Port Clinton, Ohio Short-Term Rental Market
Port Clinton STRs averaged $161/night at 52.9% occupancy in April 2026, with occupancy, ADR, and revenue all up year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Port Clinton, Ohio is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 53%. average monthly revenue is $2,236. average daily rate is $161. the top operator is Evolve with 317 listings. market score is 85/100 (grade B).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Port Clinton, Ohio is the mainland gateway to the Lake Erie Islands, positioned within the Lake Erie Shores and Islands tourism region that draws an estimated 13 million visitors annually. As of April 2026, the Port Clinton STR market holds approximately 11,467 active listings, with 10,456 entire-place units, 1,007 private rooms, and 4 shared rooms. The average daily rate is $161, occupancy sits at 52.9%, and RevPAR is $85.
The bedroom distribution is diversified: 1-bedroom listings lead with 3,589, followed closely by 2-bedroom (3,334), 3-bedroom (2,830), 4-bedroom (1,091), and 5-bedroom-plus (610). Airbnb-exclusive listings total 5,903, VRBO-exclusive 956, and 4,608 properties cross-list on both platforms.
Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy improved 2.3%, ADR rose 2.3%, and revenue increased 2.7%, a consistent multi-metric improvement that reflects steady market growth. The total market score is 84.7 out of 100, with an investability score of 96.8, the highest in the current batch, indicating strong conditions for non-owner-occupied investment in this market.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40% | $125 | $1,513 |
| Feb | 48% | $129 | $1,518 |
| Mar | 51% | $132 | $1,784 |
| Apr | 51% | $141 | $1,866 |
| May | 53% | $161 | $2,143 |
| Jun | 62% | $198 | $3,205 |
| Jul | 66% | $206 | $3,736 |
| Aug | 59% | $211 | $3,484 |
| Sep | 49% | $172 | $2,318 |
| Oct | 49% | $157 | $2,198 |
| Nov | 48% | $143 | $1,902 |
| Dec | 45% | $136 | $1,753 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Port Clinton
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 317 | 10,621 | ★ 4.61 |
| 2 | Amish Country Lodging | 76 | 8,729 | ★ 4.91 |
| 3 | Island Club Home Rentals | 67 | 5,009 | ★ 4.46 |
| 4 | Ohio Shores Vacation Rentals | 61 | 4,052 | ★ 4.70 |
| 5 | Simply Better Property Management | 47 | 1,039 | ★ 4.80 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Port Clinton?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 3,589 |
| 2 bed | 3,334 |
| 3 bed | 2,830 |
| 4 bed | 1,091 |
| 5 bed | 610 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $170 |
| Luxury | $318 |
| Professionally Managed | $214 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,828 |
| Entire Place | $2,344 |
| House | $2,409 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 51.5% |
| vrbo | 8.3% |
| both | 40.2% |
Investment Analysis
Port Clinton stands out in this batch with an investability score of 96.8 out of 100, driven by the combination of a permissive regulatory environment, affordable entry costs, and consistent year-over-year revenue growth. The market explicitly permits non-owner-occupied STRs citywide with no owner-occupancy requirement.
The average listing earned $2,236 in April 2026, and annualizing April revenue projects to approximately $26,800 per year. Against a typical home value of $274,692, the gross yield implied by April-annualized revenue is approximately 9.8%, among the more attractive yield profiles in the current batch. The median list price of $388,583 is higher than the typical home value, suggesting the Zillow estimate and listing price are diverging, which is common in seasonal lake markets with a wide range of property types.
House listings averaged $2,409 per month and entire-place listings averaged $2,344. Luxury-tier properties command a $318 ADR versus the market average of $161, nearly a 2x premium. Professionally managed listings average $214 ADR, a 33% premium over the market average, indicating meaningful yield upside for well-managed properties.
Days to pending is 26, indicating active buyer demand despite 109 active listings. For investors, Port Clinton offers an accessible entry price, strong investability fundamentals, and a consistent 2% to 3% annual revenue growth trajectory since the 2022 peak.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Port Clinton bookings in April 2026 averaged a lead time of 43.9 days, just over six weeks. This reflects the drive-market nature of the Lake Erie Shores region, where visitors from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Pennsylvania typically plan weekend and week-long trips 4 to 6 weeks out.
The average length of stay is 3.9 nights, consistent with extended weekend visits and short mid-week stays. The 4-night average is longer than a pure 2-night weekend pattern, suggesting the market attracts some week-long Lake Erie vacation stays, particularly in July and August when school schedules align.
For pricing, the 44-day lead time means rates should be set no later than 6 weeks before arrival. During peak summer weekends, experienced Lake Erie operators recommend holding pricing firm 60 to 90 days out. Minimum stay requirements of 2 to 3 nights for summer weekends are common in this market.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Port Clinton enacted its short-term rental framework under Chapter 735 of the Codified Ordinances in January 2024 via Ordinance 24-23. Any residential unit rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days requires a Short-Term Rental Operating Certificate before any rental activity or advertising. The annual registration fee is $300, with the registration year running March 1 through the last day of February. Certificates are not transferable on sale; new owners must apply for a new certificate before operating.
Maximum occupancy is two guests per sleeping room plus two additional guests, printed on the certificate and required to be posted at the entrance inside the unit. Operators must designate a local responsible party able to respond to complaints, maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers, follow city trash standards, and observe noise ordinances.
The combined tax on guest stays is approximately 11.75%: 3% City of Port Clinton short-term rental transient occupancy tax, 3% Ottawa County lodging tax (filed with the County Auditor), and 5.75% Ohio state sales tax. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. STR rules apply citywide to any residential unit rented under 30 consecutive days. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Port Clinton’s 52.9% April occupancy is near the national STR median of approximately 55%, which represents a solid baseline for a seasonal lake market. The ADR of $161 is below the US median of approximately $220, consistent with Port Clinton’s positioning as an affordable Midwest vacation destination rather than a premium coastal resort.
Among the top operators, Evolve leads with 317 listings, 10,621 reviews, and a 4.61 rating, representing approximately 2.8% of the market. Amish Country Lodging holds 76 listings with 8,729 reviews at a 4.91 rating, the highest among the top five. Island Club Home Rentals manages 67 listings (4.46 rating) and Ohio Shores Vacation Rentals holds 61 listings (4.70 rating). Collectively the top five operators control 568 listings, approximately 5.0% of the market, indicating a predominantly owner-operated market with professional management playing a smaller but growing role.
The market total score of 84.7 and investability score of 96.8 place Port Clinton in the top tier nationally for accessible STR investment, with affordability, permissive regulation, and consistent demand growth all contributing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Port Clinton, Ohio
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