La Follette, Tennessee Short-Term Rental Market
La Follette, TN STRs averaged $165/night at 49.6% occupancy in April 2026, anchored by Norris Lake cabin demand.
Quick Answer: La Follette, 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 La Follette. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to La Follette.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
La Follette is a small city in Campbell County, East Tennessee, operating as the primary gateway to Norris Lake, a TVA reservoir with approximately 750 miles of shoreline. Its short-term rental market is a lake-and-cabin economy driven by boating, fishing, watersports, and outdoor recreation from late spring through summer, with limited off-season demand. The city population is 7,273.
In April 2026, STRs averaged $164.53 per night (ADR) at 49.6% occupancy, producing an average monthly revenue of $2,239 per listing. RevPAR came in at $81.57. Year over year, occupancy improved 0.87 percentage points, ADR rose 0.60%, and revenue grew 2.26% compared to April 2025.
Entire-place rentals account for approximately 95.0% of all listings, with private rooms at roughly 4.9%. On bedroom mix, one-bedroom properties are the most common (32.7% of the market), followed by two-bedroom (26.9%), three-bedroom (24.3%), four-bedroom (9.8%), and five-bedroom-plus (6.5%). Distribution splits fairly evenly between Airbnb-only (45.5%), dual-platform (45.2%), and VRBO-only (9.4%).
Market scores reflect a developing market with strong investability: total score 73.1 out of 100, with investability at 92.8, but revenue growth at 58.0 and rental demand at 67.9, indicating room for demand expansion. The regulation score of 67.6 reflects Tennessee’s protective statewide STR framework.
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 La Follette
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 La Follette?
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
La Follette’s April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,239 annualizes to approximately $26,871. Against a typical home value of $229,333 (Zillow, April 2026 snapshot), the implied gross yield is approximately 11.7%, one of the higher ratios in small-market lake-cabin STR categories. Note that this calculation uses April-month revenue, which is a shoulder-season month; peak-season monthly revenue in July averaged $3,445, so actual annual totals depend heavily on seasonal performance.
The median list price in the market stood at $377,817 as of April 2026, which is substantially above the typical home value of $229,333, suggesting the active-for-sale inventory skews larger or newer than the broader stock. For sale inventory was 117 units at snapshot date.
ADR tiers show meaningful upside from operating above the market baseline. All-listings ADR was $164.53. Entire-home listings averaged $167.72. Professionally managed properties averaged $202.75, a 23.2% premium over the all-listings rate. Luxury-tier listings reached $278.62, or 69.3% above the all-listings average.
Annual average revenue has been relatively stable in recent years: $2,376 in 2023, $2,429 in 2024, and $2,466 in 2025. The modest growth trend (about 1.9% from 2024 to 2025) combined with the strong investability score of 92.8 suggests a market where the entry price may be more favorable than in established resort markets, though revenue upside is bounded by the market’s seasonal concentration.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
La Follette STR guests book an average of 42 days in advance, and stays average 3.96 nights. The 42-day lead time is moderate, meaning the primary booking window closes roughly six weeks before arrival. Operators should hold firm on rates through day 45 before arrival, then consider selective promotional adjustments for unfilled inventory.
The 3.96-night average stay is consistent with a lake-cabin market where guests typically book multi-night weekend getaways or short vacation weeks. Longer stays, particularly five-to-seven nights, reduce cleaning frequency relative to revenue and improve net margin. Operators who offer weekly or mid-week rate structures may benefit from capturing the July and June demand at higher effective ADRs.
For a seasonal market with a January low of 34.9% occupancy, last-minute discounting in off-peak months can help maintain cash flow, but operators should avoid setting a pattern of deep discounts that trains repeat guests to wait for markdowns in shoulder seasons.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
La Follette has no identified municipal short-term rental ordinance. STR operations are governed primarily by the Tennessee Short-Term Rental Unit Act, effective May 2018, which protects operators’ rights: local governments may impose reasonable permitting or application processes and enforce generally applicable laws such as noise and safety rules, but cannot prohibit short-term rentals outright. Operators who established a rental prior to any future local ordinance would receive legacy grandfather protection, which terminates on property sale or transfer, 30 continuous months of non-use, or three violations.
No owner-occupancy requirement, primary-residence requirement, or annual night cap was identified for La Follette.
On taxes, Tennessee’s 7% state sales tax applies, plus Campbell County’s approximately 2.25% local sales tax. Campbell County also has a 5% county lodging tax, but that rate applies specifically to unincorporated county areas. Properties inside La Follette city limits may fall under a different city-level lodging tax rate, which could not be independently confirmed from the city’s municipal code. Operators should verify the exact applicable lodging-tax rate directly with the city before listing. Effective May 5, 2025, Tennessee capped cumulative local lodging taxes in incorporated areas at 8%.
Large platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO generally collect and remit Tennessee state and local sales tax automatically. Enforcement is rated minimal at the city level. Investors should confirm any business-license requirements with the La Follette City Clerk.
Market Comparison
La Follette’s April 2026 occupancy of 49.6% runs below the US STR median of approximately 55%, which is typical for a shoulder-season month in a highly seasonal lake market. Its all-listings ADR of $164.53 is below the US median of approximately $220, reflecting the cabin-and-lake segment’s price point. RevPAR of $81.57 is modest, though the market’s high investability score of 92.8 signals potential for above-average returns relative to entry cost.
Evolve leads the operator landscape with 408 listings and 14,027 reviews at a 4.725 rating. Vacasa manages 106 listings with 2,376 reviews and a 4.593 rating. Byers and Harvey, a regional operator, holds 74 listings and 2,303 reviews at the highest rating of the top five at 4.854. RedAwning manages 64 listings (4.617 rating), and RETREAT VACATIONS holds 62 listings with 3,050 reviews at 4.822.
Compared to better-known Tennessee STR markets like Gatlinburg or Sevierville, La Follette offers a lower entry price point and less competitive operator landscape, which may appeal to investors seeking to differentiate on quality in a less saturated cabin market.
Frequently Asked Questions About La Follette, Tennessee
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