East Glacier Park, Montana Short-Term Rental Market
East Glacier Park, MT STRs averaged $227/night at 34.6% occupancy in April 2026 across 5,644 active listings.
Quick Answer: East Glacier Park, Montana is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 35%. average monthly revenue is $2,057. average daily rate is $227. the top operator is Stay Montana with 165 listings. market score is 50/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
East Glacier Park is an unincorporated gateway community on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in northwestern Montana, serving as the eastern entrance to Glacier National Park, which drew approximately 3.2 million visitors in 2024. The permanent population is approximately 354 residents, making this one of the smallest market areas in the dataset. The short-term rental inventory reflects the gateway role: approximately 5,644 active listings, with entire-place rentals accounting for 5,451 units (96.6% of supply). Private-room listings add 192 more options. The average daily rate was $227.47 in April 2026, with occupancy at 34.6%, producing a RevPAR of $78.75. April is a genuine off-season period in this market; the historical April average occupancy is 33.95%, and the latest reading of 34.6% is roughly consistent with the seasonal norm. Year-over-year, April 2026 occupancy increased 5.2% and ADR increased 7.0%, while revenue decreased 4.6%. One-bedroom units lead supply at 2,106 listings, followed by two-bedroom (1,455), three-bedroom (1,120), four-bedroom (603), and five-bedroom or larger (353). Both Airbnb and VRBO are well represented: 1,879 Airbnb-exclusive listings, 692 VRBO-exclusive, and 3,073 cross-listed on both platforms. The market’s composite score of 49.5 reflects a highly seasonal demand pattern (seasonality 44.7), with revenue growth scoring notably at 80.7 and regulation at 69.7.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $286 | $2,950 |
| Feb | 52% | $304 | $3,496 |
| Mar | 44% | $263 | $2,969 |
| Apr | 34% | $195 | $1,794 |
| May | 51% | $217 | $2,080 |
| Jun | 68% | $297 | $4,145 |
| Jul | 77% | $333 | $6,457 |
| Aug | 68% | $318 | $5,890 |
| Sep | 54% | $266 | $3,972 |
| Oct | 33% | $200 | $2,068 |
| Nov | 33% | $178 | $1,672 |
| Dec | 51% | $286 | $2,661 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in East Glacier Park
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 East Glacier Park?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,106 |
| 2 bed | 1,455 |
| 3 bed | 1,120 |
| 4 bed | 603 |
| 5 bed | 353 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $232 |
| Luxury | $449 |
| Professionally Managed | $280 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,576 |
| Entire Place | $2,088 |
| House | $2,328 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 33.3% |
| vrbo | 12.3% |
| both | 54.4% |
Investment Analysis
East Glacier Park’s investment profile is defined by a narrow but intense summer season tied directly to Glacier National Park visitation. Average monthly revenue in April 2026 was $2,057, with an annualized figure of approximately $24,683. However, April is a low-demand month; the 2025 annual average was approximately $4,323 per month, producing an annualized figure of roughly $51,876. No housing sales price data is currently available in the dataset for East Glacier Park, so a gross yield calculation cannot be provided. Investors should obtain current property valuations independently before underwriting. The ADR tier structure shows meaningful differentiation: all-listings average $227, entire-home listings average $232, professionally managed properties average $280, and luxury-tier listings average $449. The professionally managed premium of $53 per night above the market average is substantial. At 34.6% April occupancy across 30 days (approximately 10.4 booked nights), that ADR advantage translates to approximately $551 in additional monthly revenue. Revenue growth year-over-year was 80.7 on the 100-point scale, reflecting a market that has grown consistently since 2017. Annual average revenue per listing climbed from approximately $2,310 per month in 2017 to $4,323 in 2025, an 87% increase over eight years. The 2026 partial-year figure of $3,606 reflects the winter and shoulder months only.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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East Glacier Park’s average booking lead time of 50.4 days means guests typically plan approximately seven weeks in advance. This is consistent with the national-park gateway market pattern, where visitors reserve accommodations around park entry permits and peak-season availability constraints. Glacier National Park requires advance timed-entry reservations for Going-to-the-Sun Road during peak season, which likely drives STR bookings earlier as visitors coordinate lodging around permit windows. The average length of stay is 3.9 nights, suggesting a mix of multi-night park itineraries rather than single overnight stops. This is manageable for operators but shorter than traditional vacation-cabin markets. The 50-day lead time gives operators a solid window to hold peak-summer rates firm through June and early July, when last-minute availability in a gateway market is essentially nonexistent. Dynamic pricing tools that begin rate optimization 45 to 60 days out align well with this booking window.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
East Glacier Park has no local short-term rental ordinance. It is an unincorporated census-designated place with no municipal government, located within Glacier County and on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Montana does not impose a statewide STR licensing requirement. The primary compliance obligation is Montana lodging tax: an 8% combined rate on stays under 30 days (4% Lodging Facility Use Tax plus 4% Lodging Sales Tax) collected and remitted to the Montana Department of Revenue. Platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO are required to collect and remit these taxes on facilitated bookings. There is no documented local STR permit requirement, no owner-occupancy rule, and no cap on rental nights. A 2025 Montana law reclassified short-term rentals for property-tax purposes, raising property-tax rates on STRs statewide relative to primary residences and long-term rentals. Investors should factor this into operating cost projections. An important nuance applies to this specific location: because East Glacier Park sits on the Blackfeet Reservation, parcels on tribal or trust land may be subject to Blackfeet Nation jurisdiction in addition to or instead of county and state rules. Glacier County’s planning authority over unincorporated land is limited. Operators should confirm land tenure (fee simple versus tribal or trust land) and contact Glacier County Planning and, where applicable, the Blackfeet Tribe before operating.
Market Comparison
East Glacier Park’s 34.6% April occupancy is below the US STR median of 55%, but April is the local off-season; peak July at 77.0% exceeds the national median significantly. The $227 ADR in April is above the US median of approximately $220, and July’s average ADR of $333 places the market well above national norms for that month. The revenue growth score of 80.7 reflects consistent annual revenue expansion since 2017. On the operator side, Stay Montana leads with 165 listings and a 4.73 average rating across 2,400 reviews, positioning it as the largest local management company in this market. Evolve manages 131 listings with a 4.82 rating across 6,513 reviews, Vacasa holds 122 listings at a 4.57 rating, Whitefish Mountain Resort Lodging manages 118 listings at 4.65, and Natural Retreats manages 108 listings at a 4.82 rating. The top five operators collectively manage 644 listings, approximately 11% of the 5,644-listing market. The presence of both national (Evolve, Vacasa, Natural Retreats) and regional (Stay Montana, Whitefish Mountain Resort Lodging) managers reflects the market’s status as a recognized Glacier National Park gateway.
Frequently Asked Questions About East Glacier Park, Montana
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