Lakeside, Montana Short-Term Rental Market
Lakeside, MT STRs averaged $227/night in April 2026, with July peak occupancy at 77.0% and $6,457 average monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Lakeside, Montana is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Flathead Valley/Glacier Natl Park market area is 73%. average monthly revenue in the Flathead Valley/Glacier Natl Park market area is $6,127. average daily rate in the Flathead Valley/Glacier Natl Park market area is $380. 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 Lakeside. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lakeside.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Lakeside, MT short-term rental market covers this small unincorporated community on the western shore of Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States. Lakeside sits approximately 14 miles south of Kalispell on US-93 and benefits from proximity to Glacier National Park (~30 miles north), which recorded 3.2 million or more visitors in 2024, the second-highest count on record. Flathead County, where Lakeside is located, led Montana with approximately $850 million in annual nonresident spending in the 2023-2024 tourism report.
In April 2026, the average daily rate across all active listings was $227, with occupancy at 34.6% for that shoulder month and revenue per available rental (RevPAR) at $79. Year-over-year through April 2026, occupancy rose 5.2% compared with April 2025, ADR gained 7.0%, and monthly revenue per listing declined 4.6%, consistent with supply growth diluting per-listing averages as ADR and occupancy improved.
Approximately 5,644 active listings are tracked in the market. Entire-place units dominate at 5,451, with 192 private rooms and 1 shared room. One-bedroom properties are the largest segment (2,106 listings), followed by two-bedroom (1,455), three-bedroom (1,120), four-bedroom (603), and five-or-more-bedroom (353) units. On the channel front, 3,073 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 1,879 are Airbnb-only, and 692 are VRBO-only.
The StaySTRA scorecard rates Lakeside at 49.5 out of 100 overall. Revenue growth leads at 80.7, followed by regulation at 69.7, investability at 68.0, rental demand at 56.9, and seasonality at 44.7. The 2025 annual average occupancy was 51.4% and ADR was $322.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $286 | $2,945 |
| Feb | 52% | $303 | $3,495 |
| Mar | 44% | $263 | $2,970 |
| Apr | 34% | $195 | $1,792 |
| May | 52% | $222 | $2,156 |
| Jun | 68% | $306 | $4,365 |
| Jul | 77% | $333 | $6,448 |
| Aug | 68% | $317 | $5,880 |
| Sep | 54% | $266 | $3,968 |
| Oct | 33% | $200 | $2,067 |
| Nov | 33% | $178 | $1,672 |
| Dec | 51% | $286 | $2,657 |
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 Lakeside, so these counts are not Lakeside-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 Lakeside?
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 | $386 |
| Luxury | $629 |
| Professionally Managed | $485 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $5,696 |
| Entire Place | $6,236 |
| House | $6,786 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 33.3% |
| vrbo | 12.3% |
| both | 54.4% |
Investment Analysis
Lakeside’s revenue growth score of 80.7 out of 100 is the most notable signal for investors. The 2025 annual average ADR of $322 represents a 35% increase from the 2020 figure of $223, and the 2025 annual average revenue of $4,323/month is the highest in the market’s historical record. Year-over-year from 2024 to 2025, annual average revenue grew from $3,967 to $4,323, a 9.0% gain.
Housing data is not available for this area in the current dataset, so entry-cost yield estimates cannot be computed from available figures.
Rate tier spreads are wide. The luxury segment averaged $449/night in ADR in April 2026, nearly double the all-listing average of $227. Professionally managed listings averaged $280/night, a 23% premium over the market average. Entire-home listings averaged $232/night. House listings averaged $2,328/month in revenue, compared with $2,088 for entire-place listings broadly and $1,576 for apartment-style units.
Flathead County requires an Administrative Conditional Use Permit for STRs in the Lakeside (LS) zone, capped at no more than two STR units per tract of record. This per-parcel cap means large parcels with multiple dwelling units may face operational limits, but single-unit properties in the LS zone are fully eligible. Non-owner-occupied investment STRs are allowed.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
In April 2026, the average booking lead time for Lakeside rentals was 50.4 days, roughly seven weeks in advance. The average length of stay was 3.9 nights, at the upper end of the typical extended-weekend range, suggesting guests are treating Lakeside as a base for multi-day Flathead Lake and Glacier National Park exploration.
A 50-day lead time is above average for STR markets and indicates guests plan ahead for this destination. For peak summer months, particularly July, pricing should be finalized by mid-May to capture the advance-booking window. The February ski-season secondary peak warrants advance pricing setup by December, given that the 50-day lead time and holiday-period planning can overlap.
At 3.9 nights average stay, monthly turnover at full occupancy is approximately 7 to 8 changeovers. The steep trough in November (32.6% occupancy) suggests minimum-stay policies can be relaxed in the off-season to capture any available demand.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Lakeside falls under Flathead County Zoning Regulations (FCZR) rather than a city or town code, as it is an unincorporated community. Operating a dwelling as a short-term rental (stays under 30 days) in the Lakeside (LS) zoning district requires an Administrative Conditional Use Permit from Flathead County Planning and Zoning (FCZR Section 2.06.045) and compliance with FCZR Section 5.11 performance standards.
Performance standards include: holding a valid Montana Public Accommodations License, providing a minimum of two off-street parking spaces for rentals within a principal dwelling, restricting signage to one square foot, and mailing certified notice to all neighbors within 150 feet of the property.
A per-parcel cap applies: no more than two short-term rental units may be established per tract of record in the LS district (and several other listed zones). This is a per-parcel rule, not a district-wide cap on total STRs. Properties in unzoned county areas do not require a zoning permit. The administrative permit process can take approximately six weeks. The permit fee is not published in available data; confirm with Flathead County Planning.
There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement and no annual night cap, so non-owner-occupied investment STRs are permitted.
On taxes: Montana levies a combined 8% statewide Lodging Facility Sales and Use Tax (4% use tax plus 4% sales tax) on stays of 29 nights or fewer. Lakeside has no additional local resort tax. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Lakeside’s April 2026 occupancy of 34.6% is below the US STR median of approximately 55%, but April is the deepest spring trough for this market. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 51.4% is close to the national median, and the 2025 annual ADR of $322 is well above the US STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium Glacier Country commands.
The revenue growth score of 80.7 out of 100 reflects consistent year-over-year ADR gains: from $223 in 2020 to $322 in 2025, a 44% increase over five years. Annual revenue per listing grew from $3,967 in 2024 to $4,323 in 2025, a 9.0% gain.
On the operator side, regional specialist Stay Montana leads with 165 listings and 2,400 reviews (4.73 average rating). Evolve holds second with 131 listings and 6,513 reviews (4.82 rating), and Vacasa is third with 122 listings (4.57 rating). Resort-specific operator Whitefish Mountain Resort Lodging manages 118 listings (4.65 rating), and Natural Retreats manages 108 listings (4.82 rating). The top two positions held by Montana-specific operators (Stay Montana and Whitefish Mountain Resort Lodging) indicate that local market expertise carries real weight in this destination.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lakeside, Montana
What was the average daily rate for Lakeside, MT short-term rentals in April 2026?
When is peak STR season in Lakeside, MT?
What permits are required to operate an STR in Lakeside, MT?
What taxes apply to Lakeside, MT short-term rentals?
How does Glacier National Park affect the Lakeside STR market?
How far in advance do guests book Lakeside, MT rentals?
Who are the leading property managers in the Lakeside, MT market?
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