Crosslake, Minnesota Short-Term Rental Market
Crosslake, MN short-term rentals averaged $184/night at 43.9% occupancy in April 2026, with July peaks reaching 71.5% occupancy at $255/night.
Quick Answer: Crosslake, 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 Crosslake. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Crosslake.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Crosslake sits on the Whitefish Chain of Lakes in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, with a year-round population of approximately 2,394 that swells to over 15,000 during peak summer. More than 60% of local housing units are seasonal, making the STR market one that serves visiting lake-country travelers rather than transient business guests. April 2026 data shows an average daily rate of $184 and occupancy of 43.9%, producing a RevPAR of $81. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 2.7% and ADR increased 6.2%, though revenue declined 3.3% compared to April 2025, reflecting some softening in total listing utilization.
The listing mix is dominated by entire-place rentals, which represent the vast majority of active inventory. Private rooms account for a small share, and shared rooms are negligible. Bedroom distribution skews toward 2-bedroom units (3,013 historical observations), followed closely by 1-bedroom (2,551) and 3-bedroom (2,537) properties, with 4-bedroom (1,420) and 5-bedroom (876) making up a meaningful portion, consistent with a market where larger lake cabin rentals are common.
The market’s overall score of 71.3 out of 100 is driven by a high investability score (88.6) and strong revenue growth trajectory (80.6), offset by moderate seasonality concerns (58.4) and a lower regulation score (57.9) reflecting active local STR oversight.
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 Crosslake 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 Crosslake, so these counts are not Crosslake-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 Crosslake?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Crosslake 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% |
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Crosslake — 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
Crosslake regulates short-term rentals under STR Ordinance 410. Any property advertised or rented for less than 30 consecutive days requires an approved STR license before listing or operating. The license fee is $750 annually, renewable each January regardless of when the original license was issued. Properties in unincorporated areas of Crow Wing County are covered by a parallel county STR licensing ordinance.
Key requirements include: completing a Fire and Life Safety Inspection Checklist, passing a fire inspection, submitting an online application, and designating a local representative whose driver’s license shows an address within 30 miles of the rental property. The city installs an STR license sign at the property upon approval. There is no primary-residence or owner-occupancy requirement, and no hard cap on annual rental nights.
A 1% lodging tax applies through the Whitefish Area Lodging Association. Enforcement is rated moderate, with a 24/7 complaint hotline (218-270-5710) and online complaint portal. As of October 2025, the City Council was evaluating 2026 ordinance amendments, including a proposal to require commercial water meters on STR properties connected to city sewer. No final decision had been published at the time of this profile update.
Market Comparison
Crosslake’s April 2026 occupancy of 43.9% is below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, which is expected given April is the market’s seasonal trough. Peak-month occupancy of 71.5% in July is well above national benchmarks. ADR of $184 is below the national median of approximately $220, though lake-property comps in similar Midwest markets (Wisconsin Dells, Lake Minnetonka) often run in the $180-$250 range.
The market’s investability score of 88.6 is a standout metric, placing it among higher-scoring markets in the StaySTRA dataset, driven by the strong revenue growth trajectory from 2017 to 2025.
Evolve leads local operators with 337 listings and a 4.77 average rating (13,110 reviews). Cascade Vacation Rentals holds 182 listings (4.76 rating, 3,861 reviews) and focuses specifically on the Crosslake lake-country area. Heirloom has 112 listings with a high 4.82 rating (7,458 reviews). Woods To Water Vacation Homes (48 listings) carries the highest rating in the top five at 4.95 across 939 reviews, suggesting strong guest satisfaction at smaller scale.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crosslake, Minnesota
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