Branson, Missouri Short-Term Rental Market
The Branson Tri-Lakes area STR market averaged $248 ADR, 45.1% occupancy and $3,122 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Branson, Missouri is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the The Ozark Mtns market area is 45%. average monthly revenue in the The Ozark Mtns market area is $3,122. average daily rate in the The Ozark Mtns market area is $248. 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
Short-term rental performance for Branson, Missouri, is tracked at the level of the Branson Tri-Lakes area STR market, a shared submarket that also covers Reeds Spring, Lampe and Shell Knob around Table Rock Lake. Every performance figure on this page describes that region rather than Branson city limits alone. In September 2026, the Branson Tri-Lakes area STR market averaged an ADR of $248 and occupancy of 45.1%, which produced average monthly revenue of $3,122 per listing. Against a year earlier, occupancy is up 21.0%, ADR is up 5.0% and revenue is up 11.2%, so the latest month shows growth on all three measures.
The longer view is steadier. Annual occupancy has held between 47.5% and 52.2% since 2021, and ADR has moved from $219 in 2021 to $251 in 2025. Through the first nine months of 2026, occupancy averages 45.8%, ADR averages $258 and monthly revenue averages $3,463, compared with $3,551 for full-year 2025. Summing the seasonal monthly averages gives annualized revenue of $35,180 for a typical listing.
Demand rests on a large visitor economy. Branson attracts approximately 7.2 million visitors per year according to CVB-tracked data, with up to 65,000 daily visitors in the Tri-Lakes area during peak season and about $1.5 billion in annual visitor spending. The average visitor is 57 years old, and 67% travel more than 300 miles, which supports multi-night drive-in stays. Primary motivations are live shows, theme parks and shopping. The city has a population of 12,897 and 17,850 hotel and lodging rooms across 201 lodging facilities, so rentals compete directly with a deep hotel supply.
Listing counts, bedroom mix, booking channel mix and listing-type mix are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Branson, so this profile omits them.
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
Short-term rentals are permitted in Branson. The rules are set by Ordinance No. 2024-0065, effective May 1, 2025, which replaced the former Nightly Rental terminology with Short-Term Rental across the city and standardized a two-part permit structure.
A permit is required. Operators need an annual Short-Term Rental Business License at $100 per address, and an STR Permit issued after a fire safety inspection at $150, valid for 3 years. Together that is $250 in initial permit costs. The business license renews annually, running May 1 to April 30. A refundable Tourism Tax Bond is also collected during the application process.
Branson charges a 4% tourism tax on gross rental receipts, due to the Branson Finance Department by the 20th of the following month. The ordinance reaffirmed that no STR platform remits this city tourism tax on behalf of operators, so hosts must file and pay it directly. Missouri state sales tax of 4.225% also applies.
Zoning is the main constraint. STRs are permitted in commercial districts and high-density residential zones, and restricted or prohibited in low-density residential zones, planned developments without explicit STR authorization, and certain named subdivisions such as Hideaway Hills. Operators must confirm address eligibility through the city mapping tool before applying. Properties operated within a primary residence are excluded from the STR definition and face different rules.
There is no owner-occupancy requirement and no primary-residence requirement. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. Verify current requirements with the City of Branson before buying or listing.
Market Comparison
The Branson Tri-Lakes area STR market has a mixed profile. September 2026 occupancy of 45.1% sits alongside an ADR of $248, and average monthly revenue of $3,122 reflects that mix.
The occupancy level is heavily seasonal. In June and July, occupancy reaches 69.0% and 74.0%, while winter months such as January (15.9%) and February (29.6%) are far lower. Investors comparing Branson with year-round markets should model the low months explicitly.
The year-over-year trend is favorable. Occupancy is up 21.0%, ADR is up 5.0% and revenue is up 11.2% against September 2025. The market also benefits from a large and established visitor base of approximately 7.2 million visitors per year, driven by shows, theme parks and Table Rock Lake.
The market sits in a destination that already has 17,850 hotel and lodging rooms within city limits, so STR operators should expect hotels to be a main source of competition. Top operator names and rollup counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Branson, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Branson, Missouri
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