Munising, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Munising's new short-term rental permits are under a moratorium, while September 2026 shows $230 ADR, 58.5% occupancy, $3,711 revenue.
Quick Answer: Munising, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Upper Peninsula market area is 59%. average monthly revenue in the Upper Peninsula market area is $3,711. average daily rate in the Upper Peninsula market area is $230. the top operator in the Upper Peninsula market area is Evolve with 99 listings. market score is 82/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Upper Peninsula regional market, which includes Munising. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Munising.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers short-term rentals around Munising, Michigan, using data for September 2026. The performance figures describe the Michigan Upper Peninsula STR market, a shared regional series, so the numbers reflect the region rather than Munising alone. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts and top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Munising, so this profile omits them.
In September 2026 the average daily rate was $230 and occupancy was 58.5%. Average monthly revenue per listing was $3,711. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 11.5%, ADR rose 3.2% and revenue rose 14.5%. Entire homes averaged $3,795 in the month, houses $3,976 and apartments $2,964.
Demand centers on Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which drew roughly 910,939 recreation visits in 2023. Munising has 1,948 residents, so lodging demand is driven almost entirely by visitors, mostly road-trippers and outdoor travelers from Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. Boat and kayak tours, waterfalls, Grand Island and winter activities such as snowmobiling and the Michigan Ice Fest in February give people reasons to visit outside summer.
The longer trend is a steady recovery. Annual occupancy was 58.0% in 2021, fell to 47.7% in 2024, and was 49.9% in 2025. Through the first nine months of 2026 it is 53.5%, with ADR of $216 against $206 for all of 2025. Annual revenue per listing, summed across the seasonal months, is $29,472.
The most important factor for anyone entering the market is regulation. The City of Munising has paused new short-term rental permit applications under a moratorium, so supply growth inside city limits is constrained.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 43% |
| Feb | 50% |
| Mar | 31% |
| Apr | 36% |
| May | 47% |
| Jun | 64% |
| Jul | 77% |
| Aug | 73% |
| Sep | 55% |
| Oct | 50% |
| Nov | 31% |
| Dec | 45% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Munising are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Upper Peninsula market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Upper Peninsula market as a whole, which includes Munising, so these counts are not Munising-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 99 | 4,068 | ★ 4.65 |
| 2 | Freshwater Vacation Rentals | 75 | 5,309 | ★ 4.85 |
| 3 | Northwoods Resort | 49 | 6,899 | ★ 4.86 |
| 4 | Northern Properties | 49 | 228 | ★ 4.71 |
| 5 | Pictured Rocks Vacation Rentals & Property Management, LLC | 36 | 3,262 | ★ 4.74 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Munising?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Munising 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 | 45.4% |
| vrbo | 14.9% |
| both | 39.7% |
Home Value Trends (Munising)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Munising 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 Munising — 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
Short-term rentals are permitted in the City of Munising, but new applications are currently halted. The City Commission enacted a two-year moratorium on accepting new STR permit applications on August 19 and 20, 2024, while it completes a master plan update and a Housing Needs Assessment with Central UP Planning and Development. The profile describes it as running into 2026, so verify with the city whether it is still in force. Existing permitted operators and applications filed before the moratorium are unaffected.
The city uses a Conditional Use Permit tied to zoning. STRs are allowed only as conditional uses in specific districts, with caps of 5 permits in H-2 (Highland Two) and 10 in T (Transitional). Conditional approval is also possible in Downtown (D, which requires ground-floor commercial space), Lakefront Commercial (LC) and Light Industrial (I-1). STRs are not permitted in buildings with more than 4 dwelling units.
Owner occupancy and primary residence are not required. Permits renew annually, by January 31. The permit cost and any annual night cap are not published. Operators must designate a local contact, share that contact with the city and all neighbors within 300 feet, and post it in the unit. Exteriors and lighting must keep a residential character with no STR signage, and ads must include the street address or fire number. Occupancy is capped at roughly 3 persons per bedroom.
Enforcement is rated moderate. City Police handle violations as civil infractions, and three violations in a calendar year trigger mandatory permit revocation. Lodging is subject to a 6% occupancy tax. These rules apply to the City of Munising, not to the other towns in the regional data.
Market Comparison
The Michigan Upper Peninsula STR market ran at 58.5% occupancy and a $230 ADR in September 2026, with occupancy up 11.5% and ADR up 3.2% from September 2025.
The full-year picture is more modest. Through the first nine months of 2026, occupancy is 53.5% and ADR is $216. The market therefore leans on peak months. July occupancy of 76.6% is far above the 30.8% seen in November.
Rate strength is concentrated in upscale stock. Luxury listings at $373 sit about 62.3% above the all-listings ADR of $230, and professionally managed listings at $283 sit about 23.0% above it.
The local demand base is unusual. A town of 1,948 residents sits beside a national lakeshore with roughly 910,939 recreation visits in 2023, which produces a sharp summer concentration. Top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Munising, so this profile omits them. The permit moratorium also limits new competing supply inside city limits, which is a feature few comparable markets have.
Frequently Asked Questions About Munising, Michigan
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