Kalispell, Montana Short-Term Rental Market
Kalispell caps short-term rentals at 2% of homes; Flathead Valley ADR $350, 61.7% occupancy, $5,791 monthly revenue, September 2026.
Quick Answer: Kalispell, 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 Kalispell. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Kalispell.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Kalispell is the commercial hub of Montana’s Flathead Valley and a primary gateway to Glacier National Park, about 31 miles away. The performance figures in this profile describe the Flathead Valley STR market rather than the city alone. As of 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 rentals averaged $356 per night.
Year over year, the trend is strong. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 9.1%, ADR rose 10.4%, and monthly revenue rose 12.2%. The annual figures agree. 2025 closed with 51.2% occupancy, a $322 ADR and $4,308 in average monthly revenue, while the first nine months of 2026 show 56.0% occupancy, a $361 ADR and $5,223 in average monthly revenue. That year-to-date figure is already above every full year in the series, including the $4,308 of 2025 and the $2,310 of 2017.
Demand is anchored by tourism. Discover Kalispell reports roughly 1.9 million visitors a year, and about 82% of them also visit Glacier National Park. Visitors skew toward leisure travelers over age 45, with an average group size of 2.3 people. The largest feeder markets are in-state cities such as Missoula, Bozeman and Helena, plus Washington, California, Oregon and Idaho. Canadian travel fell sharply in 2025, with card spending down about 36% through November, yet domestic spending grew about 3.5% to roughly $226 million. Kalispell itself has 31,296 residents.
Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Kalispell, so this profile omits them. Regulation also shapes the market. The city caps short-term rentals at 2% of homes in residential zones, which limits new supply and is covered in the regulatory section below.
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 Kalispell 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 Kalispell, so these counts are not Kalispell-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 Kalispell?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Kalispell 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 (Kalispell)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Kalispell 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 Kalispell — 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
Kalispell allows short-term rentals (stays under 30 days) inside city limits but regulates them. The City Council adopted the rules in 2016, effective December 5, 2016. Operators need an administrative conditional use permit for a Short-Term Residential Rental, a building department safety inspection with county health department review, and a Montana public accommodation license from the state. The permit renews annually, and the permit fee is not published in the available data.
The central restriction is a cap. Short-term rentals may not exceed 2% of all homes in residential zones, roughly 200 citywide. Rentals are allowed in all zones, but the rules are tightest in the low-density R-1 and R-2 residential zones. Commercial and mixed-use zones are more permissive, though parking, noise and occupancy rules still apply. Permit applications trigger notice to property owners within 150 feet, with a public comment opportunity, and owners must confirm that no private covenants prohibit short-term rentals.
Kalispell does not require owner occupancy or a primary residence, and no annual night cap is published. Montana levies an 8% lodging tax on short stays. Enforcement severity is rated moderate and runs through the planning and building departments and permit conditions.
Starting in 2026, Montana taxes short-term rental properties at a flat rate of about 1.90%, higher than owner-occupied and long-term residential rates, which raises holding costs for investors. Confirm current requirements with the city before buying.
Market Comparison
Growth in the Flathead Valley STR market is strong as of September 2026. Revenue rose 12.2% year over year, with ADR up 10.4% and occupancy up 9.1%. The ADR has climbed from $204 in 2017 to $361 so far in 2026. The professionally managed tier at $437 and the luxury tier at $549 sit well above the $350 all-listings ADR.
The comparison has limits. Seasonality is sharp, with occupancy as low as 32.6% in November and as high as 77.0% in July. The annual picture is therefore weaker than a September snapshot suggests. Occupancy for 2026 so far is 56.0%, below the 61.7% of September 2026.
Top operator rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Kalispell, so this profile omits them. Buyers should also weigh the 2% residential zone cap, which restricts supply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kalispell, Montana
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