Lake Charles, Louisiana Short-Term Rental Market
Lake Charles STRs averaged $172/night at 54.5% occupancy in April 2026, with an overall market score of 90.2 out of 100.
Quick Answer: Lake Charles, Louisiana is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 59%. average monthly revenue is $3,019. average daily rate is $188. the top operator is Evolve with 115 listings. market score is 90/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Louisiana Area regional market, which includes Lake Charles. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lake Charles.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Lake Charles, in Calcasieu Parish in southwest Louisiana, draws an estimated 7 million visitors annually, making it one of the larger regional draw markets in the Gulf South. The city of roughly 81,000 residents is anchored by two major casino resorts (Golden Nugget and L’Auberge), which drive a substantial share of lodging demand. Visitor spending has been estimated at around $800 million annually.
The STR market includes approximately 6,375 active listings. Entire-place rentals dominate at 5,814 units (91%), with 559 private rooms and just 2 shared rooms. By bedroom count, 3-bedroom properties lead with 2,012 listings, followed closely by 1-bedrooms (1,793) and 2-bedrooms (1,645). Larger properties are less common: 705 four-bedroom and 205 five-bedroom units.
As of April 2026, average daily rate was $171.54 with occupancy at 54.5%, producing RevPAR of $93.45. Year-over-year, occupancy edged up 1.4%, ADR was essentially flat (down 0.2%), and total revenue grew 4.7%. Channel distribution skews toward Airbnb: 3,482 listings are Airbnb-only, 488 are VRBO-only, and 2,405 appear on both platforms. Market scores are notably strong: overall 90.2/100, investability 94.2/100, and seasonality 93.8/100.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40% | $129 | $1,572 |
| Feb | 51% | $139 | $1,739 |
| Mar | 54% | $155 | $2,303 |
| Apr | 51% | $162 | $2,247 |
| May | 52% | $173 | $2,416 |
| Jun | 55% | $190 | $2,786 |
| Jul | 53% | $184 | $2,736 |
| Aug | 45% | $168 | $2,169 |
| Sep | 48% | $157 | $2,016 |
| Oct | 51% | $159 | $2,202 |
| Nov | 48% | $157 | $2,052 |
| Dec | 45% | $149 | $1,977 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lake Charles
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 115 | 2,920 | ★ 4.69 |
| 2 | Coastal Realty | 53 | 369 | ★ 4.40 |
| 3 | Island Realty Real Estate and Rentals | 52 | 963 | ★ 4.79 |
| 4 | David | 44 | 2,887 | ★ 4.80 |
| 5 | Kay Property Management | 40 | 1,935 | ★ 4.65 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lake Charles?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,793 |
| 2 bed | 1,645 |
| 3 bed | 2,012 |
| 4 bed | 705 |
| 5 bed | 205 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $196 |
| Luxury | $380 |
| Professionally Managed | $288 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,936 |
| Entire Place | $3,160 |
| House | $3,256 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 54.6% |
| vrbo | 7.7% |
| both | 37.7% |
Investment Analysis
Lake Charles does not have Zillow housing data available in this dataset, so purchase-price-based yield calculations cannot be computed from this source. Investors should conduct local market research for current property valuations.
On the revenue side, the April 2026 average monthly revenue across all listings was $2,523. Annualized, that projects to approximately $30,276 per listing per year. However, April is near the seasonal peak here (unlike many resort markets), and the full-year average is a more stable planning number.
Tier comparisons show meaningful differentiation. Luxury-tier listings averaged $336/night versus $172 for all listings, a 96% premium. Professionally managed listings averaged $221/night, a $49 premium over the market average. Houses generate $2,707 per month on average versus $1,793 for apartments, a 51% difference. The entire-place category averages $2,642 versus the all-listing figure of $2,523, suggesting that private-room inventory pulls down the market average.
Investability scores of 94.2/100 and a total score of 90.2/100 are among the stronger readings in any market in this region. Revenue growth scores at 63.7/100, reflecting recent moderate improvement rather than rapid acceleration.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Lake Charles guests book an average of 40.4 days in advance as of April 2026, a longer lead time than most leisure weekend-trip markets. This likely reflects the casino-resort visitor segment, where travelers plan ahead for trips that combine gaming, dining, and events, and may book accommodations alongside other reservations.
Average length of stay is 4.4 nights, meaningfully longer than the national STR average of around 3 nights. The extended stays are consistent with the casino-resort anchor: visitors arriving for a long weekend or mid-week trip rather than a single overnight.
The longer lead time and longer stays create a favorable operating environment. Operators have more time to fill gaps in the booking calendar, and fewer cleaning cycles per month reduce variable costs. A 4.4-night average stay at April occupancy means roughly 3.7 bookings per month per listing. Pricing windows should focus on securing bookings 6-8 weeks out for peak periods, with last-minute discounting deployed selectively for any remaining gaps.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Lake Charles regulates STRs (rentals under 30 days, minimum one night, to non-owner guests) under a city ordinance adopted in December 2025 and amended February 19, 2026. Key provisions:
STRs are permitted in commercial and mixed-use zoning districts without a special permit. In residential and neighborhood districts, a Minor Conditional Use Permit (CUP) from the city Planning Department is required. All operators must register and obtain an occupational license tied to the specific property.
A key density control is a 1,000-foot minimum spacing rule: a new STR cannot be located within 1,000 feet (measured property line to property line) of any existing permitted STR. Existing permitted rentals are grandfathered. This rule, added by the February 2026 amendment, is the primary mechanism limiting concentration in popular neighborhoods.
Occupancy is capped at two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons. Commercial events on the property are prohibited. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement and no stated annual night cap, though HOAs may impose additional limits.
Lodging taxes include a 7% occupancy tax plus Louisiana state sales tax (4.45%) and local Calcasieu Parish add-ons. Airbnb collects state-administered taxes in Louisiana. Enforcement is classified as moderate.
Market Comparison
Nationally, STR markets average roughly 55% occupancy and $220 ADR. Lake Charles’s April 2026 occupancy of 54.5% is nearly at the national average, while its $172 ADR reflects the market’s positioning as a value destination rather than a high-rate resort. Revenue per listing at $2,523/month is moderate but consistent.
The operator landscape is led by national and regional players. Evolve tops the list with 115 listings, 2,920 reviews, and a 4.69 average rating. Coastal Realty holds 53 listings (rating 4.40), and Island Realty Real Estate and Rentals manages 52 listings with a 4.79 rating. The operator ranked fourth, listed as David, holds 44 listings and 2,887 reviews at a 4.80 rating. Kay Property Management rounds out the top five with 40 listings and a 4.65 rating.
The top five operators collectively hold 304 listings, representing about 4.8% of the 6,375-listing market. Concentration is very low, indicating a fragmented market with many independent operators. The strong investability score (94.2/100) and near-average occupancy across seasons make Lake Charles a relatively accessible market for new operators, though the 1,000-foot spacing rule creates a meaningful barrier to entry in already-dense areas.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Charles, Louisiana
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