Columbia Falls, Montana Short-Term Rental Market
Columbia Falls and the Flathead Valley STR market hit $350 ADR, 61.7% occupancy and $5,791 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Columbia Falls, 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 167 listings. market score is 49/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Flathead Valley/Glacier Natl Park regional market, which includes Columbia Falls. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Columbia Falls.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Columbia Falls is a gateway town to Glacier National Park, about 15 miles from the park’s West Entrance in the Flathead Valley of Montana, with a population of 5,713. The short-term rental performance figures on this page describe the Flathead Valley STR market, a shared regional series, rather than Columbia Falls alone. In September 2026 the Flathead Valley STR market posted an average daily rate of $350, occupancy of 61.7% and average monthly revenue of $5,791 per listing. Entire place listings averaged $356 per night. Year over year, occupancy rose 9.1%, ADR rose 10.4% and revenue rose 12.2%, so the gain came from both more booked nights and higher rates. The longer view supports that. Average monthly revenue was $3,876 in 2022, $3,966 in 2024 and $4,308 in 2025, and the first nine months of 2026 average $5,223 per month at 56.0% occupancy and a $361 ADR. Glacier National Park drew more than 3.2 million visitors in 2024, and roughly half entered through the West Entrance near Columbia Falls. Visitors are mostly summer outdoor travelers: hikers, road-trippers on Going-to-the-Sun Road, river floaters on the Flathead River and Flathead Lake day-trippers. Demand peaks from June through September, with growing shoulder-season visitation. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Columbia Falls, so this profile omits them. The town does not publish a standalone annual visitor count. Buyers should read these numbers as regional benchmarks for a seasonal, park-driven market and then underwrite a specific property against its own comparable listings.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 39% |
| Feb | 52% |
| Mar | 43% |
| 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 Columbia Falls 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 Columbia Falls, so these counts are not Columbia Falls-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stay Montana | 167 | 2,350 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Evolve | 130 | 6,503 | ★ 4.82 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 120 | 5,091 | ★ 4.58 |
| 4 | Whitefish Mountain Resort Lodging | 118 | 1,042 | ★ 4.64 |
| 5 | Natural Retreats | 107 | 3,956 | ★ 4.82 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Columbia Falls?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Columbia Falls 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 | 12.2% |
| both | 54.5% |
Home Value Trends (Columbia Falls)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Columbia Falls 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 Columbia Falls — 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, meaning stays under 30 days, are legal in Columbia Falls but regulated, and enforcement severity is rated moderate. Today an operator typically needs an Administrative Conditional Use Permit in agricultural and residential zones, at about $325, renewed annually. That process triggers a 15-day public comment period and written notice to property owners within 150 feet. In commercial zones CB2, CB4 and CB5, short-term rentals are a permitted use. Operators also need a city business license and must collect the 3% city resort tax, in place since October 1, 2021, on top of Montana’s state lodging taxes, which together bring the total tax on guests to roughly 11%. There is no maximum nights cap, no owner-occupancy requirement and no primary residence requirement. Compliance has been incomplete: of about 121 registered units, 98 are licensed and 90 pay resort tax. A major change is in progress. In April 2026 the City Council declined a proposal to limit future permits to primary homeowners and instead adopted a less restrictive staff framework. It would replace the separate permits with a single STR permit independent of zoning, at $350 initial, $250 annual renewal and a $150 fire inspection fee. Penalties would escalate to $300 per day for a first violation and $500 per day for a second, with possible platform removal. Formal approval was expected in June 2026 with new fees effective January 2027, and the city plans to revisit the policy one year after adoption. Confirm current rules with the city before buying.
Market Comparison
The Flathead Valley STR market stands out on peak-season strength. September 2026 occupancy was 61.7% with a $350 ADR, which produces average monthly revenue of $5,791 per listing. The advantage is seasonal, though. In July the market runs at 77.0% occupancy, while in October and November it falls to roughly one third. Annual averages are more modest: 2025 occupancy was 51.2% with a $322 ADR, and 2026 so far is at 56.0% with a $361 ADR. The market has also changed direction. Occupancy slipped from 57.9% in 2021 to 51.0% in 2024 before recovering, while ADR climbed from $257 to $361 over the same period. Property manager and operator rollups are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Columbia Falls, so this profile omits them. Investors comparing Columbia Falls with other markets should focus on peak-season strength and plan for a long off-season.
Frequently Asked Questions About Columbia Falls, Montana
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