Polson, Montana Short-Term Rental Market
Flathead Lake and Glacier Country STR market posted $350 ADR, 61.7% occupancy and $5,791 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Polson, 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 Polson. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Polson.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Polson, Montana sits at the south end of Flathead Lake, and the performance figures on this page describe the Flathead Lake and Glacier Country STR market, a shared regional series. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Polson, so this profile omits them. The latest data month is September 2026. In that month the region’s short-term rentals averaged an ADR of $350 and occupancy of 61.7%, producing average monthly revenue of $5,791 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 9.1%, ADR is up 10.4% and revenue is up 12.2%, so growth came from both rate and demand rather than from price alone. The longer record shows how far the market has moved. Annual occupancy was 42.4% in 2017 and peaked at 57.9% in 2021, then eased to 51.0% in 2024 and 51.2% in 2025. ADR has climbed in nearly every recent year, from $257 in 2021 to $322 in 2025. Through the first nine months of 2026, occupancy is averaging 56.0%, ADR $361 and monthly revenue $5,223, against $4,309 per month for full year 2025. Summing the twelve seasonal months gives annual revenue of $41,172 for a typical listing. Polson itself has a population of 5,428 and works as a summer leisure destination. Flathead Lake, the Flathead Cherry Festival in late July and the roughly two hour drive to Glacier National Park anchor warm season demand. The market is strongly seasonal, which the seasonal section covers in detail. Investors should read these figures as a regional benchmark and not as a Polson specific guarantee, since results vary by lake access, property type and location within the region.
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 Polson 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 Polson, so these counts are not Polson-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 Polson?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Polson 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 (Polson)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Polson 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 Polson — 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 legal in and around Polson, and they are regulated at the state and county level rather than by a dedicated city STR ordinance. Any vacation rental or tourist home must be licensed as a public accommodation by the State of Montana, administered by Lake County Environmental Health, with a zoning conformance check through Lake County Planning and the City of Polson. The plan review fee is about $150, a wastewater or septic review of about $100 applies if the property is not on public sewer, and the annual public accommodation license runs roughly $40 to $250 depending on facility type. Licenses renew annually. Properties are reviewed for safe water, adequate wastewater and fire safety. Zoning is the main gate. Rentals are only allowed in permitting zoning districts and subdivisions, and some districts and subdivision covenants prohibit them, so owners must confirm with the county, and inside city limits with the City of Polson (zoning code recodified under Ordinance 2024-003), before buying or applying. Lodging is subject to Montana’s combined 8% lodging tax, made up of a 4% Lodging Facility Use Tax and a 4% Lodging Sales Tax, and Airbnb and Vrbo generally collect and remit the state portion. Polson has no local resort tax. Voters rejected proposals in 2009 and 2021, and a March 2025 council revisit of a 3% resort tax did not enact one. No owner-occupancy requirement, primary residence requirement or annual night cap was found. A 2025 Montana law raised property tax rates for short-term rentals statewide. Enforcement is rated moderate. Lake County updated its requirements overview in October 2025.
Market Comparison
The Flathead Lake and Glacier Country region performs strongly on rate and more modestly on occupancy. September 2026 occupancy was 61.7% and the ADR was $350. Year to date 2026 occupancy is 56.0% with a $361 ADR. The gap shows that this is a premium rate market rather than a high occupancy one. Annual occupancy was 51.2% in 2025, which reflects the winter and shoulder season lows of about 33% in April, October and November. The summer peak of 77.0% in July is well above it. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts and top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Polson, so this profile omits them. Investors comparing Polson with other markets should focus on ADR strength, the 12.2% revenue growth over the past year and the large swing between summer and the rest of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions About Polson, Montana
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