Lake Ozark, Missouri Short-Term Rental Market
Lake Ozark STRs averaged $228/night at 33.7% occupancy in April 2026, with a revenue growth score of 86 out of 100.
Quick Answer: Lake Ozark, Missouri is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Lake of Ozarks market area is 47%. average monthly revenue in the Lake of Ozarks market area is $5,461. average daily rate in the Lake of Ozarks market area is $400. 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
The Lake Ozark, MO short-term rental market sits at the downstream end of the Lake of the Ozarks, a 55,000-acre reservoir with approximately 1,150 miles of shoreline that anchors one of Missouri’s largest tourism economies. The Missouri Division of Tourism reported roughly 3.36 million overnight visitors to the broader Lake of the Ozarks area in 2024. In April 2026, the average daily rate across all active listings was $228, occupancy reached 33.7%, and revenue per available rental (RevPAR) came in at $77. Year-over-year through April 2026, occupancy declined 4.0% compared with April 2025, while ADR rose 6.5% and monthly revenue fell 6.5%.
Approximately 4,707 active listings are in the market, nearly all entire-place units (4,657), with 50 private rooms. Three-bedroom properties are the largest segment (1,668 listings), followed by two-bedroom (1,208), four-bedroom (635), one-bedroom (631), and five-or-more-bedroom (554) listings. The channel mix is balanced: 2,902 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 910 are Airbnb-only, and 895 are VRBO-only.
The StaySTRA scorecard rates Lake Ozark at 50.8 out of 100 overall, but the revenue growth score of 86.2 is a standout, backed by ADR rising from $241 in 2022 to $270 in 2025. Investability scores 76.4, regulation 68.9, rental demand 48.1, and seasonality 43.3. The 2025 annual average occupancy was 38.6% and ADR was $270.
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
Lake Ozark formally legalized nightly vacation rentals via an ordinance (Bill No. 2022-50) given final reading in January 2023. Short-term rentals, defined as rentals of 30 days or fewer, require a city license or registration.
Critical zoning constraint: STRs are permitted only in Multi-Family (R-3), Commercial (C-2), and Lake Front Mixed-Use districts. STRs are NOT permitted in Single-Family Residential zones. Investors must confirm the specific zoning of any target parcel directly with Lake Ozark Planning and Zoning before purchasing. Private HOA covenants can also restrict or ban STRs independently of city zoning, and deed restrictions must be reviewed per property.
There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Specific license fees and renewal terms were not published in available sources; confirm with Lake Ozark City Hall (City Clerk: 573-365-5378).
On taxes: the Missouri Supreme Court on June 25, 2024 struck down the statutes creating the Lake of the Ozarks Area lodging tax as unconstitutional and ordered collection to stop. The prior approximately 3% area lodging tax no longer applies. Missouri state and applicable local sales taxes still apply. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Lake Ozark’s April 2026 occupancy of 33.7% is below the US STR median of approximately 55%, but April falls during the pre-lake-season trough for this market. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 38.6% is also below national norms, reflecting the extreme winter trough. The $228 April ADR and 2025 annual average of $270 are both above the US STR median of approximately $220.
The revenue growth score of 86.2 out of 100 is among the highest in the StaySTRA dataset, reflecting consistent ADR growth from $241 in 2022 to $270 in 2025. Investability scores 76.4.
On the operator side, Evolve leads with 352 listings and 13,869 reviews (4.74 average rating). Regional specialist LakeDays.Rentals follows with 212 listings (4.80 rating), and YourLakeVacation holds third with 138 listings (4.75 rating). Shores Vacation Rentals manages 106 listings (4.81 rating) and Lakecation Vacations manages 97 listings (4.40 rating). The mix of national managers alongside Lake of the Ozarks-specific operators reflects the market’s established vacation-rental culture.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Ozark, Missouri
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