Gaylord, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Gaylord, MI STRs averaged $161/night at 49.2% occupancy in April 2026 across 9,130 active listings.
Quick Answer: Gaylord, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Michigan Area market area is 61%. average monthly revenue in the Michigan Area market area is $3,813. average daily rate in the Michigan Area market area is $248. the top operator in the Michigan Area market area is Evolve with 367 listings. market score is 80/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Michigan Area regional market, which includes Gaylord. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Gaylord.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Gaylord, Michigan is a year-round outdoor recreation and resort destination in Otsego County, Northern Lower Michigan. Known for its golf courses, inland lakes, snowmobiling, and the annual Alpenfest festival, the market draws visitors primarily from Michigan metros and Midwest road-trippers. The STR market covers 9,130 active listings, with 8,475 entire-place rentals (92.8%), 651 private rooms, and 4 shared rooms.
In April 2026, the market averaged $161/night ADR and 49.2% occupancy, generating $1,955/month average revenue per active listing. RevPAR was $79.29. Year-over-year in April 2026, occupancy was nearly flat (down 0.21 percentage points), ADR rose 3.05%, but revenue declined 2.24%.
By bedroom count, 2-bedroom units lead with 2,623 listings, followed by 3-bedroom (2,498), 1-bedroom (2,252), 4-bedroom (1,102), and 5-bedroom-plus (630). Airbnb-only listings account for 4,192, VRBO-only 1,140, and dual-listed 3,798. The investability score is 97.27 out of 100, and the total market score is 79.69, with a notably strong revenue growth score of 80.37.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 39% |
| Feb | 44% |
| Mar | 44% |
| Apr | 48% |
| May | 52% |
| Jun | 62% |
| Jul | 71% |
| Aug | 64% |
| Sep | 46% |
| Oct | 45% |
| Nov | 42% |
| Dec | 45% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Gaylord are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Michigan Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Michigan Area market as a whole, which includes Gaylord, so these counts are not Gaylord-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 367 | 11,455 | ★ 4.68 |
| 2 | Freshwater Vacation Rentals | 61 | 2,578 | ★ 4.85 |
| 3 | LiveSuites | 59 | 1,209 | ★ 4.67 |
| 4 | Short Term Rentals | 31 | 2,493 | ★ 4.68 |
| 5 | Simple Lyfe Stays | 29 | 2,365 | ★ 4.85 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Gaylord?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Gaylord 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 | 45.9% |
| vrbo | 12.5% |
| both | 41.6% |
Home Value Trends (Gaylord)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Gaylord 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 Gaylord — 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
Gaylord falls within Otsego County, which currently has NO adopted county-wide STR ordinance. As of mid-2026, no county STR permit is required. Michigan has no statewide STR license requirement. All rentals under 30 days must collect and remit Michigan’s 6% state use (lodging) tax, which platforms like Airbnb and VRBO typically handle automatically.
Otsego County circulated a proposed Short-Term Residential Rental Ordinance in early 2025 that would, if adopted, require an annual county license, a 24/7 local agent within 30 miles, occupancy caps (2 persons per bedroom plus 2), quiet hours from 10 pm to 8 am, fire-safety and septic inspections, and a possible cap on total permits. As of mid-2026, this proposed ordinance had not been adopted and did not appear among the county’s published adopted ordinances. Operators should verify current status directly with Otsego County before relying on the no-permit status, as the regulatory landscape may change.
Enforcement severity is currently rated minimal. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement, and no nights-per-year cap in current regulations.
Market Comparison
Gaylord’s April 2026 occupancy of 49.2% is below the US STR median of approximately 55%, but April is a well-established soft shoulder month in this market. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 50.5% was closer to the national norm. The market ADR of $161/night is below the national median of approximately $220, consistent with a Midwest drive-market recreational destination.
The investability score of 97.27 and revenue growth score of 80.37 are strong indicators for long-term positioning. The total market score of 79.69 is tempered by seasonality (60.13) and regulation risk (65.65), the latter reflecting the pending county ordinance.
Evolve leads the market with 367 listings and 11,455 reviews at a 4.68 average rating. Freshwater Vacation Rentals operates 61 listings with 2,578 reviews at 4.85. LiveSuites manages 59 listings with 1,209 reviews at 4.67. These three operators account for 487 listings, approximately 5.3% of the 9,130-listing market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gaylord, Michigan
What is the average nightly rate for STRs in Gaylord, MI?
What occupancy rate do Gaylord STRs achieve?
How much revenue can a short-term rental generate in Gaylord, MI?
Does Gaylord require a permit to operate a short-term rental?
What taxes apply to Gaylord STR rentals?
When is peak season for STRs in Gaylord, MI?
Who are the leading STR property managers in Gaylord, MI?
Analyze Gaylord Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Gaylord.
Free Gaylord STR Calculator →
