Afton, Oklahoma Short-Term Rental Market
Afton, Oklahoma STRs averaged $199/night at 33.1% occupancy in April 2026, anchored by Grand Lake o' the Cherokees lake recreation demand.
Quick Answer: Afton, Oklahoma is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees market area is 51%. average monthly revenue in the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees market area is $4,484. average daily rate in the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees market area is $324. the top operator in the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees market area is Evolve with 108 listings. market score is 47/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees regional market, which includes Afton. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Afton.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Afton is a small Route 66 town in Ottawa County, northeastern Oklahoma, with a population of approximately 734. Its STR market is driven primarily by recreation visitors to Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees, a 46,500-acre reservoir with over 1,300 miles of shoreline that is one of the more active bass-fishing and boating destinations in the region. A secondary visitor stream consists of Route 66 heritage travelers.
The STR inventory is nearly entirely whole-property rentals: entire-place listings account for 886 of the 893 total listings tracked. The bedroom distribution is relatively balanced, with one-bedroom (234), two-bedroom (240), and three-bedroom (216) properties each holding similar share, tapering to 111 four-bedroom and 92 five-bedroom-plus units. Cross-listed properties are the most common channel approach, with 534 listings appearing on both Airbnb and VRBO, 237 Airbnb-only, and 122 VRBO-only.
In April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $199 and occupancy of 33.1%, producing a RevPAR of $66. Year over year, occupancy increased 2.1% and ADR edged up 0.3%, while average monthly revenue dipped 2.8% compared to April 2025. The market’s investability score of 80.5 out of 100 is notably high relative to its overall score of 46.5, suggesting the data supports a favorable cost-to-revenue relationship even at modest occupancy levels.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 18% |
| Feb | 29% |
| Mar | 41% |
| Apr | 33% |
| May | 41% |
| Jun | 50% |
| Jul | 54% |
| Aug | 39% |
| Sep | 32% |
| Oct | 33% |
| Nov | 29% |
| Dec | 24% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Afton are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Grand Lake O' the Cherokees market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees market as a whole, which includes Afton, so these counts are not Afton-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 108 | 4,038 | ★ 4.75 |
| 2 | Grand Lake Vacation Rentals | 23 | 1,511 | ★ 4.94 |
| 3 | NexResorts | 10 | 20 | ★ 4.97 |
| 4 | Coastal Grand Vacations | 10 | 0 | ★ 0.00 |
| 5 | WorldMark | 10 | 39 | ★ 4.81 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Afton?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Afton 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 | 26.5% |
| vrbo | 13.7% |
| both | 59.8% |
Home Value Trends (Afton)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Afton 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 Afton — 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
Afton is a small incorporated town in Ottawa County, Oklahoma. No dedicated Afton STR ordinance, permit program, owner-occupancy rule, or nightly cap was identified in city or county records. Oklahoma has no statewide STR licensing requirement; regulation is left to individual municipalities and counties.
The primary obligation for STR operators in Afton is tax compliance. The combined sales tax rate in Afton is approximately 9.7%, comprising Oklahoma state sales tax, Ottawa County tax, and a 3.5% city rate. Short-term lodging gross receipts are subject to this combined sales tax. Airbnb and VRBO typically collect and remit Oklahoma state sales tax automatically, but operators must register with the Oklahoma Tax Commission and may owe local taxes independently.
No separate voter-approved municipal lodging or occupancy tax was confirmed specifically for Afton. Because Afton sits near Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees, properties may also be affected by Grand River Dam Authority shoreline regulations and Ottawa County zoning. Enforcement is characterized as minimal given the town’s size and the absence of a formal STR program. Investors should confirm current requirements directly with Afton Town Hall and Ottawa County before operating.
Market Comparison
The US median STR occupancy is approximately 55% and the national median ADR is approximately $220. Afton’s April 2026 occupancy of 33.1% and ADR of $199 both fall below national medians, consistent with a smaller, seasonal lake market with a more limited geographic draw than major resort destinations.
The market’s investability score of 80.5 out of 100 is the standout metric, suggesting that at current pricing levels the cost-to-revenue relationship is favorable relative to other markets. The overall score of 46.5 reflects the drag from lower rental demand (51.6) and modest revenue growth (67.4).
Among top operators, Evolve leads by a wide margin with 108 listings and 4,038 reviews at a 4.75 average rating. Grand Lake Vacation Rentals follows at 23 listings with 1,511 reviews and a 4.94 rating, the highest average rating among the top five operators. WorldMark holds 10 listings with a 4.81 average rating across 39 reviews. NexResorts manages 10 listings with a 4.97 rating, though based on only 20 reviews. The presence of Evolve as the dominant operator suggests many Afton property owners use a light-touch management model rather than full-service local management.
Frequently Asked Questions About Afton, Oklahoma
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