Little River, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Little River's Grand Strand STR market posts $260 ADR, 52.1% occupancy and $3,709 monthly revenue in September 2026
Quick Answer: Little River, South Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Myrtle Beach market area is 52%. average monthly revenue in the Myrtle Beach market area is $3,709. average daily rate in the Myrtle Beach market area is $260. the top operator in the Myrtle Beach market area is Elliott Realty with 1,475 listings. market score is 52/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Myrtle Beach regional market, which includes Little River. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Little River.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Little River is an unincorporated coastal community in Horry County at the north end of the Grand Strand, just south of the North Carolina line, with a population of 11,771. Short-term rental performance here is measured at a shared regional level, so every performance figure on this page describes the Grand Strand STR market rather than Little River alone. In September 2026, the Grand Strand STR market averaged an ADR of $260 and occupancy of 52.1%, with average monthly revenue of $3,709 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 12.2%, ADR is up 9.2%, and revenue is up 12.7%. Entire-place listings averaged $261 per night, and luxury listings averaged $365. Summing the seasonal calendar gives about $36,717 in annual revenue for the Grand Strand STR market, with July the strongest month at 78.7% occupancy and January the weakest on revenue at $1,466. Year-to-date 2026 covers nine months and shows 56.3% occupancy, a $263 ADR and $4,142 in average monthly revenue, compared with $3,702 for the full year 2025. Annual occupancy held between 53.0% and 61.0% every year from 2020 through 2025. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Little River, so this profile omits them. Little River itself is a quieter waterfront draw built around its historic fishing village, Intracoastal Waterway marinas, deep-sea fishing charters and seafood restaurants. The World Famous Blue Crab Festival each May and the fall Shrimp & Jazz Festival anchor its event calendar. Visitors tend to be drive-market leisure travelers, retirees, golfers, and boating and fishing enthusiasts. Visitation is counted within the greater Myrtle Beach area, which drew about 18.2 million visitors in 2024 according to the Myrtle Beach Area CVB.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 35% |
| Feb | 54% |
| Mar | 62% |
| Apr | 59% |
| May | 56% |
| Jun | 75% |
| Jul | 79% |
| Aug | 64% |
| Sep | 50% |
| Oct | 45% |
| Nov | 36% |
| Dec | 33% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Little River are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Myrtle Beach market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Myrtle Beach market as a whole, which includes Little River, so these counts are not Little River-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elliott Realty | 1,475 | 12,713 | ★ 4.45 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 1,447 | 51,405 | ★ 4.30 |
| 3 | Big Fish Rentals | 699 | 34,813 | ★ 4.40 |
| 4 | The Litchfield Company | 664 | 960 | ★ 4.46 |
| 5 | Evolve | 583 | 21,406 | ★ 4.56 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Little River?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Little River 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 | 18.4% |
| vrbo | 17.3% |
| both | 64.3% |
Home Value Trends (Little River)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Little River 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 Little River — 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 Little River, with a licensing requirement. Little River is unincorporated, so there is no town government and Horry County rules apply. South Carolina has no statewide short-term rental law, so compliance is local. Horry County does not run a dedicated short-term rental permit for unincorporated areas, but anyone renting transient accommodations must hold an annual Horry County business license under the Hospitality and Accommodations category. The license year runs May 1 to April 30, and renewal is annual. Operators must collect and remit the county Hospitality Fee of 3% of gross proceeds for businesses outside city limits, plus the county local accommodations tax and the South Carolina sales and accommodations tax. Together these come to roughly 12% on stays under 90 days, and rentals of 90 or more consecutive days to the same guest are exempt. Airbnb and Vrbo collect many of these taxes automatically, but hosts remain responsible for the business license. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement and no annual night cap. Zoning is the main variable. Horry County zoning governs, and permissibility can depend on the parcel’s zoning district, so confirm with Horry County Planning and Zoning at 843-915-5340 before buying. A March 2020 county prohibition on new short-term rentals in unincorporated areas was a temporary COVID-19 emergency measure and has lapsed. Enforcement is rated moderate. Myrtle Beach passed a 2025 ordinance limiting conversion of short-term rentals to long-term rentals in key districts, but city rules do not apply to unincorporated Little River.
Market Comparison
The Grand Strand STR market shows a rate-led profile, with a September 2026 ADR of $260 and occupancy of 52.1%. Year-to-date 2026 occupancy is 56.3% with a $263 ADR. Growth is also ahead of flat conditions, with year-over-year gains of 12.2% in occupancy, 9.2% in ADR and 12.7% in revenue. The tradeoff is seasonality. Summer occupancy of 75.3% to 78.7% contrasts with December at 33.3% and January at 35.0%, so annual results depend on the June through August stretch. Little River offers a quieter, waterfront setting at the north end of the Grand Strand, with fishing charters, marinas and seafood restaurants, in contrast with the core beach area further south. Top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Little River, so this profile omits them. Typical home value of $323,401 is the entry point against which these returns should be judged.
Frequently Asked Questions About Little River, South Carolina
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