday stretches, particularly in October (Apple Festival) and the summer months. A 3.3-night average means most guests arrive Thursday or Friday and depart Sunday or Monday, giving operators roughly 8 to 9 turnovers per month at average occupancy. Pricing a minimum 3-night stay during peak weekends can improve revenue per turn while reducing cleaning frequency.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Ellijay STR regulation operates at two levels: the City of Ellijay and Gilmer County, and operators must comply with the jurisdiction where their parcel sits.
Inside city limits, the City of Ellijay adopted its STR ordinance in February 2022 (Code of Ordinances Chapter 60). STRs are primarily restricted to the Central Business District; residential zones allow them only by conditional use approval, which neighboring owners may contest. A city permit and business license are both required.
In unincorporated Gilmer County, Gilmer County adopted Chapter 45 in April 2025. All unincorporated STRs were required to register by July 1, 2025. Full enforcement of penalties for unlicensed operation began January 1, 2026. Licenses renew annually by December 31. Operators must designate a local responsible contact, post the license at the property, and observe quiet hours (10 pm to 8 am Sunday through Friday; 11 pm to 8 am Friday and Saturday). A 24/7 complaint hotline (762-543-5187) supports enforcement.
Occupancy tax: the City of Ellijay applies an 8% hotel-motel tax on short-term rental revenue, plus 4% state sales tax and applicable county sales tax, remitted monthly by the 20th.
No owner-occupancy requirement and no primary-residence requirement apply in either jurisdiction. No state-mandated cap on total rental nights applies. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Ellijay’s April 2026 ADR of $263.67 is above the US STR median of approximately $220 per night, reflecting the premium that cabin inventory commands in a destination mountain market. At 40.6% occupancy, the market is below the US STR median of roughly 55%, which is common for April in mountain cabin markets where spring is a shoulder season. Summer and fall months close that gap substantially, with July and October both exceeding 60%.
The market is heavily served by professional property managers. Evolve leads with 470 listings (4.76 rating, 28,108 reviews), followed closely by Vacasa with 457 listings (4.58 rating, 32,402 reviews) and Escape To Blue Ridge with 371 listings (4.78 rating, 4,391 reviews). Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals holds 292 listings (4.71 rating) and Georgia CFY has 187 listings (4.57 rating). These five operators together account for roughly 1,777 listings, approximately 17.9% of the estimated 9,951-listing market. The dominance of regional and national managers indicates a competitive, professionally organized market where individual operators must invest in quality and pricing discipline to compete.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ellijay, Georgia
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