Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Short-Term Rental Market
Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg STR market ran $326 ADR, 55.6% occupancy and $5,113 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Pigeon Forge, 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 Pigeon Forge. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Pigeon Forge.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg STR market. The two Sevier County towns share one tracked metric series, so every performance figure below describes the combined market rather than Pigeon Forge alone. The data month is September 2026.
In September 2026 the market averaged an ADR of $326 and occupancy of 55.6%, producing average monthly revenue of $5,113 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 10.8%, ADR rose 1.2%, and revenue rose 12.7%. Entire place listings averaged $326 per night, level with the all-listings figure, which shows how dominant whole-home rentals are. By property type, houses produced $5,511 in monthly revenue, entire places $5,118, and apartments $2,647.
The longer record shows a market that has settled after the pandemic surge. Occupancy peaked at 67.4% in 2021, then eased to 62.9% in 2022, 61.3% in 2023, 57.3% in 2024, and 56.9% in 2025. The 2026 reading across nine months is 54.3%. ADR moved the other way, from $308 in 2021 to $347 in 2024 and $342 so far in 2026. Average monthly revenue was $5,729 in 2024, $5,620 in 2025, and $5,360 for 2026 to date.
Demand rests on a large regional visitor base. Pigeon Forge draws more than 10 million visitors per year, with over 2 million overnight stays, and two-thirds of the eastern U.S. population lives within a day’s drive. Dollywood, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and The Island in Pigeon Forge anchor the visitor economy, while the city’s permanent population is about 6,375.
Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts and top operator data are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Pigeon Forge, 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 Pigeon Forge 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 Pigeon Forge, so these counts are not Pigeon Forge-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 Pigeon Forge?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Pigeon Forge 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 (Pigeon Forge)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Pigeon Forge 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 Pigeon Forge — 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 Pigeon Forge with a permit. The city requires a Short-Term Rental Unit (STRU) permit from the Community Development Office for any rental under 30 consecutive days. Three categories exist: Owner-Occupied for a primary residence (one per person), Non-Owner Occupied for owners or lessees with written owner approval, and Unoccupied for dedicated rental properties. Permits are annual and non-transferable. The STRU permit fee is not published in the sources reviewed. A state business tax license is also required, along with a $15 city business license and a $15 county business license.
Zoning is the key restriction. Properties in R-1 residential zoning may operate only if they were running an STR on or before August 13, 2018 (Ordinance No. 1065), and no new R-1 permits are issued. Commercial, tourism-designated, and mixed-use zones allow STRs without that grandfathering, and most cabins and condos sit in those zones. Buyers should confirm the zoning of any property before purchase.
Occupancy is capped at 2 guests per bed, 2 beds per room, and no more than 12 persons per property. Safety requirements include smoke alarms in all sleeping areas, carbon monoxide detectors on every habitable floor, a minimum 5-pound fire extinguisher, and posted emergency contact information.
Combined occupancy tax inside city limits is 12.25%. Sevier County launched an annual STRU Inspection Permit on January 1, 2024 for rentals outside city limits, at $250 base for properties sleeping 12 or fewer. It does not apply inside Pigeon Forge. There is no owner-occupancy requirement for the Non-Owner category. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
The Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg STR market posted a $326 ADR and 55.6% occupancy in September 2026. The pricing reflects cabin-style inventory for larger groups and strong destination demand from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Dollywood.
Occupancy momentum is strong for the latest month. Occupancy is up 10.8% year over year and revenue is up 12.7%. However, the 2026 year to date occupancy of 54.3% is below the 2021 high of 67.4%, so the market is working harder for each booking than it did during the pandemic surge.
Seasonality is sharp. The July peak of 75.1% occupancy sits far above the January trough of 35.8%. Annual averages therefore hide a wide range, and a buyer should underwrite using the monthly pattern.
The market is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Pigeon Forge, so this profile omits bedroom, channel, and top operator detail.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
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