Saint Simons Island, Georgia Short-Term Rental Market
Golden Isles and Amelia Island STRs averaged $339/night at 44.5% occupancy and $4,550 monthly revenue in August 2026.
Quick Answer: Saint Simons Island, Georgia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Amelia/St. Simons/Jekyll Islands market area is 49%. average monthly revenue in the Amelia/St. Simons/Jekyll Islands market area is $4,264. average daily rate in the Amelia/St. Simons/Jekyll Islands market area is $322. the top operator in the Amelia/St. Simons/Jekyll Islands market area is Hodnett Cooper Vacation Rentals with 349 listings. market score is 55/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Amelia/St. Simons/Jekyll Islands regional market, which includes Saint Simons Island. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Saint Simons Island.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This page uses data for the Golden Isles and Amelia Island coast STR market. The source reports these metrics jointly for Saint Simons Island, Brunswick and Jekyll Island in Georgia and Fernandina Beach in Florida, so the figures do not describe Saint Simons Island alone. In August 2026 that market averaged an average daily rate (ADR) of $339 at 44.5% occupancy. The average listing earned $4,550 for the month. Compared with August 2025, ADR rose 1.7%, occupancy fell 3.8% and revenue fell 1.6%.
Saint Simons Island has a population of 17,603 and is the most-visited destination in Georgia’s Golden Isles. The Golden Isles drew roughly 3.2 million overnight visitors and 2.1 million day visitors in 2018, with $1.6 billion in overnight visitor economic impact. Travel + Leisure ranked the Golden Isles first for Best Islands in the Continental U.S. in its 2024 World’s Best Awards. Visitors skew toward affluent leisure travelers, golfers, retirees and drive-market vacationers from Atlanta, Jacksonville and Charlotte. Peak season runs from spring through early fall.
Annual averages show strong rate growth. ADR was $250 in 2017 and $330 in 2025. Occupancy rose from 39.8% in 2017 to 61.0% in 2021 and was 54.4% in 2025. Average monthly revenue was $4,899 in 2025, up from $4,507 in 2023. The first eight months of 2026 average $5,610 per month at a $346 ADR and 60.3% occupancy, but that is a partial year.
Listing counts, the listing-type mix and the bedroom mix are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Saint Simons Island, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 40% |
| Feb | 63% |
| Mar | 68% |
| Apr | 59% |
| May | 57% |
| Jun | 73% |
| Jul | 73% |
| Aug | 48% |
| Sep | 47% |
| Oct | 51% |
| Nov | 40% |
| Dec | 36% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Saint Simons Island are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Amelia/St. Simons/Jekyll Islands market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Amelia/St. Simons/Jekyll Islands market as a whole, which includes Saint Simons Island, so these counts are not Saint Simons Island-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hodnett Cooper Vacation Rentals | 349 | 6,784 | ★ 4.72 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 292 | 9,241 | ★ 4.56 |
| 3 | RedAwning | 236 | 4,646 | ★ 4.46 |
| 4 | Lighthouse Vacations | 187 | 8,334 | ★ 4.86 |
| 5 | Real Escapes | 184 | 6,523 | ★ 4.68 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Saint Simons Island?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Saint Simons Island 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 | 18.3% |
| vrbo | 16.9% |
| both | 64.8% |
Home Value Trends (Saint Simons Island)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Saint Simons Island 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 Saint Simons Island — 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
Saint Simons Island requires a county short-term rental certificate. The island sits in unincorporated Glynn County, which adopted its Short-Term Rental Ordinance (Code Chapter 2-31) in July 2021. Any property rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days must hold a Short-Term Rental Certificate, also called an Accommodation Excise Tax Certificate, issued by the Glynn County Tax Commissioner. The ordinance covers unincorporated Glynn County and excludes Jekyll Island and the City of Brunswick.
The base application fee is $150 per property if filed by July 1 and rises to $225 after that date. The certificate renews annually. Owners renting six or more properties must also hold an Occupation Tax Certificate. Each property must post the certificate at the main entrance and have smoke and CO detectors in every bedroom, a fire extinguisher, a 24-hour local contact, a stated vehicle limit and posted off-site parking instructions. Commercial events are prohibited.
Operators collect Georgia’s 6% state sales tax on rentals under 90 nights and the $5 per room per night state hotel-motel fee. The Glynn County hotel-motel tax rose from 5% to 7% on July 1, 2025 under HB 732. The profile lists no countywide night cap and no owner-occupancy or primary-residence rule.
Enforcement is rated moderate. The profile lists fines from $210 for a first violation to $5,000 for a second violation within 12 months, and possible revocation after a third. Neighborhood CC&Rs often set stricter limits, including outright bans in some condo and gated communities. Confirm current rules with the county before buying.
Market Comparison
Compared with US norms of roughly 55% occupancy and a $220 median ADR, the Golden Isles and Amelia Island coast STR market posts a much higher rate and a lower August occupancy. August 2026 ADR was $339, which is $119 above $220. Occupancy of 44.5% was 10.5 points below 55%. The 2025 annual average occupancy was 54.4%, close to the national figure, and the 2025 ADR was $330.
The market is highly seasonal. Occupancy averages 73.5% in July and 36.2% in December, so an annual average hides wide swings. Rate has driven recent gains: ADR rose from $296 in 2023 to $330 in 2025 while occupancy slipped from 58.3% to 54.4%.
Top operators and property manager share are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Saint Simons Island, so this profile omits them. Buyers who plan to use a manager should interview island operators directly and compare their fees and booking records.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saint Simons Island, Georgia
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