Bigfork, Montana Short-Term Rental Market
Glacier Country STR market averaged $350 ADR, 61.7% occupancy and $5,791 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Bigfork, Montana is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Flathead Valley/Glacier Natl Park market area is 62%. average monthly revenue in the Flathead Valley/Glacier Natl Park market area is $5,791. average daily rate in the Flathead Valley/Glacier Natl Park market area is $350. the top operator in the Flathead Valley/Glacier Natl Park market area is Stay Montana with 165 listings. market score is 50/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Flathead Valley/Glacier Natl Park regional market, which includes Bigfork. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bigfork.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Performance figures on this page describe the Glacier Country region of northwest Montana STR market, which includes Bigfork and nearby towns. The data is shared across that region rather than measured for Bigfork alone, so read every performance number as a regional figure. The latest data month is September 2026. In September 2026 the Glacier Country region STR market averaged an ADR of $350, occupancy of 61.7% and monthly revenue of $5,791. Entire-home listings averaged $356 per night. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 9.1%, ADR rose 10.4% and revenue rose 12.2%, so growth came from both more booked nights and higher prices. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Bigfork, so this profile omits them.
Bigfork itself is an unincorporated resort village on the northeast shore of Flathead Lake in Flathead County, with a population of 5,565. It is marketed as the Village by the Bay and draws mostly summer leisure travelers: boaters, anglers, swimmers, golfers and arts visitors, plus people using it as a base roughly 45 minutes from Glacier National Park, which draws about 3 million visitors a year. Flathead County is Montana’s top tourism county, with more than $1 billion in annual nonresident spending in 2022 and 2023. Peak season runs June through September.
The long-run record shows steady gains. Average monthly revenue in the regional market was $2,310 in 2017, $3,654 in 2021, $4,309 in 2025 and $5,223 across the first nine months of 2026. ADR climbed from $204 in 2017 to $322 in 2025 and $361 so far in 2026, while 2026 occupancy to date is 56.0% compared with 51.2% for all of 2025.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 39% |
| Feb | 52% |
| Mar | 44% |
| Apr | 34% |
| May | 52% |
| Jun | 68% |
| Jul | 77% |
| Aug | 68% |
| Sep | 55% |
| Oct | 33% |
| Nov | 33% |
| Dec | 51% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Bigfork are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Flathead Valley/Glacier Natl Park market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Flathead Valley/Glacier Natl Park market as a whole, which includes Bigfork, so these counts are not Bigfork-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stay Montana | 165 | 2,400 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Evolve | 131 | 6,513 | ★ 4.82 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 122 | 5,100 | ★ 4.57 |
| 4 | Whitefish Mountain Resort Lodging | 118 | 1,034 | ★ 4.65 |
| 5 | Natural Retreats | 108 | 3,953 | ★ 4.82 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bigfork?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Bigfork 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 | 33.3% |
| vrbo | 12.3% |
| both | 54.4% |
Home Value Trends (Bigfork)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Bigfork 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 Bigfork — 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 Bigfork, but the rules depend on zoning. Bigfork is unincorporated, so Flathead County regulates STRs rather than a city government. Rentals under 30 days count as short-term.
In unzoned areas, no county STR permit is required. In zoned areas, STRs are allowed as a permitted use in RR, B-2, B-4, BM-1, BM-2, BR-2, BR-4, CVR, SC and NF zones. They need an administrative conditional use permit in AG, SAG, R, RA, RC, B-3, B-5, B-6, AL, LBL, LL, LS, RL and WV zones. They are not allowed in any other zone. Canyon-area parcels are subject to CALURS.
Even in permitted-use zones, operators must submit a valid Montana Public Accommodation License, a letter certifying compliance with FCZR Section 5.11, and proof of certified-mail notice to neighbors within 150 feet. The administrative conditional use review can take up to about 6 weeks, and Canyon-area minor land use reviews take up to 30 days. The Public Accommodation License renews annually and includes an inspection, and rentals with more than two bedrooms must meet Montana Bed and Breakfast safety and health standards. The permit fee is not published.
Montana levies an 8% lodging tax on stays of 29 days or fewer, applied to the full charge including cleaning and guest fees. Platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO typically collect and remit it. There is no statewide cap on nights, and no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. A 2025 Montana law moved STRs into a higher property-tax tier at a flat rate of about 1.9% of full assessed value.
Market Comparison
The Glacier Country region STR market posted 61.7% occupancy and a $350 ADR in September 2026, with entire homes at $356 and luxury listings at $549.
The picture is less favorable on a full-year basis. The simple average of the twelve seasonal monthly occupancy figures is 50.5%, well below the latest month, because November, October and April fall near 33%. Occupancy for 2026 to date is 56.0%, while ADR to date is $361.
This is a seasonal destination market that earns its returns through high summer rates rather than steady year-round demand. Revenue grew 12.2% year over year in September 2026, outpacing the 9.1% occupancy gain and the 10.4% ADR gain taken individually. The names of top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Bigfork, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bigfork, Montana
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