Canyon Lake, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Canyon Lake STRs averaged $179/night at 54.4% occupancy in April 2026 across a market of 14,892 active listings.
Quick Answer: Canyon Lake, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 65%. average monthly revenue is $3,955. average daily rate is $222. the top operator is Evolve with 312 listings. market score is 59/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the San Antonio regional market, which includes Canyon Lake. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Canyon Lake.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Canyon Lake is a large short-term rental market anchored by its 8,300-acre reservoir and Guadalupe River recreation corridor between Austin and San Antonio. In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $179 and occupancy of 54.4%, generating $97.68 in RevPAR. Monthly revenue across all listing types averaged $2,752.
The market is heavily concentrated in entire-place rentals: 13,539 of approximately 14,892 tracked listings are entire-place units, with 1,342 private rooms and just 11 shared rooms. By bedroom count, 1-bedroom (4,646 listings) and 3-bedroom (4,055 listings) units are the most common configurations, followed by 2-bedroom (3,072), 4-bedroom (2,160), and 5-bedroom (939) properties.
On a year-over-year basis as of April 2026, occupancy edged up 0.95 percentage points while ADR declined 3.34% and revenue slipped 2.76%. The revenue growth market score sits at 51.3 out of 100, reflecting the modest recent softening. The overall market score is 59.3, with investability scoring notably higher at 76.1, pointing to durable entry-price dynamics relative to income potential. Airbnb dominates channel distribution, with 6,744 Airbnb-only listings and 7,131 listed on both platforms, versus 1,017 VRBO-only properties.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45% | $135 | $1,793 |
| Feb | 55% | $140 | $1,927 |
| Mar | 62% | $168 | $2,802 |
| Apr | 53% | $164 | $2,408 |
| May | 54% | $176 | $2,521 |
| Jun | 62% | $213 | $3,455 |
| Jul | 65% | $216 | $3,851 |
| Aug | 52% | $187 | $2,788 |
| Sep | 47% | $161 | $2,079 |
| Oct | 53% | $157 | $2,280 |
| Nov | 51% | $158 | $2,169 |
| Dec | 52% | $155 | $2,274 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Canyon Lake
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 312 | 13,836 | ★ 4.68 |
| 2 | Feliz Stays SA | 194 | 13,450 | ★ 4.72 |
| 3 | Landing, Inc. | 180 | 408 | ★ 4.31 |
| 4 | Vacasa | 160 | 5,325 | ★ 4.56 |
| 5 | New Braunfels Escapes | 157 | 5,662 | ★ 4.67 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Canyon Lake?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 4,646 |
| 2 bed | 3,072 |
| 3 bed | 4,055 |
| 4 bed | 2,160 |
| 5 bed | 939 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $235 |
| Luxury | $479 |
| Professionally Managed | $279 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,989 |
| Entire Place | $4,177 |
| House | $4,327 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 45.3% |
| vrbo | 6.8% |
| both | 47.9% |
Investment Analysis
Canyon Lake presents a credible case for STR investment based on the relationship between purchase price and rental income. As of April 2026, the typical home value is $397,444 (Zillow estimate), while the median sale price has run closer to $479,417. Using the average monthly revenue of $2,752 and a $397,444 entry cost, annualized gross revenue projects to approximately $33,025, implying a gross yield near 8.3% before operating costs.
Property type matters for returns. Houses ($2,960/month average) and entire-place listings ($2,897/month) consistently outperform apartments ($2,242/month). Professionally managed properties average $208/night ADR versus $179 for the overall market, a 16% premium, while luxury tier listings command $388/night.
The investability market score of 76.1 is the standout signal: the market scores meaningfully above average on this dimension even as revenue growth (51.3) and overall score (59.3) reflect current cyclical softness. Annual revenue peaked on an average basis in 2021 at $2,885/month before stabilizing in the $2,587 to $2,875 range through 2024-2025. The median days to pending of 90 days and sale-to-list ratio of 0.982 indicate a buyer’s market, meaning negotiating room exists on acquisition price.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Canyon Lake guests book an average of 32.7 days in advance as of April 2026, with an average length of stay of 4.0 nights. The combination suggests a market of planned weekend getaways and short vacation trips, with guests typically reserving about a month ahead.
For operators, a 33-day booking window means dynamic pricing updates should ideally occur at the 30-45 day mark, when demand signals are strong enough to calibrate final rates. Properties that have not filled by the 14-day mark are likely to experience last-minute discounting pressure during off-peak months.
A 4-night average stay is moderately favorable for turnover costs: it reduces cleaning frequency compared to 2-night minimums while still allowing reasonable calendar fill. Operators considering a 3-night minimum during peak summer weekends will find it well-aligned with actual guest behavior. During shoulder months, a 2-night minimum broadens demand without materially increasing operational costs.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Canyon Lake is unincorporated Comal County, and the STR regulatory environment is among the more permissive in Texas. There is no city zoning prohibition and no city operational permit requirement for properties in the unincorporated area.
The primary compliance obligation is registration with the Water Oriented Recreation District (W.O.R.D.) of Comal County. W.O.R.D. registration is free and one-time. Registered operators receive a W.O.R.D. permit number (format: WP# L1234) that must be displayed in all online listings. W.O.R.D. levies a 3% Lodging User Fee on gross short-term rental income for stays under 30 days, filed quarterly and due within 20 days after each quarter-end. The Texas state hotel occupancy tax of 6% applies in addition, bringing the combined tax burden to at least 9%. Platforms like Airbnb and VRBO may remit these taxes on behalf of operators, but registration is the operator’s personal responsibility.
Comal County imposes no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement, and no maximum-nights cap. One material operational risk: the County Engineer treats commercial STR use as a change in use, and if marketed occupancy exceeds the property’s original septic (OSSF) design capacity, a commercial septic permit or upgraded system may be required.
Enforcement is complaint-driven and rated moderate. Properties physically inside City of New Braunfels limits or its ETJ face stricter rules, including a prohibition on STRs in residentially zoned areas, so buyers should verify jurisdiction at the parcel level.
Market Comparison
Against national STR benchmarks, Canyon Lake’s 54.4% occupancy in April 2026 is close to the U.S. median of approximately 55%, while the $179 ADR trails the national median of roughly $220. This gap reflects the leisure-drive market profile: Canyon Lake draws regional visitors rather than destination travelers willing to pay the rates seen in established resort markets.
The market’s investability score of 76.1 compares favorably against most domestic lake markets, where the combination of low regulatory friction and high property demand from outdoor recreation anchors return potential.
Professional management is well-represented. Evolve leads with 312 listings and 13,836 reviews (4.68 average rating). Feliz Stays SA operates 194 listings with 13,450 reviews and a 4.72 rating, the highest among the top operators. Vacasa holds 160 listings (4.56 rating) and New Braunfels Escapes manages 157 listings (4.67 rating). The top 5 operators collectively manage 1,003 listings, approximately 6.7% of the total market, indicating that while professional management is present, independent operators still dominate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Canyon Lake, Texas
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