Brainerd, Minnesota Short-Term Rental Market
Brainerd, MN STRs averaged $184/night at 43.9% occupancy in April 2026, with July peak occupancy reaching 71.5% across the Brainerd Lakes area.
Quick Answer: Brainerd, Minnesota is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Minnesota Area market area is 63%. average monthly revenue in the Minnesota Area market area is $5,579. average daily rate in the Minnesota Area market area is $320. the top operator in the Minnesota Area market area is Evolve with 337 listings. market score is 71/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Minnesota Area regional market, which includes Brainerd. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Brainerd.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Brainerd is the commercial hub of the Brainerd Lakes region in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, with a population of approximately 14,468. The area is one of Minnesota’s most popular lake vacation destinations, anchored by Gull Lake and Mille Lacs Lake and drawing drive-market travelers from the Twin Cities metro. The STR market for the broader Brainerd Lakes area totals roughly 10,408 active listings. 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%, while revenue declined 3.27% from April a year prior. The 2025 annual average ADR of $241 and occupancy of 50.0% represent the recent full-year baseline.
Entire-place listings account for 9,675 units (92.9% of supply). Two-bedroom properties lead supply at 3,013 listings, followed by one-bedroom (2,551), three-bedroom (2,537), four-bedroom (1,420), and five-bedroom-plus (876). Channel distribution: 4,753 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 4,169 exclusively on Airbnb, and 1,486 exclusively on VRBO.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 40% |
| Feb | 45% |
| Mar | 46% |
| Apr | 47% |
| May | 54% |
| Jun | 66% |
| Jul | 71% |
| Aug | 66% |
| Sep | 50% |
| Oct | 50% |
| Nov | 41% |
| Dec | 47% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Brainerd are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Minnesota Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Minnesota Area market as a whole, which includes Brainerd, so these counts are not Brainerd-only figures.
| # | 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 Brainerd?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Brainerd 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 | 40.1% |
| vrbo | 14.3% |
| both | 45.7% |
Home Value Trends (Brainerd)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Brainerd 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 Brainerd — 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
Operating an STR in the Brainerd area requires permits at multiple levels. Inside Brainerd city limits, operators need an Interim Use Permit from the city Community Development Department for any stay shorter than 28 days, plus a city Rental Housing License. Properties must be connected to city sewer and water, provide a full guest bathroom, and designate a 24/7 local contact. Operators must also notify every neighbor within 100 feet in writing with the local contact information.
Throughout Crow Wing County, operators also need a county Short-Term Rental License at $100 per advertised bedroom, renewed each January. Properties not on municipal sewer must provide septic compliance documentation. Any stay shorter than seven days requires a Minnesota Department of Health lodging license under state statute.
The effective tax rate is approximately 9.875% to 11.875% on stays under 30 days, combining 6.875% state sales tax, 2% Crow Wing County lodging tax, and up to 3% city of Brainerd lodging tax. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Enforcement is active, with both a 24/7 county violations hotline (218-824-1132) and a city housing inspector handling complaints. In February 2024, the Brainerd City Council rejected a proposed ordinance 3-3 that would have capped non-owner-occupied units at 20 citywide and banned them downtown; current rules remain in place as of mid-2026.
Market Comparison
Nationally, median STR occupancy is approximately 55% and median ADR is approximately $220. Brainerd Lakes’ April 2026 occupancy of 43.9% is below the national median, and the ADR of $184.49 is below it as well. The RevPAR of $80.99 reflects the shoulder-month timing. In peak summer (July), the market approaches 71.5% occupancy at a $255 ADR, producing revenue that exceeds the national median pace.
The investability score of 88.58 and revenue growth score of 80.57 are well above the midpoint. Annual ADR has grown from $170 in 2017 to $241 in 2025, a 41.8% cumulative increase, demonstrating durable rate appreciation over time.
Among top operators, Evolve leads with 337 listings and a 4.767 rating. Cascade Vacation Rentals manages 182 listings (4.762) and 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 local and regional lake-specialist operators alongside Evolve reflects the preference of Brainerd Lakes guests for operators with local knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brainerd, Minnesota
What is the average daily rate for vacation rentals in the Brainerd Lakes area?
What occupancy rate can I expect for a Brainerd area vacation rental?
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental near Brainerd, MN?
What is the typical monthly revenue for a Brainerd Lakes vacation rental?
What are the peak and slow seasons in the Brainerd area?
What are the short-term rental rules specific to Brainerd versus surrounding Crow Wing County?
How far in advance do guests book Brainerd Lakes vacation rentals?
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