Gatlinburg, Tennessee Short-Term Rental Market
Gatlinburg area STRs averaged $326 ADR, 55.6% occupancy and $5,113 monthly revenue in September 2026
Quick Answer: Gatlinburg, Tennessee is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge market area is 56%. average monthly revenue in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge market area is $5,113. average daily rate in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge market area is $326. the top operator in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge market area is Vacasa with 556 listings. market score is 81/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge regional market, which includes Gatlinburg. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Gatlinburg.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area STR market, the cluster of short-term rentals around the main entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The performance figures below describe that shared area rather than Gatlinburg alone, because the two towns are tracked as one data series. As of September 2026, the average daily rate (ADR) stood at $326 and occupancy at 55.6%. Average monthly revenue per listing was $5,113. Entire-place rentals averaged $5,118 per month, while houses reached $5,511 and apartments $2,647.
Year over year, the September 2026 figures show occupancy up 10.8%, ADR up 1.2% and revenue up 12.7%. That recovery follows a soft stretch: annual occupancy fell from 67.4% in 2021 to 56.9% in 2025, and the 2026 year to date reading across nine months is 54.3% occupancy at a $342 ADR and $5,360 in monthly revenue. Rates have held up better than occupancy, with ADR rising from $308 in 2021 to $342 in 2026.
Demand rests on the park itself. Great Smoky Mountains National Park recorded about 12.2 million recreational visitors in 2024, and June through October each average more than one million visits. Gatlinburg has a permanent population of roughly 3,663 people, so the ratio of visitors to residents is among the highest in the country. Sevier County alone has more than 6,500 permitted STR units, which makes this a deep but competitive market.
Bedroom, booking channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Gatlinburg, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 36% |
| Feb | 41% |
| Mar | 61% |
| Apr | 54% |
| May | 54% |
| Jun | 74% |
| Jul | 75% |
| Aug | 60% |
| Sep | 57% |
| Oct | 71% |
| Nov | 61% |
| Dec | 60% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Gatlinburg are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge market as a whole, which includes Gatlinburg, so these counts are not Gatlinburg-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 556 | 42,813 | ★ 4.43 |
| 2 | Cabins for You | 461 | 14,860 | ★ 4.33 |
| 3 | Avada | 424 | 33,056 | ★ 4.72 |
| 4 | American Patriot Getaways | 423 | 2,515 | ★ 4.50 |
| 5 | Evolve | 371 | 34,055 | ★ 4.56 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Gatlinburg?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Gatlinburg 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 | 15.3% |
| vrbo | 10.1% |
| both | 74.5% |
Home Value Trends (Gatlinburg)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Gatlinburg 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 Gatlinburg — 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 Gatlinburg, and a permit is required. Any stay under 30 consecutive days within city limits needs a Tourist Residency Permit from the City of Gatlinburg. The fee is $200 for a unit with two bedrooms or fewer, plus $75 for each additional bedroom, and it renews annually at the same cost. Properties in unincorporated Sevier County instead need a Sevier County STRU Permit, which began January 1, 2024, and carries a $250 base fee and an annual fire inspection.
All city permits require a fire and safety inspection before issuance and every year after. Inspections cover smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, escape routes and electrical safety. Properties above three stories, 5,000 square feet or 12 occupants must have an approved sprinkler system. Operators also need a City of Gatlinburg Business License ($15), a Sevier County Business License ($15) and a registration with the Tennessee Department of Revenue.
The combined occupancy tax is 12.75% inside city limits. Airbnb collects the state and county portion, while hosts must remit the 3% city lodging tax themselves. VRBO hosts collect and remit all taxes. Since July 1, 2025, Tennessee law applies local occupancy tax to the first 30 days of any stay, even longer bookings.
There is no owner-occupancy requirement and no primary-residence requirement. Zoning is the main gate: STRs are prohibited in R-1A and R-2A zones and allowed in R-1, R-2, R-3 and commercial zones. Properties used as STRs that are not the owner’s principal residence are assessed at the 40% commercial rate rather than 25%. Enforcement is rated moderate. Verify zoning with the Building and Planning Department before buying.
Market Comparison
The Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area STR market is driven by rate more than by occupancy. Occupancy was 55.6% in September 2026, with an ADR of $326.
That rate level is the main reason revenue per listing, at $5,113 per month, is attractive for a market with mid-50s occupancy. It also reflects the type of property: larger cabins and houses earn more per night than the apartment-heavy mix found in many city markets. The trade-off is seasonality. Occupancy swings from 35.8% in January to 75.1% in July.
Growth is also stronger than the long-run trend here. Occupancy is up 10.8% year over year, compared with a multi-year slide from 67.4% in 2021 to 56.9% in 2025. Supply is a factor to keep in mind, because Sevier County has more than 6,500 permitted units. Operator and portfolio data are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Gatlinburg, so this profile omits top operator names.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gatlinburg, Tennessee
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