Saranac Lake, New York Short-Term Rental Market
Saranac Lake STRs averaged $235 per night at 24.9% occupancy in April 2026, with summer peak months averaging over 69% occupancy and nearly $5,900 in average monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Saranac Lake, New York is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Adirondacks market area is 52%. average monthly revenue in the Adirondacks market area is $4,101. average daily rate in the Adirondacks market area is $359. the top operator in the Adirondacks market area is Evolve with 166 listings. market score is 57/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Adirondacks regional market, which includes Saranac Lake. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Saranac Lake.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Saranac Lake is a small Adirondack village in upstate New York with a permanent population of approximately 4,805, situated 9 miles northwest of Lake Placid. The STR market has approximately 6,124 active listings in the latest snapshot, with 5,887 (96.1%) being entire-place units. Private rooms account for 241 listings.
Bedroom distribution is spread fairly evenly across sizes, with 3-bedroom (1,672) and 2-bedroom (1,502) units most common, followed by 1-bedroom (1,390), 4-bedroom (907), and 5-bedroom (653). This distribution reflects the market orientation toward cabin and cottage rentals serving outdoor recreation groups.
In April 2026, the market was in its spring shoulder between ski and summer seasons: occupancy was 24.9%, the average daily rate was $234.81, and average monthly revenue was $1,956. RevPAR stood at $58.48. Year-over-year, occupancy declined 23.9 percentage points and revenue declined 13.4%, while ADR increased 4.3%. Channel distribution is more balanced than most comparable markets: 2,746 listings appear on both Airbnb and Vrbo, while 2,636 are Airbnb-only and 748 are Vrbo-only. The market investability score is 94.5 out of 100.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 39% |
| Feb | 51% |
| Mar | 33% |
| Apr | 36% |
| May | 44% |
| Jun | 53% |
| Jul | 70% |
| Aug | 69% |
| Sep | 42% |
| Oct | 42% |
| Nov | 32% |
| Dec | 47% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Saranac Lake are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Adirondacks market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Adirondacks market as a whole, which includes Saranac Lake, so these counts are not Saranac Lake-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 166 | 6,954 | ★ 4.77 |
| 2 | Adirondack By Owner | 97 | 3,146 | ★ 4.83 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 73 | 2,149 | ★ 4.58 |
| 4 | Northern Living | 66 | 2,311 | ★ 4.85 |
| 5 | Rocky Point Properties | 57 | 531 | ★ 4.82 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Saranac Lake?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Saranac Lake 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 | 43% |
| vrbo | 12.2% |
| both | 44.8% |
Home Value Trends (Saranac Lake)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Saranac Lake 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 Saranac Lake — 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
Saranac Lake regulates STRs through a dual-permit system. Every operator must hold both a Special Use Permit issued by the Village Development Board and a separate STR Permit issued by the STR Permit Administrator. Both permits expire January 31 each year; renewal applications are accepted between November 1 and January 15.
STRs fall into two categories: Hosted (the property is the owner primary residence and the owner stays overnight during the entire rental term) and Unhosted (owner is absent during the rental). All new STR permits, whether hosted or unhosted, are issued only to property owners whose primary residence is inside the Village of Saranac Lake, verified at application. This primary-residence requirement is a significant constraint for out-of-town investors seeking new permits.
The village maintains a villagewide cap on total STR permits. May 2025 amendments replaced earlier district-based caps with two villagewide caps (one for hosted, one for unhosted), with the hosted cap expected to be higher. A 200-foot density buffer prevents new STRs from being established within 200 feet of an existing or approved STR, measured from parcel boundary, with exemptions for downtown and commercial districts.
The Transient Occupancy Tax rate is 5%. No permit cost was published in the available data. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Saranac Lake April 2026 ADR of $234.81 is near the US national STR median of approximately $220, though this reflects a shoulder-season data point; peak summer ADR (July-August average: $332) is meaningfully above the national median. April 2026 occupancy of 24.9% reflects the off-peak shoulder and should not be compared directly to national averages without context.
The operator landscape is relatively small in absolute scale. Evolve leads with 166 listings (rated 4.77, 6,954 reviews). Adirondack By Owner manages 97 listings with a 4.83 rating (3,146 reviews), representing a local Adirondack specialist. Vacasa manages 73 listings rated 4.58 (2,149 reviews), and Northern Living holds 66 listings rated 4.85 (2,311 reviews). Rocky Point Properties rounds out the top five with 57 listings rated 4.82 (531 reviews).
Evolve 166-listing lead represents only 2.7% of the estimated 6,124 total market listings, indicating an extremely decentralized owner-operated market. The high investability score (94.5) combined with the supply constraints from permit caps and primary-residence requirements creates a market where existing permit holders face limited new competition.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saranac Lake, New York
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