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 is 54%. average monthly revenue is $4,228. average daily rate is $285. the top operator 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 Apivex 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 | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | $152 | $1,674 |
| Feb | 45% | $151 | $1,663 |
| Mar | 49% | $166 | $2,074 |
| Apr | 50% | $186 | $2,424 |
| May | 51% | $224 | $2,892 |
| Jun | 58% | $246 | $3,720 |
| Jul | 63% | $238 | $4,053 |
| Aug | 59% | $237 | $3,818 |
| Sep | 49% | $215 | $2,811 |
| Oct | 50% | $203 | $2,835 |
| Nov | 45% | $195 | $2,401 |
| Dec | 40% | $173 | $2,106 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Damascus
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,856 |
| 2 bed | 2,053 |
| 3 bed | 2,265 |
| 4 bed | 1,260 |
| 5 bed | 962 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $302 |
| Luxury | $568 |
| Professionally Managed | $425 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,427 |
| Entire Place | $4,497 |
| House | $4,820 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 47.4% |
| vrbo | 10.3% |
| both | 42.3% |
Investment Analysis
Damascus presents a higher-ADR outdoor recreation market relative to many comparable small Virginia towns. At an average daily rate of $209 in April 2026 and average monthly revenue of $2,657, annualized gross revenue projects to approximately $31,886 per listing. No housing value data was available in this snapshot, so a gross yield calculation cannot be performed.
Performance by tier is pronounced. Luxury-tier listings average $423 per night, more than double the all-listings average of $209. Professionally managed listings average $280 per night, a $71 premium over the market average. Entire-home listings average $221. These premiums suggest that positioning and management quality translate into material ADR uplifts in this market.
By property type, houses average $2,933 per month, roughly 10% above the market average of $2,657. Entire-place listings generate $2,804 per month. Apartment-type listings average $1,876 per month, substantially below the market average.
The market’s revenue growth score of 68.30 reflects consistent ADR appreciation: from $212 in 2022 to $215 in 2024 to $223 in 2025. The 2025 annual average monthly revenue of $3,085 is notably higher than the April 2026 figure of $2,657, reflecting the seasonality gap between winter/spring and summer peak months.
One critical investor note: Damascus enacted a strict zoning ordinance in September 2024 that bans new STRs in residential zones. New investment must target commercially or industrially zoned properties, or the acquisition of one of approximately 21 grandfathered residential STR units. Grandfathered status transfers on sale. This constrains supply growth and could support pricing power for existing operators, but materially limits new entry options.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Damascus)
Booking Insights
Damascus, VA STR bookings carry an average lead time of 45 days, meaning guests are booking roughly six weeks ahead. This is a moderate-to-long lead window for a trail-town market and reflects the planned nature of hiking and cycling vacations. Operators should monitor availability at the 45-day mark and adjust pricing proactively, particularly for summer and fall leaf-color periods when demand is strongest.
Average length of stay is 3.79 nights, just under the four-night mark. This suggests guests are largely booking extended weekends rather than single-night or two-night stays. A near-four-night average reduces cleaning and restocking frequency per occupied night while allowing for reasonable weekly turnover.
For Damascus operators, pricing strategy should account for the AT Days festival in May (which warrants rate increases and minimum-stay requirements weeks in advance), the summer peak from June through August, and the October foliage window. Minimum-stay requirements of 3 to 4 nights during peak periods align with the observed average LOS and can improve revenue per stay while reducing single-night turnover costs.
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
What is the average daily rate for short-term rentals in Damascus, VA?
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?
Analyze Damascus Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Damascus.
Free Damascus STR Calculator →
