Bryson City, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Bryson City STRs averaged $210/night at 44.3% occupancy in April 2026, with 12,370 active listings across the Great Smoky Mountains gateway market.
Quick Answer: Bryson City, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the North Carolina Mtns market area is 51%. average monthly revenue in the North Carolina Mtns market area is $3,541. average daily rate in the North Carolina Mtns market area is $242. the top operator in the North Carolina Mtns market area is Evolve with 723 listings. market score is 70/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the North Carolina Mtns regional market, which includes Bryson City. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bryson City.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bryson City, NC is the primary western gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the commercial center of Swain County’s STR market. As of April 2026, the market supported approximately 12,370 active listings, of which 12,067 (97.5%) are entire-place rentals and 303 are private rooms. The average daily rate was $210, RevPAR was $93, and average monthly revenue per listing was $2,508. April 2026 occupancy was 44.3%, a shoulder reading ahead of the summer peak. Year-over-year, occupancy is up 3.2 percentage points, ADR edged up 0.4%, and revenue improved 5.7%. The bedroom distribution leans toward smaller properties: 1-bedroom (2,991 listings), 2-bedroom (3,814), 3-bedroom (3,371), 4-bedroom (1,418), and 5-bedroom and larger (761). Airbnb-only listings number 3,366, VRBO-only 1,461, and 7,543 are listed on both platforms. The overall market score is 70.1, with an investability score of 81.0 and a regulation score of 74.2, reflecting a permissive regulatory environment under North Carolina state law.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 32% |
| Feb | 41% |
| Mar | 47% |
| Apr | 47% |
| May | 49% |
| Jun | 61% |
| Jul | 68% |
| Aug | 56% |
| Sep | 49% |
| Oct | 61% |
| Nov | 49% |
| Dec | 46% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Bryson City are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in North Carolina Mtns market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the North Carolina Mtns market as a whole, which includes Bryson City, so these counts are not Bryson City-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 723 | 35,109 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 454 | 17,037 | ★ 4.47 |
| 3 | Yonder | 119 | 3,777 | ★ 4.71 |
| 4 | Rumbling Bald Resort | 112 | 415 | ★ 4.35 |
| 5 | Bryson City Cabin Rentals | 112 | 1,400 | ★ 4.65 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bryson City?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Bryson City 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 | 27.2% |
| vrbo | 11.8% |
| both | 61% |
Home Value Trends (Bryson City)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Bryson City 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 Bryson City — 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
Bryson City operates under a permissive STR framework shaped in part by North Carolina Session Law 2023-58 (effective July 1, 2023), which limits local governments from imposing STR-specific permits or registrations. Within Bryson City town limits, operators register their business with Bryson City Town Hall. Properties outside town limits fall under Swain County jurisdiction and register with Swain County. All operators renting more than 15 days per year must register for Swain County occupancy tax collection at 6% of gross rental receipts, filed monthly by the 20th of the following month. State sales tax of 6.75-7.5% also applies, though Airbnb and VRBO typically remit these automatically. No cap on rental nights per year. No owner-occupancy requirement and no primary-residence requirement. Enforcement is complaint-based and educational, with periodic audits of online listings. Short-term rental activity is broadly permitted across Bryson City’s zoning districts under the town’s Unified Development Ordinance.
Market Comparison
Bryson City’s April 2026 ADR of $210 is close to the US STR median of approximately $220, positioning this market as competitively priced relative to national norms. Occupancy at 44.3% in April is below the US median of approximately 55%, though the market reaches 67.9% in July. The overall market score of 70.1 and investability score of 81.0 indicate a solid but not exceptional national standing. The market is dominated by national platforms. Evolve leads with 723 listings and 35,109 reviews at a 4.76 rating. Vacasa holds 454 listings with 17,037 reviews at a 4.47 rating. Yonder manages 119 listings at a 4.71 rating. Rumbling Bald Resort has 112 listings at a 4.35 rating. Bryson City Cabin Rentals holds 112 listings at a 4.65 rating. The top 5 operators control 1,520 listings, approximately 12.3% of the 12,370-listing market, indicating a fragmented landscape with significant room for independent operators.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bryson City, North Carolina
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