Arnolds Park, Iowa Short-Term Rental Market
Arnolds Park STRs averaged $137/night at 51.4% occupancy in April 2026, up 8.5% in revenue year over year.
Quick Answer: Arnolds Park, Iowa is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Iowa Area market area is 61%. average monthly revenue in the Iowa Area market area is $3,283. average daily rate in the Iowa Area market area is $200. the top operator in the Iowa Area market area is Evolve with 93 listings. market score is 76/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Iowa Area regional market, which includes Arnolds Park. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Arnolds Park.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Arnolds Park sits on the shore of West Lake Okoboji at the center of Iowa’s Great Lakes resort region. With a year-round population of approximately 1,110 residents, the town is a classic seasonal lake market whose STR economy is driven by summer visitors to the historic Arnolds Park Amusement Park and the surrounding lakes. The STR inventory is heavily skewed toward entire-place rentals: 5,621 of approximately 6,202 listed properties (90.6%) are whole-unit listings, with 579 private rooms and 2 shared rooms making up the balance.
The bedroom mix reflects a cottage-market orientation: 1-bedrooms are the most numerous at 1,959 units, followed by 2-bedrooms (1,706), 3-bedrooms (1,427), 4-bedrooms (705), and 5-bedrooms (399). In April 2026, the market averaged $137 per night across all listing types with 51.4% occupancy and a RevPAR of $70. Year over year, occupancy rose 7.1%, ADR gained 2.8%, and revenue grew 8.5%. The platform split is Airbnb-dominant: 3,641 listings appear exclusively on Airbnb, 2,086 on both platforms, and 475 on VRBO only.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 41% |
| Feb | 45% |
| Mar | 50% |
| Apr | 50% |
| May | 54% |
| Jun | 61% |
| Jul | 64% |
| Aug | 57% |
| Sep | 50% |
| Oct | 50% |
| Nov | 48% |
| Dec | 46% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Arnolds Park are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Iowa Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Iowa Area market as a whole, which includes Arnolds Park, so these counts are not Arnolds Park-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 93 | 2,760 | ★ 4.64 |
| 2 | Okoboji Vacation Co. | 59 | 975 | ★ 4.69 |
| 3 | 228 Spaces | 36 | 1,026 | ★ 4.76 |
| 4 | CR Short Stays | 30 | 2,429 | ★ 4.86 |
| 5 | Iowa Cabin Rentals | 23 | 378 | ★ 4.20 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Arnolds Park?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Arnolds Park 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 | 58.7% |
| vrbo | 7.7% |
| both | 33.6% |
Home Value Trends (Arnolds Park)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Arnolds Park 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 Arnolds Park — 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
Arnolds Park does not operate a dedicated short-term rental licensing program. Rentals are instead regulated through the city’s zoning ordinance (Chapter 165). Short-term rentals by the week, weekend, or night are permitted only in five specific zoning districts: R-3 Cottage Residential, C-1 Downtown Commercial, C-2 General Commercial/Mixed Use, C-3 Highway Commercial, and C-4 Resort Commercial. Properties in other residential zones are not eligible. The minimum allowable rental period varies by district, so investors must confirm the applicable minimum with City Hall before listing.
There is no published per-unit permit fee and no annual night cap. Owner-occupancy and primary-residence requirements do not apply. Operators must register with the Iowa Department of Revenue to collect and remit a 7% local hotel/motel tax plus Iowa’s 5% state excise tax, for a combined 12% lodging tax on gross rental receipts. Off-street parking is mandatory: a 180-square-foot space for every three persons of occupancy, or one space per bedroom. Enforcement operates via municipal infraction, with fines accruing for each day a violation continues. Enforcement is rated moderate. No recent regulatory changes are recorded in the source data.
Market Comparison
Arnolds Park’s April 2026 occupancy of 51.4% is slightly below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, which is expected for a Midwestern lake market measured outside of peak summer. The $137 ADR sits well below the national median of approximately $220, reflecting Iowa market pricing rather than a performance shortfall. The total market score of 76.2 out of 100 is solid, with investability (84.4) the strongest sub-score, supported by accessible entry barriers and permissive zoning for eligible properties.
The property management landscape is fragmented with smaller operators. Evolve leads with 93 listings and 2,760 reviews (4.64 average rating). Okoboji Vacation Co. holds second with 59 listings and 975 reviews (4.69 average). 228 Spaces is third with 36 listings and 1,026 reviews (4.76 average). CR Short Stays is fourth with 30 listings and 2,429 reviews (4.86 average). Iowa Cabin Rentals rounds out the top five with 23 listings and 378 reviews (4.20 average). No regional or national management firm has established significant scale here, leaving the market accessible to owner-operators and small regional managers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arnolds Park, Iowa
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