Bemidji, Minnesota Short-Term Rental Market
Bemidji, MN STRs averaged $184/night at 43.9% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 10,400 active listings in Minnesota lake country.
Quick Answer: Bemidji, Minnesota is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 44%. average monthly revenue is $2,119. average daily rate is $184. the top operator is Evolve with 337 listings. market score is 71/100 (grade B).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bemidji is a lakeside city of approximately 15,569 residents in Beltrami County, Minnesota, situated at the southern end of Lake Bemidji in Minnesota’s lake country. The STR market is large, with roughly 10,408 active listings across the city and surrounding lake areas. In April 2026, the average daily rate was $184.49 and occupancy was 43.9%, producing a RevPAR of $80.99 and average monthly revenue of $2,119 per listing.
Year-over-year, ADR grew 6.16% and occupancy grew 2.71% from the same month a year prior, while revenue declined 3.27%. The revenue decline in the context of higher ADR and higher occupancy likely reflects mix shift toward lower-revenue listing types or a shorter effective month. The 2025 annual average ADR of $241 and occupancy of 50.0% provide a more complete picture of recent performance.
Entire-place listings dominate at 9,675 units (92.9% of active supply). Private rooms add 727 listings. Two-bedroom properties are the most common at 3,013 listings, followed by one-bedroom (2,551) and three-bedroom (2,537). Four-bedroom (1,420) and five-bedroom-plus (876) properties are well represented. Channel distribution: 4,753 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 4,169 exclusively on Airbnb, and 1,486 exclusively on VRBO, indicating strong VRBO penetration in this lake cabin market.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40% | $180 | $2,076 |
| Feb | 45% | $181 | $2,063 |
| Mar | 46% | $171 | $2,213 |
| Apr | 47% | $158 | $1,915 |
| May | 55% | $190 | $2,257 |
| Jun | 66% | $247 | $3,902 |
| Jul | 71% | $255 | $4,769 |
| Aug | 66% | $251 | $4,457 |
| Sep | 50% | $214 | $2,966 |
| Oct | 50% | $196 | $2,740 |
| Nov | 41% | $164 | $1,983 |
| Dec | 47% | $180 | $2,161 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Bemidji
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 337 | 13,110 | ★ 4.77 |
| 2 | Cascade Vacation Rentals | 182 | 3,861 | ★ 4.76 |
| 3 | Heirloom | 112 | 7,458 | ★ 4.82 |
| 4 | Sota Lake Home Rentals | 61 | 1,310 | ★ 4.50 |
| 5 | Woods To Water Vacation Homes | 48 | 939 | ★ 4.95 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bemidji?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,551 |
| 2 bed | 3,013 |
| 3 bed | 2,537 |
| 4 bed | 1,420 |
| 5 bed | 876 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $196 |
| Luxury | $376 |
| Professionally Managed | $222 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,923 |
| Entire Place | $2,228 |
| House | $2,221 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 40.1% |
| vrbo | 14.3% |
| both | 45.7% |
Investment Analysis
Bemidji’s investability score of 88.58 and revenue growth score of 80.57 are its strongest market dimensions, reflecting a market with improving revenue trends and favorable acquisition economics. The total market score of 71.29 is pulled down by lower regulation (57.88) and seasonality (58.35) scores, the latter reflecting the concentrated summer peak.
At the April 2026 average revenue of $2,119 per listing, the annualized run rate is approximately $25,424. Against a typical home value of $216,534, that implies a gross yield of approximately 11.7% before expenses. The median list price of $230,567 indicates listing prices are modestly above typical values, which can slightly compress yields for new buyers, but entry costs remain among the lowest of any market in this batch.
ADR differential across tiers is large: all-listings average is $184.49, entire-home listings average $195.61, professionally managed properties average $222.25, and the luxury tier averages $376.44. The $192 spread between the all-listings average and the luxury tier is the largest absolute spread in the dataset, pointing to significant upside for premium lakefront properties. House and entire-place type listings generate similar revenues ($2,221 and $2,228 respectively), both substantially above the apartment-type average of $1,923.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Bemidji)
Booking Insights
Bemidji guests book an average of 43.22 days in advance (roughly 6 weeks). The longer lead time for summer lake cabin stays is consistent with competitive booking behavior: popular lake properties fill up well before Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. For hosts, this window supports rate optimization at the 6 to 8 week mark before peak weekends.
The average length of stay is 3.95 nights, the longest in the current batch. This reflects the lake cabin vacation pattern where multi-day visits are the norm, not short city weekends. Stays approaching 4 nights mean lower turnover costs relative to revenue generated, and suggest weekly-stay pricing (with modest discounts for 7-night bookings) can improve occupancy in peak summer months without sacrificing revenue per stay.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Bemidji operates under a split regulatory structure. Inside the city of Bemidji, the City Rental Department issues a Short Term Rental License after an inspection. The 2026 city fee schedule sets the license at $1,000 for first-time operators and $500 per unit for annual renewals, with penalties of $300 per bedroom per month for operating without a license. Licenses renew each December 31.
Outside the city, Beltrami County Ordinance No. 49 (effective July 1, 2022) created a tiered permit system: Type A permits cover up to 3 bedrooms and 8 guests ($200 fee); Type B covers 4 or more bedrooms or up to 12 guests ($400 fee); Type C covers 13 or more guests ($800 fee plus recording costs, requires Planning Commission approval after a public hearing). Maximum guest occupancy is tied to septic system design flow. All operators must also obtain a Minnesota Department of Health lodging license.
The occupancy tax rate is 9.88%. Quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., on-site parking is mandatory, and a local contact must respond within 24 hours. A strike-based complaint system can escalate to permit revocation. Several townships prohibit STR entirely: Ten Lake, Sugar Bush, and Frohn. Turtle River Township allows STR only in shoreland areas. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Nationally, median STR occupancy is approximately 55% and median ADR is approximately $220. Bemidji’s April 2026 occupancy of 43.9% is well below the national median, but its RevPAR of $80.99 reflects the low ADR level rather than a structural demand problem, as summer months drive occupancy to 71.5%. The ADR of $184.49 is below the national median, consistent with a rural lake market where entry costs are low and competition is broad.
The investability score of 88.58 and revenue growth score of 80.57 indicate strong forward prospects. Annual ADR has grown from $170 in 2017 to $241 in 2025, a 41.8% cumulative increase.
Among top operators, Evolve leads with 337 listings and a 4.767 rating. Cascade Vacation Rentals manages 182 listings (4.762), Heirloom holds 112 listings (4.820), Sota Lake Home Rentals has 61 listings (4.503), and Woods To Water Vacation Homes manages 48 listings with the highest rating at 4.946. The presence of several local and regional specialists alongside Evolve reflects the lake cabin market’s preference for operators with local knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bemidji, Minnesota
What is the average daily rate for vacation rentals near Bemidji, MN?
What occupancy rate can I expect for a Bemidji area vacation rental?
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental in Bemidji?
What is the typical monthly revenue for a Bemidji lake cabin rental?
What are the peak and slow seasons in the Bemidji area?
Are there any areas near Bemidji where short-term rentals are prohibited?
How far in advance do guests book Bemidji vacation rentals?
Analyze Bemidji Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Bemidji.
Free Bemidji STR Calculator →
