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 is 52%. average monthly revenue is $4,101. average daily rate is $359. the top operator 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 Apivex 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 | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $294 | $3,230 |
| Feb | 51% | $308 | $3,817 |
| Mar | 33% | $264 | $2,801 |
| Apr | 36% | $228 | $2,238 |
| May | 44% | $261 | $2,261 |
| Jun | 53% | $311 | $3,511 |
| Jul | 70% | $330 | $5,768 |
| Aug | 69% | $333 | $5,989 |
| Sep | 42% | $285 | $3,274 |
| Oct | 42% | $266 | $3,006 |
| Nov | 32% | $244 | $2,277 |
| Dec | 47% | $289 | $2,991 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Saranac Lake
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,390 |
| 2 bed | 1,502 |
| 3 bed | 1,672 |
| 4 bed | 907 |
| 5 bed | 653 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $365 |
| Luxury | $751 |
| Professionally Managed | $512 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,042 |
| Entire Place | $4,196 |
| House | $4,425 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 43% |
| vrbo | 12.2% |
| both | 44.8% |
Investment Analysis
Saranac Lake investment case is anchored by a low purchase price relative to peak summer revenue. At a typical home value of $326,373 and using the 2025 annual average revenue of $3,723 per month, the annualized revenue of $44,676 implies a gross yield of approximately 13.7%. That figure does not account for operating expenses, vacancy, or management fees; actual net yields will be lower.
Using the April 2026 shoulder-season figure of $1,956 per month alone would imply approximately 7.2% annualized, illustrating the importance of modeling the full seasonal curve rather than off-peak months.
Listing-type revenue differences are modest. Houses averaged $2,038 per month in April 2026, entire-place listings $1,981, and apartments $1,589. Luxury ADR reached $489.02 versus the market-wide $234.81. Professionally managed listings averaged $304.37, a premium of 29.6% over the all-listings ADR. The strong PM rate premium in this market suggests that curation and presentation drive real pricing power in an otherwise moderate-ADR destination.
The housing market is extremely thin: only 14 homes were listed for sale as of April 2026. No median sale price or median list price data was available for this period. The typical home value of $326,373 provides the primary entry-cost reference. The regulatory framework (primary-residence requirement for new permits, villagewide permit caps) limits supply growth, which provides a structural floor for existing permit holders.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Saranac Lake guests book an average of 40 days in advance (39.91-day lead time) and stay an average of 3.35 nights. The 40-day lead time is moderate for a domestic leisure market, consistent with Northeast drive-market travelers planning multi-night summer lake and hiking trips.
The 3.35-night average stay is somewhat longer than pure weekend markets, suggesting a mix of long-weekend and 3-to-4-night vacation bookings. This reduces turnover frequency compared to 2-night markets, which is favorable for operating costs in a remote Adirondack location where cleaning logistics can be challenging. Operators pricing for July-August peak should lock in minimum stays of 3 to 4 nights to capture longer bookings and reduce turnover exposure during the high-demand window.
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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