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 56%. average monthly revenue in the Lake of Ozarks market area is $5,788. average daily rate in the Lake of Ozarks market area is $401. 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 | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22% | $175 | $1,152 |
| Feb | 27% | $176 | $1,173 |
| Mar | 42% | $189 | $1,715 |
| Apr | 34% | $205 | $1,762 |
| May | 43% | $270 | $2,451 |
| Jun | 59% | $348 | $5,144 |
| Jul | 69% | $338 | $6,322 |
| Aug | 52% | $324 | $4,782 |
| Sep | 34% | $261 | $2,506 |
| Oct | 28% | $202 | $1,797 |
| Nov | 27% | $197 | $1,487 |
| Dec | 23% | $192 | $1,424 |
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 pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 631 |
| 2 bed | 1,208 |
| 3 bed | 1,668 |
| 4 bed | 635 |
| 5 bed | 554 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $402 |
| Luxury | $645 |
| Professionally Managed | $467 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,879 |
| Entire Place | $5,816 |
| House | $7,349 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 19.3% |
| vrbo | 19% |
| both | 61.7% |
Investment Analysis
At an April 2026 ADR of $228 and 33.7% occupancy, average monthly revenue for a typical listing was $1,933 in that shoulder month. At the 2025 annual average of $3,101/month, total annual revenue projects to approximately $37,200 per year. Against a typical home value of $337,228, that implies a gross yield of approximately 11.0%, before platform fees, management costs, and property expenses.
A critical investor constraint: Lake Ozark prohibits STRs in Single-Family Residential zones. Permitted districts are Multi-Family (R-3), Commercial (C-2), and Lake Front Mixed-Use. Many desirable lakefront parcels may fall in single-family residential zoning, requiring buyers to confirm the specific zoning of each target property with Lake Ozark Planning and Zoning before purchase. Private HOA covenants can also restrict or ban STRs independent of city zoning; deed restrictions must be reviewed per property.
Luxury-tier listings averaged $363/night in ADR in April 2026, a 59% premium over the all-listing average of $228. Professionally managed listings averaged $261/night, a 14% premium. House listings averaged $2,355/month in revenue, compared with $1,941 for entire-place listings broadly and $1,423 for apartment-style units.
The housing market shows negotiating latitude: median sale price of $295,917 represents 82.8% of the median list price of $357,450, and median days to pending is 46. With 231 units currently for sale, selection is broader than in many resort markets.
Revenue trends show consistent ADR growth: $241 in 2022, $246 in 2023, $259 in 2024, $270 in 2025. Annual revenue grew from $2,907/month in 2024 to $3,101/month in 2025, a 6.7% year-over-year gain, driving the market’s 86.2 revenue growth score.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
In April 2026, the average booking lead time for Lake Ozark rentals was 48.7 days, roughly seven weeks in advance. The average length of stay was 3.2 nights, consistent with the weekend-getaway character of a lake resort destination.
For peak summer months, particularly July, a 49-day average lead time means pricing windows should be set by mid-May. Given the sharp revenue decline from August into September, hosts who hold high July rates past the Labor Day cutoff may lose shoulder-week nights to more flexible competitors.
At 3.2 nights average stay, monthly turnover at full occupancy is approximately 9 to 10 changeovers. The extreme seasonality (peak-to-trough revenue ratio of 5.5 to 1) means the summer revenue window is short, and missed turnovers in July or August have outsized impact on annual yield.
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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