Little River, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Little River, SC STRs averaged 54.0% occupancy and $253/night in April 2026 across approximately 25,827 active listings in the northern Grand Strand.
Quick Answer: Little River, South Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 74%. average monthly revenue is $7,053. average daily rate is $358. the top operator 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 Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Little River, South Carolina short-term rental market is one of the largest coastal STR markets tracked, with approximately 25,827 active listings as of April 2026 in the northern Grand Strand area of Horry County near the North Carolina border. Entire-place listings dominate at 25,676 (99.4% of tracked listings), with 150 private rooms. Two-bedroom units are most common with 8,422 listings, followed by one-bedroom (7,759), three-bedroom (5,766), four-bedroom (2,079), and five-plus bedroom (1,771) units, reflecting a vacation-rental mix of condos and beach houses.
Channel distribution shows exceptional dual-listing rates. Of tracked listings, 16,597 appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 4,762 are Airbnb-only, and 4,468 are VRBO-only. The dual-listing rate of 64.3% is among the highest for any coastal market, and VRBO’s combined reach (21,065 listings) nearly matches Airbnb’s (21,359), indicating both platforms are essential for this vacation rental corridor.
In April 2026, occupancy was 54.0% and the average daily rate was $252.56, producing a RevPAR of $136.41. Year-over-year in April, occupancy fell 12.47% while ADR rose 3.42% and revenue declined 4.70%. The 2025 full-year average provides a more stable baseline: $234 ADR at 54.8% occupancy, producing approximately $3,713 in average monthly revenue per active listing.
Market scores reflect the highly seasonal beach-market character. The total score is 52.2 out of 100, with investability at 94.1, rental demand at 67.3, and revenue growth at 67.2. Seasonality scores 42.4 and regulation scores 54.7.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | $146 | $1,467 |
| Feb | 54% | $151 | $1,763 |
| Mar | 62% | $179 | $2,557 |
| Apr | 59% | $216 | $3,228 |
| May | 56% | $242 | $3,464 |
| Jun | 75% | $294 | $5,667 |
| Jul | 79% | $279 | $5,798 |
| Aug | 65% | $249 | $4,448 |
| Sep | 50% | $201 | $2,754 |
| Oct | 45% | $167 | $2,105 |
| Nov | 36% | $162 | $1,575 |
| Dec | 33% | $162 | $1,533 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Little River
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 7,759 |
| 2 bed | 8,422 |
| 3 bed | 5,766 |
| 4 bed | 2,079 |
| 5 bed | 1,771 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $359 |
| Luxury | $502 |
| Professionally Managed | $368 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $6,111 |
| Entire Place | $7,075 |
| House | $10,431 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 18.4% |
| vrbo | 17.3% |
| both | 64.3% |
Investment Analysis
Little River’s investment profile is shaped by the scale and seasonality of the Grand Strand vacation rental economy. The 2025 full-year average monthly revenue of $3,713 (annualized to $44,556) is the baseline for a typical listing. Housing snapshot data was not available in this data pull, so a gross yield calculation cannot be provided; investors should apply the $44,556 annual figure to current Horry County coastal property prices.
The investability score of 94.1 is exceptionally high for this market, signaling strong acquisition-level opportunity indicators despite moderate total market scores. This premium investability score, set against a total score of 52.2, reflects the high revenue potential relative to entry costs that is characteristic of mid-tier coastal markets.
ADR tier structure in April 2026 shows minimal spread at the mainstream level. The all-listings average was $252.56, the entire-home average was $253.15, and the professionally managed tier averaged $254.81. These figures are nearly identical, suggesting the broad market is uniformly priced. The luxury tier averaged $381.07, a 51% premium over the overall average.
Revenue by property type in April 2026 reveals the most significant differentiation. House-category listings averaged $5,239 per month, far above entire-place listings at $3,611 and apartments at $3,184. The $1,628 monthly gap between house and entire-place categories likely reflects the premium commanded by oceanfront or waterfront single-family beach houses versus the condo inventory that dominates the volume.
Revenue has grown from $1,859 per month in 2017 to $3,713 in 2025, a 100% increase over eight years. ADR has risen from $159 in 2017 to $234 in 2025.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Little River, SC guests book an average of 45.0 days in advance, with stays averaging 3.9 nights. The 45-day lead window is typical for a major beach vacation market where most guests plan one to two months ahead for summer weeks.
For operators in this market, June and July bookings dominate revenue, and those dates tend to fill in April through June. Setting peak-season rates in April for July and August dates captures most of the high-demand booking window. Last-minute availability during winter months can command discounted rates but rarely drives meaningful occupancy.
The 3.9-night average stay reflects a mix of long-weekend trips and short-week stays (Saturday-to-Saturday or Sunday-to-Sunday bookings). Week-long Saturday-to-Saturday minimums during peak summer (July 4 week, peak June and July) are standard practice among experienced operators and align with the demand pattern. A 3-night minimum during shoulder months (March through May, September through October) helps fill days between full-week blocks without excessive turnover.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Little River is an unincorporated community (CDP) in Horry County, South Carolina, with no town government. County rules govern. Horry County does not operate a dedicated short-term rental permit or registration program for unincorporated areas. Instead, operators renting transient accommodations must obtain an annual Horry County business license through the county’s Business License and Hospitality division (contact [email protected] or 843-915-5620). The business license year runs May 1 through April 30.
On taxes, operators must collect and remit the county Hospitality Fee (3% of gross proceeds for businesses outside city limits), the county local accommodations tax, and South Carolina’s statewide sales and accommodations taxes. Combined, these total approximately 12% on stays under 90 days. Rentals of 90 or more consecutive days to the same guest are exempt from accommodations taxes. Airbnb and VRBO collect many of these taxes automatically, but hosts remain responsible for the business license and must verify their parcel’s zoning district with Horry County Planning and Zoning (843-915-5340) before listing.
There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, and no annual night cap. A Horry County Council action in March 2020 that prohibited new short-term rentals in unincorporated areas was a temporary COVID-19 emergency measure and has since lapsed. It is no longer in force.
Note that Horry County’s incorporated cities (such as Myrtle Beach) have their own STR rules that do not apply to unincorporated Little River. Confirm zoning and license requirements directly with Horry County before operating. Enforcement is assessed as moderate.
Market Comparison
Little River’s 54.0% April 2026 occupancy and 54.8% 2025 annual average are near the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%. Its 2025 annual ADR of $234 exceeds the approximate U.S. median of $220, consistent with coastal South Carolina vacation rental pricing. The April 2026 revenue decline of 4.70% and occupancy decline of 12.47% year-over-year suggest the market is absorbing increased supply.
The investability score of 94.1 is among the highest in the data set for this market, signaling strong acquisition-level metrics despite the broader total score of 52.2.
The operator landscape is large and highly concentrated. The top five property managers collectively hold 4,868 listings, representing approximately 18.8% of the 25,827 total active listings. Elliott Realty leads with 1,475 listings and a 4.45 rating across 12,713 reviews. Vacasa follows with 1,447 listings and a 4.30 rating across 51,405 reviews. Big Fish Rentals holds 699 listings and a 4.40 rating across 34,813 reviews. The Litchfield Company operates 664 listings at a 4.46 rating. Evolve manages 583 listings at a 4.56 rating.
The presence of large regionally specialized operators (Elliott Realty, Big Fish Rentals, Litchfield Company) alongside national platforms (Vacasa, Evolve) reflects a mature, institutionally managed vacation rental corridor. Independent operators compete primarily on property quality and location rather than platform positioning in this market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Little River, South Carolina
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