Branson, Missouri Short-Term Rental Market
Branson, MO STRs posted $213 ADR and 32.2% occupancy in April 2026 across 8,584 active listings in one of the Ozarks' highest-visitor markets.
Quick Answer: Branson, Missouri is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the The Ozark Mtns market area is 68%. average monthly revenue in the The Ozark Mtns market area is $6,112. average daily rate in the The Ozark Mtns market area is $334. the top operator in the The Ozark Mtns market area is Thousand Hills Vacations with 563 listings. market score is 68/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the The Ozark Mtns regional market, which includes Branson. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Branson.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Branson, MO is one of the most active short-term rental markets in the Midwest, drawing approximately 7.2 million visitors per year to a city of under 13,000 permanent residents. The market held 8,584 active STR listings as of the latest snapshot, with entire-place properties making up 8,493 of those (99% of supply). Private rooms account for 90 listings and shared rooms just 1.
In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $213 and an occupancy rate of 32.2%, reflecting the off-peak shoulder period between winter and the summer high season. RevPAR for the month stood at $68.71. Year-over-year, occupancy was down 4.4 percentage points, ADR was essentially flat (down 0.25%), and average monthly revenue declined 6.8% from the prior April.
By bedroom count, 2-bedroom properties are the most common (3,408 listings), followed by 1-bedroom units (2,014), 3-bedroom (1,432), 5-bedroom (1,054), and 4-bedroom (663). This spread reflects Branson’s group and multi-generational travel draw. By channel, the market is heavily cross-listed: 5,952 properties appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, with 1,601 Airbnb-only and 1,031 VRBO-only listings. The market’s overall investability score of 96/100 and revenue growth score of 71.6/100 reflect its strong track record even as near-term occupancy faces modest pressure.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 16% |
| Feb | 30% |
| Mar | 53% |
| Apr | 34% |
| May | 47% |
| Jun | 69% |
| Jul | 74% |
| Aug | 50% |
| Sep | 41% |
| Oct | 51% |
| Nov | 48% |
| Dec | 47% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Branson are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in The Ozark Mtns market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the The Ozark Mtns market as a whole, which includes Branson, so these counts are not Branson-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thousand Hills Vacations | 563 | 17,545 | ★ 4.63 |
| 2 | Grand Welcome | 416 | 20,735 | ★ 4.78 |
| 3 | RentBranson | 371 | 16,204 | ★ 4.76 |
| 4 | Evolve | 350 | 25,613 | ★ 4.68 |
| 5 | Christian Taylor Vacations | 243 | 1,594 | ★ 4.55 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Branson?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Branson 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 | 18.7% |
| vrbo | 12% |
| both | 69.3% |
Home Value Trends (Branson)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Branson 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 Branson — 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
Branson STRs are permitted under Ordinance No. 2024-0065, which took effect May 1, 2025. The ordinance replaced the prior Nightly Rental classification with a unified Short-Term Rental designation and standardized the permitting structure city-wide.
Operators must obtain two items: (1) an annual Short-Term Rental Business License at $100 per address, renewing May 1 to April 30 each year, and (2) a one-time STR Permit from the Branson Fire Department following an approved fire safety inspection, costing $150 and valid for 3 years. The fire safety permit transfers with property ownership. A refundable Tourism Tax Bond is collected at application and returned after 3 consecutive years of on-time tax payments. Combined permit cost is $250.
STRs are permitted in commercial districts and high-density residential (HDR) zones. They are restricted or prohibited in low-density residential zones, single-family planned developments without explicit STR authorization, and certain named subdivisions including Hideaway Hills. Operators must verify address eligibility via the city’s mapping tool before applying. Owner-occupancy and primary residence requirements do not apply.
The city charges a 4% tourism tax on gross rental receipts, due by the 20th of each following month. Neither Airbnb nor VRBO remits this city tourism tax on behalf of operators; hosts must file and pay directly. Missouri state sales tax applies at 4.225%, and the Branson/Lakes Tourism Community Enhancement District adds a 1% local sales tax on lodging within the district. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. No maximum nights-per-year cap is on record.
Market Comparison
Branson’s April 2026 occupancy of 32.2% is below the US STR median of approximately 55%, but April is the market’s off-peak shoulder month. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 48.1% is closer to national norms, and the market’s seasonal peaks (74.1% in July) exceed median benchmarks substantially. The April ADR of $213 is below the national median of approximately $220, while 2025’s full-year average ADR of $251 ran above it.
The market’s total score of 68.4/100 and seasonality score of 42.7/100 reflect the concentration of revenue into summer months, which investors should model carefully. The investability score of 96/100 stands out as among the highest in the dataset.
Five property managers dominate the Branson market. Thousand Hills Vacations leads with 563 listings and 17,545 reviews (4.63 rating). Grand Welcome holds 416 listings with 20,735 reviews (4.78 rating). RentBranson operates 371 listings (16,204 reviews, 4.76 rating). Evolve manages 350 listings across 25,613 reviews (4.68 rating). Christian Taylor Vacations rounds out the top five with 243 listings and 1,594 reviews (4.55 rating). Together these five operators account for 1,943 listings, or approximately 22.6% of the market’s 8,584 total listings. The concentration is moderate, meaning independent operators retain the majority of supply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Branson, Missouri
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