Lake Ozark, Missouri Short-Term Rental Market
Lake of the Ozarks region STR in September 2026 averaged $301 ADR, 36.1% occupancy and $3,136 monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Lake Ozark, Missouri is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Lake of Ozarks market area is 36%. average monthly revenue in the Lake of Ozarks market area is $3,136. average daily rate in the Lake of Ozarks market area is $301. the top operator in the Lake of Ozarks market area is Evolve with 352 listings. market score is 51/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Lake of Ozarks regional market, which includes Lake Ozark. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lake Ozark.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Lake Ozark limits where short-term rentals can operate: they are allowed in the R-3 residential, Commercial (C-2) and Lake Front Mixed-Use districts but not in single-dwelling residential zones, and a city license is required. Performance data for this page is tracked at a shared level for the Lake of the Ozarks region, which also covers Osage Beach and Camdenton, so every figure below describes the Lake of the Ozarks region STR market rather than the city alone. In September 2026 the region’s average daily rate was $301, occupancy was 36.1%, and the average listing earned $3,136 for the month. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 23.0%, ADR is up 7.3%, and revenue is up 21.0%. Entire-place rentals averaged $303 ADR in September 2026. Year to date, 2026 is running at 41.6% occupancy, a $300 ADR and $3,558 in average monthly revenue across nine months, ahead of the full-year 2025 figures of 38.6%, $270 and $3,095. The region is anchored by the 55,000-acre Lake of the Ozarks, which has about 1,150 miles of shoreline. The Missouri Division of Tourism reported roughly 3.36 million overnight visitors to the Lake of the Ozarks area in 2024, and visitors arrive mostly by car from Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Arkansas. Those visitor counts are regional, not specific to the city of Lake Ozark, which has about 2,200 residents and sits at the Bagnell Dam end of the lake. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts and operator rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Lake Ozark, so this profile omits them. Demand is strongly seasonal, with summer carrying most of the annual revenue, as the seasonal section details.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 22% |
| Feb | 27% |
| Mar | 42% |
| Apr | 34% |
| May | 43% |
| Jun | 59% |
| Jul | 69% |
| Aug | 52% |
| Sep | 34% |
| Oct | 28% |
| Nov | 27% |
| Dec | 23% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Lake Ozark are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lake of Ozarks market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Lake of Ozarks market as a whole, which includes Lake Ozark, so these counts are not Lake Ozark-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 352 | 13,869 | ★ 4.74 |
| 2 | LakeDays.Rentals | 212 | 4,953 | ★ 4.80 |
| 3 | YourLakeVacation | 138 | 1,654 | ★ 4.75 |
| 4 | Shores Vacation Rentals | 106 | 3,129 | ★ 4.81 |
| 5 | Lakecation Vacations | 97 | 1,557 | ★ 4.40 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lake Ozark?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Lake Ozark 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 | 19.3% |
| vrbo | 19% |
| both | 61.7% |
Home Value Trends (Lake Ozark)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Lake Ozark 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 Lake Ozark — 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 Lake Ozark, with a license required. The city legalized nightly vacation rentals through Bill No. 2022-50, which received final reading in January 2023 after a contentious debate in which many residents opposed STRs. Rentals of 30 days or fewer are defined as short-term rentals and need a vacation or short-term rental license (registration). The key constraint is zoning. STRs are allowed in the R-3 residential, Commercial (C-2) and Lake Front Mixed-Use districts and are prohibited in single-dwelling residential districts, so much of the desirable lakefront housing stock may fall outside permitted zones. Confirm the zoning of any target parcel with Lake Ozark Planning and Zoning. The city does not require the owner to occupy the property, and it does not require the property to be a primary residence. Enforcement is rated moderate, and the city has explored running the registry in-house or hiring a third party to identify authorized properties, monitor compliance and collect permit fees. License fees, renewal terms and inspection requirements were not published in the sources reviewed, so confirm them with Lake Ozark City Hall (City Clerk, 573-365-5378). On taxes, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled on June 25, 2024 that the statutes creating the Lake of the Ozarks Area lodging tax were unconstitutional and ordered collection to stop, ending the prior area lodging tax of about 3%. Operators still owe Missouri state and applicable local sales tax. Many lake subdivisions also have private covenants that cap or ban STRs regardless of city zoning, so check deed restrictions on every property.
Market Comparison
The Lake of the Ozarks region STR market shows a rate-led profile. September 2026 occupancy was 36.1% alongside a $301 ADR, so revenue here depends on rate rather than on filling the calendar. Occupancy climbs in summer, with July at 68.8% and June at 58.7%, but it falls to 22.5% in January. Momentum is stronger than the level suggests: occupancy is up 23.0% year over year and ADR is up 7.3%, and 2026 occupancy of 41.6% through nine months exceeds the 38.6% recorded for 2025. Occupancy was higher in 2020 through 2022, at 43.5%, 45.2% and 42.0%, so the market is recovering toward earlier levels while ADR has climbed from $221 in 2020 to $300 in 2026. Operator rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Lake Ozark, so this profile omits them. Investors should underwrite on the strong summer rates and plan for a long, quiet off-season.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Ozark, Missouri
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