Damascus, Virginia Short-Term Rental Market
Damascus, VA STRs averaged $209 per night at 48.1% occupancy in April 2026, in a trail-town market of 9,396 active listings now subject to a 2024 residential-zone STR ban.
Quick Answer: Damascus, Virginia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Virginia Area market area is 54%. average monthly revenue in the Virginia Area market area is $4,228. average daily rate in the Virginia Area market area is $285. the top operator in the Virginia Area market area is Vacasa with 312 listings. market score is 68/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Virginia Area regional market, which includes Damascus. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Damascus.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Damascus, Virginia is a town of approximately 788 residents in Washington County, situated where seven nationally recognized trails converge, including the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Creeper Trail. It operates as a concentrated outdoor-recreation tourism destination rather than a general suburban lodging market.
As of April 2026, the Damascus STR market posted an average daily rate of $209 and an occupancy rate of 48.1%, generating $101 in revenue per available room. The market total score is 67.84 out of 100, with investability at 88.58, revenue growth at 68.30, and regulation at 69.77.
The supply base spans 9,396 active listings by bedroom count: 2,856 one-bedroom, 2,053 two-bedroom, 2,265 three-bedroom, 1,260 four-bedroom, and 962 five-bedroom listings. Entire-place listings dominate at 8,481, compared to 932 private-room and 3 shared-room options. Channel distribution shows 4,462 Airbnb-only listings, 3,981 on both Airbnb and VRBO, and 973 on VRBO exclusively.
Year-over-year through April 2026, occupancy declined 1.41 percentage points while average daily rate rose 3.74%. Revenue was essentially flat, up just 0.19% year-over-year. The 2025 annual average occupancy stood at 48.79% with an ADR of $223 and average monthly revenue of $3,085, compared to 48.48% occupancy, $215 ADR, and $2,941 in revenue during 2024. The longer trend shows ADR appreciation gradually compensating for occupancy levels that have drifted down from the pandemic-era peak of 58.29% in 2021.
The Virginia Creeper Trail is the primary demand driver, drawing an estimated 350,000 visitors in 2023 and generating approximately $61 million in annual economic impact per a Virginia Tech study. Hurricane Helene in September 2024 damaged approximately half the trail and reconstruction has been underway. The AT Days festival each May draws an estimated 20,000 visitors.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 35% |
| Feb | 45% |
| Mar | 49% |
| Apr | 50% |
| May | 51% |
| Jun | 58% |
| Jul | 63% |
| Aug | 59% |
| Sep | 49% |
| Oct | 50% |
| Nov | 45% |
| Dec | 40% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Damascus are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Virginia Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Virginia Area market as a whole, which includes Damascus, so these counts are not Damascus-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 312 | 10,504 | ★ 4.56 |
| 2 | Evolve | 300 | 11,552 | ★ 4.79 |
| 3 | Casago | 93 | 1,125 | ★ 4.58 |
| 4 | Lakefront Luxury | 72 | 3,462 | ★ 4.95 |
| 5 | Blue Ridge Escapes | 57 | 1,928 | ★ 4.78 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Damascus?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Damascus 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 | 47.4% |
| vrbo | 10.3% |
| both | 42.3% |
Home Value Trends (Damascus)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Damascus 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 Damascus — 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
Damascus enacted a significant STR restriction on September 10, 2024. In a 5-1 joint vote, the Town Council and Planning Commission approved Ordinance No. 2024-1203-1, which restricts transient vacation rentals to commercial and industrial districts only. New STRs are prohibited in residential zones (R-1, R-2, R-3), where most of the town’s housing stock is located.
Approximately 21 existing residential short-term rentals were grandfathered and may continue operating. Grandfathered status transfers to a new owner upon sale of the property, but no additional residential STR permits will be issued beyond those already in place.
For new investors, entry requires either a commercially or industrially zoned parcel, or the purchase of an existing grandfathered residential unit. Operators must hold a Town of Damascus business license renewed annually by March 31 and must obtain zoning compliance confirmation for their property.
No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement applies. No cap on nights per year has been identified. A transient occupancy (lodging) tax applies under Town Code Chapter 22; the specific municipal rate should be confirmed directly with the town. Washington County’s transient occupancy tax rate of 7% is on record for reference, but the town’s own rate may differ.
Enforcement is characterized as strict, consistent with the deliberate supply cap created by the September 2024 ordinance. The regulation score for this market is 69.77 out of 100.
Market Comparison
Damascus occupancy of 48.1% in April 2026 sits below the US median of approximately 55%, reflecting a spring off-season data point in a deep-trough market where summer occupancy regularly exceeds 59%. The ADR of $209 is slightly below the national median of approximately $220, though summer-peak ADR in the $237 to $241 range is competitive with national benchmarks. RevPAR of $101 reflects the April seasonal position.
The market’s revenue growth score of 68.30 is the strongest dimension and reflects consistent ADR gains over recent years. Investability at 88.58 is high, though the September 2024 residential zone ban limits new entry options.
Among operators, Vacasa leads with 312 listings and 10,504 reviews at a 4.56 rating. Evolve is close behind with 300 listings and 11,552 reviews at a 4.79 rating. Casago ranks third with 93 listings and 1,125 reviews at a 4.58 rating. The top three represent 705 listings, approximately 7.5% of the 9,416 total listings by type, indicating a somewhat more professionally managed market than typical suburban STR markets. Lakefront Luxury rounds out the group with 72 listings and a market-leading 4.94 average rating across 3,462 reviews. Blue Ridge Escapes holds 57 listings with 1,928 reviews at a 4.78 rating.
Frequently Asked Questions About Damascus, Virginia
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Are new Airbnb rentals still allowed in Damascus, VA?
What is the peak season for STRs in Damascus, VA?
How much monthly revenue can a Damascus, VA STR generate?
How far in advance do guests book STRs in Damascus, VA?
How did Hurricane Helene affect the Damascus STR market?
Who are the top property managers in Damascus, VA?
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