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 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
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 | 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 Brainerd
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 Brainerd?
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
The Brainerd Lakes STR market scores 71.29 overall, with an investability score of 88.58 and a revenue growth score of 80.57 as its strongest dimensions. The regulation score of 57.88 reflects the multi-layer permit structure (city plus county plus state), and the seasonality score of 58.35 reflects the concentrated summer peak.
At the April 2026 average revenue of $2,119 per listing, the annualized run rate is approximately $25,424. Against Brainerd’s typical home value of $311,283, that implies a gross yield of approximately 8.2% before expenses. The median sale price of $265,300 offers a meaningful discount to typical value, and 111 homes listed for sale with a 54-day median to pending gives buyers reasonable time for due diligence.
ADR differential across tiers is significant: 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 gap between baseline and luxury tier points to substantial upside for premium lakefront properties. House and entire-place listings average similar monthly revenues ($2,221 and $2,228 respectively), while apartment-type units average $1,923.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Brainerd Lakes guests book an average of 43.22 days in advance (about 6 weeks). This lead time is driven by summer lake cabin demand, where prime weeks on Gull Lake and other area lakes fill quickly. For hosts, revenue management should prioritize rate-setting 6 to 8 weeks before peak summer weekends and the Fourth of July week.
The average length of stay is 3.95 nights. This is above a standard weekend, reflecting the multi-day lake cabin vacation pattern common in the Twin Cities drive market. Weekly pricing (5 to 7 nights) can help maximize occupancy in peak summer weeks while reducing turnover frequency. Minimum stays of 3 nights on summer weekends are well-supported by the average stay data.
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
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Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental near Brainerd, MN?
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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?
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