Bryson City, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Bryson City's Western North Carolina STR market hit $240 ADR, 48.3% occupancy, $3,198 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Bryson City, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the North Carolina Mtns market area is 48%. average monthly revenue in the North Carolina Mtns market area is $3,198. average daily rate in the North Carolina Mtns market area is $240. 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
This profile covers Bryson City, North Carolina, using September 2026 data. STR performance here is tracked at a shared level for the Western North Carolina mountains region. Every performance figure below therefore describes the Western North Carolina STR market rather than Bryson City alone. In September 2026 the average daily rate was $240 and occupancy was 48.3%. Average monthly revenue per listing was $3,198. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 11.3%, ADR rose 3.4% and revenue rose 15.2%.
Entire place rentals earned an ADR of $242 and average revenue of $3,234 a month. Houses averaged $3,372 and apartments $2,341. Bedroom, booking channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Bryson City, so this profile omits them.
Bryson City itself has a population of 1,593 and works as the North Carolina gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which drew more than 12 million visitors in 2023. About 40 percent of the park lies in Swain County, and five park entrances feed traffic through the town. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad boards downtown and carries about 200,000 passengers a year. Visitors include hikers, anglers, whitewater rafters and mountain bikers, plus leisure travelers looking for a quieter option than Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Domestic visitors spent $232.01 million in Swain County in 2019, supporting over 2,300 tourism jobs.
On a yearly basis, 2026 through September shows 47.6% occupancy and a $226 ADR, against 48.4% and $221 for full-year 2025. Occupancy peaked at 60.6% in 2020 and 60.4% in 2021, and has stayed below 50% since 2024.
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
Short term rentals are permitted in Bryson City. The town Unified Development Ordinance allows them across its Downtown, Residential, Commercial, Specialty and Industrial zoning districts. Properties outside town limits fall under Swain County jurisdiction.
A registration is required. Operators inside town limits register their business with Bryson City Town Hall (828-488-3335), while properties outside town limits register with Swain County (828-488-9273). The permit type is a town business registration plus county occupancy tax registration, and it renews annually.
Operators renting more than 15 days per year must register for Swain County occupancy tax, collected at 6 percent of gross rental receipts. Filings are due monthly by the 20th of the following month, and 97 percent of collections are forwarded to the Swain County Tourism Development Authority. State sales tax of 6.75 to 7.5 percent also applies, though Airbnb and Vrbo typically remit it automatically.
There is no codified cap on rental nights per year, no owner-occupancy requirement and no primary-residence requirement. North Carolina Session Law 2023-58 (H 121), effective July 1, 2023, restricts local governments from requiring STR-specific permits or registrations, which narrows the scope of municipal STR ordinances statewide.
Enforcement severity is low. It is complaint-based and educational, with periodic checks of online listings and tax filings. Serious or repeated violations can result in fines or business license actions. Operators should carry liability insurance, install smoke and CO detectors, and keep a written lodging agreement with guests.
Market Comparison
The Western North Carolina STR market that includes Bryson City posted September 2026 occupancy of 48.3% and a $240 ADR.
The seasonal peaks tell a more favorable story. July occupancy of 67.5% and October and June occupancy of 60.6% sit well above September’s 48.3%, while January at 32.2% falls well below it. Annual averages therefore understate the strong months and overstate the weak ones.
Growth is also a point of comparison. Revenue rose 15.2% year over year in September, led by an 11.3% occupancy gain. Even so, 2026 occupancy through September is 47.6%, below the 2020 and 2021 levels above 60%.
Top operators and listing counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Bryson City, so this profile omits them. Investors comparing Bryson City with other markets should weigh the rate and strong peak months against moderate average occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bryson City, North Carolina
What is the average Airbnb rate in the Bryson City area?
What is the occupancy rate for short term rentals in Bryson City?
How much do Bryson City short term rentals earn?
When is the best time of year to rent out a property in Bryson City?
Are short term rentals legal in Bryson City, NC?
How far ahead do guests book, and how long do they stay?
What does a home cost in Bryson City?
Analyze Bryson City Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Bryson City.
Free Bryson City STR Calculator →
