Bristol, Tennessee Short-Term Rental Market
Bristol, TN short-term rentals averaged $165/night at 49.6% occupancy in April 2026 across 12,510 active listings.
Quick Answer: Bristol, Tennessee is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 56%. average monthly revenue is $3,325. average daily rate is $218. the top operator is Evolve with 408 listings. market score is 73/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Tennessee Area regional market, which includes Bristol. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bristol.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bristol, Tennessee operates one of the larger short-term rental markets in the Tri-Cities region, driven by its dual identity as a NASCAR motorsports destination and the Birthplace of Country Music. As of April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $164.53 and occupancy of 49.6%, producing a RevPAR of $81.57. Year-over-year, occupancy improved by 0.87 percentage points, ADR grew 0.60%, and revenue rose 2.26%, reflecting modest but steady growth.
The market holds approximately 12,510 active listings across distribution channels: 5,688 listed on Airbnb only, 1,170 on VRBO only, and 5,652 on both platforms. Entire-place listings dominate at 11,881 units (94.9%), with private rooms accounting for 612 and shared rooms just 17. By bedroom count, 1-bedroom units are the largest segment at 4,078, followed by 2-bedrooms (3,352), 3-bedrooms (3,027), 4-bedrooms (1,217), and 5-bedroom-plus properties (807). The market’s overall score is 73.1 out of 100, with an investability sub-score of 92.8, one of the strongest components.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | $132 | $1,477 |
| Feb | 45% | $130 | $1,462 |
| Mar | 53% | $147 | $2,014 |
| Apr | 49% | $152 | $2,015 |
| May | 52% | $169 | $2,243 |
| Jun | 59% | $203 | $3,156 |
| Jul | 61% | $204 | $3,446 |
| Aug | 51% | $189 | $2,654 |
| Sep | 46% | $171 | $2,178 |
| Oct | 53% | $164 | $2,461 |
| Nov | 47% | $159 | $2,040 |
| Dec | 45% | $157 | $2,042 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Bristol
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 408 | 14,027 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 106 | 2,376 | ★ 4.59 |
| 3 | Byers & Harvey | 74 | 2,303 | ★ 4.85 |
| 4 | RedAwning | 64 | 848 | ★ 4.62 |
| 5 | RETREAT VACATIONS | 62 | 3,050 | ★ 4.82 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bristol?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 4,078 |
| 2 bed | 3,352 |
| 3 bed | 3,027 |
| 4 bed | 1,217 |
| 5 bed | 807 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $222 |
| Luxury | $371 |
| Professionally Managed | $285 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,057 |
| Entire Place | $3,411 |
| House | $3,732 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 45.5% |
| vrbo | 9.4% |
| both | 45.2% |
Investment Analysis
Bristol’s STR market shows a consistent revenue base, with the average listing generating $2,239 per month as of April 2026. Entire-place properties outperform the blended average at $2,291/month, while houses lead at $2,408/month. Apartments lag at $1,806/month. Professionally managed properties command a meaningful premium: the ADR for professionally managed listings is $202.75, versus $164.53 for all listings and $167.72 for entire-home properties generally. The luxury tier ADR is $278.62, indicating a high-end segment exists within the market.
No Zillow housing data is available for this area at the time of this report, so a home-value-based yield calculation cannot be provided. Investors should obtain current purchase price estimates independently. The market’s investability score of 92.8 out of 100 reflects strong underlying demand signals. Revenue has trended upward from an annual average of $2,376/month in 2023 to $2,429/month in 2024 and $2,466/month across 2025, suggesting gradual appreciation in operator returns.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Bristol STR guests book an average of 42.2 days in advance and stay an average of 3.96 nights. The 42-day lead time gives operators a meaningful window to implement dynamic pricing adjustments before check-in, particularly important around high-demand race weekends when last-minute demand spikes can support rate increases. A nearly 4-night average stay suggests a mix of weekend-plus extensions and short midweek stays rather than purely 2-night weekends.
For operators, a 4-night average stay also reduces turnover costs relative to pure weekend-only markets. Pricing strategies that incentivize 4- to 5-night stays around race events can improve both revenue and operational efficiency. Operators should set minimum stays of 2 to 3 nights for peak race weekends to avoid single-night bookings that leave gap nights unsellable.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Bristol, TN does not maintain a dedicated short-term rental ordinance. STRs are permitted and regulated through the city’s general business licensing framework, zoning code, and tax rules. Operators must obtain a business license from both the City of Bristol (initial cost: $15) and Sullivan County, and both licenses must be renewed annually. Tennessee’s tiered business-tax structure applies based on gross receipts.
Hosts must register with the Tennessee Department of Revenue and collect state sales tax (7%) plus Sullivan County local sales tax (2.25%). The City of Bristol imposes a 5% occupancy tax on lodging charges. Effective July 1, 2025, Sullivan County began collecting an additional county hotel and motel occupancy tax; this tax by statute defines the term to include short-term rental units and applies to the first 30 days of occupancy.
There is no published cap on nights per year, no owner-occupancy requirement, and no primary-residence requirement. STRs must comply with the property’s underlying zoning designation, parking standards, occupancy limits, and the city noise ordinance. Enforcement is characterized as minimal, consistent with the absence of a dedicated STR enforcement program. Tennessee’s Short-Term Rental Unit Act (T.C.A. 13-7-602) limits how aggressively localities can restrict existing or grandfathered STR use.
Market Comparison
The U.S. STR median occupancy is approximately 55%, placing Bristol’s 49.6% occupancy about 5 percentage points below the national median. Bristol’s ADR of $164.53 is below the U.S. median of approximately $220, consistent with its position as a regional drive-market destination rather than a coastal or ski resort market. The RevPAR of $81.57 reflects the combined effect of below-median occupancy and ADR.
The professional management landscape is led by Evolve with 408 listings and 14,027 reviews at a 4.73 average rating, making it the dominant operator by both scale and review volume. Vacasa holds 106 listings with a 4.59 rating. Byers and Harvey, a regional operator, manages 74 listings with the highest rating among the top five at 4.85. The top three operators together account for 588 listings, approximately 4.7% of the estimated active listing pool. The market’s investability score of 92.8 places it among the more attractive markets in the region by that measure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bristol, Tennessee
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