Mcalester, Oklahoma Short-Term Rental Market
McAlester, OK STRs averaged $161/night at 45.5% occupancy in April 2026, serving Pittsburg County's festival and regional event market.
Quick Answer: Mcalester, Oklahoma is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Oklahoma Area market area is 54%. average monthly revenue in the Oklahoma Area market area is $2,775. average daily rate in the Oklahoma Area market area is $187. the top operator in the Oklahoma Area market area is Evolve with 224 listings. market score is 89/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Oklahoma Area regional market, which includes Mcalester. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Mcalester.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
McAlester, OK is the county seat of Pittsburg County in southeastern Oklahoma, with a population of 18,108. The short-term rental market covers approximately 5,946 listings in the latest snapshot, a figure that reflects the broader Pittsburg County area. The area’s visitor draw is event- and heritage-driven: the McAlester Italian Festival (Memorial Day weekend at the Pittsburg County Expo Center) is one of Oklahoma’s largest festivals, and the Hi-Lo Pro Rodeo continues the city’s long rodeo tradition.
In April 2026, the market posted an ADR of $161, occupancy of 45.5%, and RevPAR of $73.21, generating average monthly revenue of $2,010 per listing. Year-over-year, occupancy slipped 0.5 percentage points, ADR fell 1.2%, and revenue declined 2.7% compared to April 2025. The 2025 full-year average was 46.7% occupancy and $163 ADR, with revenue averaging $2,160/month. These figures are consistent with 2024’s 45.5% occupancy and $162 ADR.
Listing composition is dominated by entire-place units: 5,681 of 5,946 listings (95.5%) are entire-place, 261 (4.4%) are private rooms, and 4 are shared rooms. Bedroom distribution is balanced: one-bedroom (1,828 listings, 30.9% of 5,923 bedroom-segmented), two-bedroom (1,517, 25.6%), three-bedroom (1,704, 28.8%), four-bedroom (606, 10.2%), and five-or-more-bedroom (268, 4.5%). Channel distribution: 3,131 listings on Airbnb only, 379 on VRBO only, and 2,436 cross-listed on both platforms.
The market scores 88.74 overall and an investability score of 98.93 out of 100, driven by low acquisition costs relative to rental income. Rental demand scores 67.7 and seasonality 78.75 out of 100.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 35% |
| Feb | 42% |
| Mar | 50% |
| Apr | 44% |
| May | 50% |
| Jun | 55% |
| Jul | 56% |
| Aug | 46% |
| Sep | 43% |
| Oct | 46% |
| Nov | 45% |
| Dec | 40% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Mcalester are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Oklahoma Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Oklahoma Area market as a whole, which includes Mcalester, so these counts are not Mcalester-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 224 | 8,318 | ★ 4.79 |
| 2 | LakeStay Vacation | 90 | 2,156 | ★ 4.87 |
| 3 | Stevens realty | 50 | 1,625 | ★ 4.09 |
| 4 | Ryan Busse | 40 | 1,107 | ★ 4.76 |
| 5 | Willow Springs Marina and Resort | 39 | 1,806 | ★ 4.81 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Mcalester?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Mcalester 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 | 52.7% |
| vrbo | 6.4% |
| both | 41% |
Home Value Trends (Mcalester)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Mcalester 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 Mcalester — 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
McAlester, OK has no identified short-term rental-specific ordinance as of mid-2026. Oklahoma does not impose a statewide STR license requirement, and McAlester has not established dedicated STR permitting or registration. In practice, STRs operate under general city business, zoning, and nuisance rules administered by the City’s Planning & Zoning Division, and are subject to any HOA or deed restrictions on individual properties.
On taxes, Oklahoma applies a 4.5% state sales tax to lodging, which Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit for platform bookings. McAlester levies a local hotel/motel lodging tax reported at 6.0% as of 2020. A proposal to raise the rate to 8% was advanced toward a public vote, but the final election outcome was not confirmed in available sources. Investors should verify the current local rate directly with the Oklahoma Tax Commission and the McAlester City Clerk before listing.
No max-nights cap, owner-occupancy requirement, or primary-residence requirement was found. Enforcement is rated minimal. No permit cost data is published for the city.
Investors should confirm current requirements directly with the City of McAlester Planning & Zoning Division and review any HOA covenants before purchasing. The absence of a formal STR ordinance means regulatory risk is lower than in many urban markets, though local posture can change with city council action.
Market Comparison
McAlester’s April 2026 occupancy of 45.5% falls below the approximate U.S. STR median of 55%, reflecting the event- and season-driven character of a small regional market in southeastern Oklahoma. ADR at $161 is below the U.S. STR median of approximately $220, consistent with a rural drive-market city with lower accommodation costs.
RevPAR at $73.21 is below the baseline implied by U.S. median occupancy and local ADR: at 55% occupancy and $161 ADR, implied RevPAR would be $88.55. McAlester’s lower occupancy (45.5%) accounts for the gap. The offset is the area’s low acquisition cost: at $154,370 typical home value, the gross yield at current revenue levels is approximately 15.6%.
The overall market score of 88.74 and investability of 98.93 are notably high, driven by favorable cost-to-income ratios rather than occupancy or volume leadership. Revenue growth scores 69.9 out of 100.
Among active property managers, Evolve leads with 224 listings and 8,318 reviews (rating 4.79). LakeStay Vacation holds 90 listings with 2,156 reviews (rating 4.87). Stevens Realty manages 50 listings (1,625 reviews, 4.09 rating). Ryan Busse operates 40 listings (1,107 reviews, 4.76 rating). Willow Springs Marina and Resort holds 39 listings (1,806 reviews, 4.81 rating). The top five together account for 443 of approximately 5,946 tracked listings (7.4%), indicating a market largely driven by independent operators.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mcalester, Oklahoma
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