Amarillo, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Amarillo STRs averaged $147/night at 68.7% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue up 18.5% year-over-year on Route 66 Centennial demand.
Quick Answer: Amarillo, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 69%. average monthly revenue is $2,599. average daily rate is $147. the top operator is My Royal Estates with 32 listings. market score is 100/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Amarillo, Texas short-term rental market contains approximately 988 active listings, a smaller inventory base compared to resort markets but serving consistent demand from Route 66 travelers, Palo Duro Canyon visitors, and Texas Panhandle regional traffic. Listings are almost entirely entire-place rentals: 932 of 988 listings, with 56 private rooms. The bedroom mix is balanced: 3-bedroom units lead at 316 listings, followed closely by 1-bedroom (307) and 2-bedroom (237), with 4-bedroom (97) and 5-bedroom (31) rounding out the inventory.
As of April 2026, average daily rate is $146.96 and occupancy is 68.7%, producing RevPAR of $100.93. Year-over-year growth is among the strongest of any market tracked: occupancy rose 19.1 percentage points, ADR gained 3.9%, and revenue increased 18.5%. The 2026 Route 66 Centennial (June 2026) is a documented driver of this surge, with Amarillo drawing national attention as a marquee stop on the historic highway’s 100th anniversary.
The channel distribution strongly favors Airbnb: 588 Airbnb-only listings, 367 on both platforms, and only 33 VRBO-only. The overall market score of 99.77 is near-perfect, with rental demand (94.6), revenue growth (96.4), and seasonality (95.7) all scoring exceptionally.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49% | $108 | $1,562 |
| Feb | 56% | $109 | $1,546 |
| Mar | 67% | $128 | $2,267 |
| Apr | 60% | $124 | $1,967 |
| May | 64% | $126 | $2,045 |
| Jun | 73% | $132 | $2,495 |
| Jul | 69% | $128 | $2,318 |
| Aug | 62% | $119 | $2,050 |
| Sep | 59% | $120 | $1,875 |
| Oct | 61% | $126 | $2,082 |
| Nov | 61% | $127 | $2,044 |
| Dec | 58% | $124 | $2,010 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Amarillo
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | My Royal Estates | 32 | 1,119 | ★ 4.81 |
| 2 | Big Texan Airbnb | 17 | 2,506 | ★ 4.67 |
| 3 | Doves Rest Cabins | 17 | 1,922 | ★ 4.99 |
| 4 | Evolve | 14 | 1,015 | ★ 4.90 |
| 5 | Llano Real Estate Group | 8 | 878 | ★ 4.63 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Amarillo?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 307 |
| 2 bed | 237 |
| 3 bed | 316 |
| 4 bed | 97 |
| 5 bed | 31 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $150 |
| Luxury | $293 |
| Professionally Managed | $306 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,515 |
| Entire Place | $2,679 |
| House | $2,780 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 59.5% |
| vrbo | 3.3% |
| both | 37.1% |
Investment Analysis
Amarillo offers a compelling combination of very low entry costs and strong, rising revenue. The typical home value was $208,517 as of April 2026, and the median sale price was $232,333. Using the 2025 annual average monthly revenue of $2,315, annualized gross revenue is approximately $27,780, implying a gross yield near 13.3% before expenses and debt service. Against the April 2026 monthly revenue of $2,599, the annualized basis rises to approximately $31,188 and the implied yield is approximately 15.0%, reflecting the current demand surge.
Houses average $2,780/month in April 2026 and entire-place listings average $2,679/month. Apartment-style units average $1,515/month. The most striking data point in the Amarillo market is the ADR tier gap: professionally managed properties average $306.44/night, more than double the all-listings average of $146.96. Luxury properties average $293.34/night. This unusually large PM premium suggests that professionally managed and luxury-tier properties in Amarillo are operating in a fundamentally different pricing segment from the typical owner-managed listing.
Revenue growth has been consistent: from $1,603/month in 2017 to $2,315 in 2025, a 44% increase over eight years. The 2026 year-to-date average through April is $2,463/month, already 6.4% ahead of the 2025 full-year average.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Guests in the Amarillo market book an average of 37.4 days in advance and stay an average of 3.72 nights. The 37-day lead time is consistent with road-trip and vacation planning, where itineraries are often finalized 4-6 weeks before departure. The 3.72-night average stay is slightly longer than a typical weekend, suggesting some guests are using Amarillo as a multi-night base for Palo Duro Canyon, Route 66 driving, or Texas Panhandle exploration.
The 2026 Route 66 Centennial (June 4-13, 2026) represents a narrow, high-demand window. Operators who have not already priced and opened June inventory should anticipate that the early-booking window for Centennial-related demand has likely already closed, given the 37-day average lead time. Last-minute availability may still attract late-planning travelers, but peak pricing should already be in place.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Amarillo requires an annual Short-Term Rental Permit from the Planning and Development Services department before listing on any platform. The permit application requires proof of ownership, detailed floor plans with room measurements, an off-street parking plan, and a certificate of liability insurance with at least $500,000 in coverage. New permits cost $200; annual renewal is $100.
All properties must pass a Building Safety inspection covering smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in sleeping areas, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, and structural code compliance. In residential zones, occupancy is capped at 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional guests. Minimum parking is 1 off-street space per bedroom, no fewer than 2 total. No commercial advertising signage is allowed; the permit number placard is the only required posting. There is no owner-occupancy requirement and no annual cap on rental nights.
The combined occupancy tax rate is 15%: 7% City of Amarillo Hotel Occupancy Tax, plus 6% Texas state HOT, plus 2% Amarillo-Potter Events Venue District tax. As of April 1, 2025, platforms like Airbnb and VRBO automatically collect and remit the 6% state portion. Hosts are responsible for the remaining 9% local and venue district portion, filed monthly through the city’s Localgov portal by the 10th of the following month. The Texas state HOT has a separate deadline of the 20th. Enforcement is largely complaint-based.
Market Comparison
Amarillo’s ADR of $147 is well below the US STR median ADR of approximately $220, positioning it as a value-oriented market for guests and a low-barrier-entry market for investors. However, occupancy at 68.7% substantially exceeds the US STR median of roughly 55%, and the RevPAR of $100.93 is competitive for the price tier. The 19.1-percentage-point occupancy gain year-over-year is among the highest in any tracked market for April 2026.
The professional management landscape is locally dominated. My Royal Estates leads with 32 listings and 1,119 reviews at a 4.81 rating. Big Texan Airbnb manages 17 listings at a 4.67 rating, and Doves Rest Cabins holds 17 listings with a near-perfect 4.99 rating. Evolve operates 14 listings at a 4.90 rating, and Llano Real Estate Group holds 8 listings at a 4.63 rating. The top 5 collectively manage 88 listings, just 8.9% of market inventory. The market is predominantly independently owned and operated, with local boutique operators dominating the managed tier.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amarillo, Texas
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Do you need a permit to run a short-term rental in Amarillo, TX?
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How does the Route 66 Centennial affect Amarillo STR demand?
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