Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania Short-Term Rental Market
Lake Ariel, PA STRs averaged $346/night at 36.0% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue up 5.2% year over year.
Quick Answer: Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Pocono Mtns market area is 47%. average monthly revenue in the Pocono Mtns market area is $5,233. average daily rate in the Pocono Mtns market area is $428. the top operator in the Pocono Mtns market area is Evolve with 516 listings. market score is 86/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Pocono Mtns regional market, which includes Lake Ariel. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lake Ariel.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Lake Ariel is an unincorporated lakeside community in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, within the Pocono Mountains region. It sits adjacent to Lake Wallenpaupack, Pennsylvania’s largest lake at 5,700 acres, and draws primarily drive-market visitors from the New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia metro areas for lake recreation, hiking, and four-season cabin getaways. The broader Pocono Mountains region draws approximately 28 to 30 million visitors annually and recorded roughly $7.2 billion in visitor spending in 2024. The ZIP 18436 area population is approximately 13,225.
In April 2026, STRs averaged $345.58 per night (ADR) at 36.0% occupancy, generating average monthly revenue of $3,482 per listing. RevPAR came in at $124.55. Year over year, occupancy declined 2.70 percentage points while ADR rose 2.70% and revenue improved 5.20%, reflecting a pattern where higher per-night rates partially offset softer occupancy.
Entire-place rentals dominate at approximately 98.0% of listings, with private rooms at 2.0%. Three-bedroom properties are the most common at 40.1% of the bedroom mix, followed by four-bedroom (21.5%), five-bedroom-plus (19.0%), two-bedroom (12.5%), and one-bedroom (6.9%), a profile consistent with a group-cabin and extended-stay destination. Dual-platform listings (both Airbnb and VRBO) account for 62.3%, with Airbnb-only at 30.4% and VRBO-only at 7.3%.
Market scores are high: total score 85.7, investability at 99.4 (highest in this batch), and revenue growth at 95.6. Rental demand at 44.8 is lower, reflecting the market’s limited off-peak visitation and sharp seasonal concentration. The regulation score of 66.1 reflects an active township permit framework introduced in 2023.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 35% |
| Feb | 41% |
| Mar | 28% |
| Apr | 37% |
| May | 38% |
| Jun | 48% |
| Jul | 61% |
| Aug | 63% |
| Sep | 33% |
| Oct | 38% |
| Nov | 37% |
| Dec | 42% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Lake Ariel are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Pocono Mtns market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Pocono Mtns market as a whole, which includes Lake Ariel, so these counts are not Lake Ariel-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 516 | 21,759 | ★ 4.56 |
| 2 | Pocono Rental Management | 123 | 5,740 | ★ 4.64 |
| 3 | LiveFree Hospitality | 96 | 7,069 | ★ 4.78 |
| 4 | Vacasa | 85 | 2,357 | ★ 4.39 |
| 5 | Techvestor | 75 | 6,155 | ★ 4.69 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lake Ariel?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Lake Ariel 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 | 30.4% |
| vrbo | 7.3% |
| both | 62.3% |
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Lake Ariel — 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 legal in the Lake Ariel area but actively regulated. Lake Ariel falls primarily within Lake Township, Wayne County, which adopted STR Ordinance 2023-001 (Chapter 340) in March 2023, the first dedicated STR framework for the township. Operators in the Salem Township portion of the area must verify those rules separately. Private HOA or POA bylaws, which are common in Lake Ariel’s many lake communities, may impose additional restrictions beyond township requirements.
Operators must obtain two separate approvals: a Short-Term Rental and Land Use Permit from Lake Township, and a separate STR license administered by Preferred Management Associates. The combined startup cost is approximately $1,250 or more, including a $400 application fee, a $150 annual STR permit fee, a $100 sewage-enforcement verification, a $150 change-of-use permit (where applicable), and a $600 STR license fee. The annual renewal cost is approximately $150 per year for the township STR permit.
Key operating requirements include at least $500,000 in general liability insurance naming the township, a 24/7 local contact within 30 miles who can respond within one hour, a pre-license safety inspection, and a maximum occupancy of two persons per bedroom tied to septic capacity. Operators must post a 911 address sign and house rules.
On taxes, the combined hotel tax obligation is approximately 9%: 6% Pennsylvania state hotel occupancy tax and 3% Wayne County room rental excise tax. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement was identified. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Lake Ariel’s April 2026 occupancy of 36.0% is well below the US STR median of approximately 55%, reflecting a low-demand shoulder month in a sharply seasonal Pocono Mountains lake market. However, its all-listings ADR of $345.58 substantially exceeds the US median of approximately $220, demonstrating that per-night rates are premium even when occupancy is low. RevPAR of $124.55 reflects the trade-off between high rates and limited shoulder-season demand.
Evolve leads the Lake Ariel operator landscape with 516 listings and 21,759 reviews at a 4.557 average rating. Pocono Rental Management holds 123 listings with 5,740 reviews at 4.638. LiveFree Hospitality manages 96 listings and 7,069 reviews at 4.782, the highest rating among the top five. Vacasa holds 85 listings with 2,357 reviews at 4.385. Techvestor manages 75 listings with 6,155 reviews at 4.691.
The market’s exceptional investability score of 99.4 and revenue growth score of 95.6 are standout metrics. The rental demand score of 44.8 is the lowest among the five markets in this batch, which is consistent with a sharply seasonal market that does not sustain steady demand year-round. Investors should plan for high summer revenue offset by meaningful operating costs and low-occupancy winter months.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania
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