Camano Island, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
Camano Island, WA STRs averaged $233/night at 53.6% occupancy in April 2026 across approximately 5,375 active listings.
Quick Answer: Camano Island, Washington is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 54%. average monthly revenue is $3,259. average daily rate is $233. the top operator is Vacasa with 327 listings. market score is 70/100 (grade B).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Camano Island is an unincorporated area of Island County, WA, roughly 60 miles north of Seattle via I-5 and a bridge from Stanwood. The island attracts Pacific Northwest residents seeking weekend retreats, with Camano Island State Park, Cama Beach State Park, saltwater fishing, kayaking, and wildlife viewing along Saratoga Passage as primary draws. A population of 17,535 makes it a genuine residential community with a significant STR overlay.
In April 2026, the average daily rate was $233 and occupancy reached 53.6%, producing a RevPAR of $125. Year-over-year, ADR rose 4.3% while both occupancy fell 1.9% and revenue declined 2.2% compared to April 2025. Average monthly revenue per listing was $3,259.
The market is dominated by whole-property rentals: entire-place listings account for 5,066 of approximately 5,386 channel-weighted listing appearances (roughly 94%), with private rooms at 318 and shared rooms at just 2. By bedroom count, 1-bedroom properties are the most common (2,160 listings), followed by 2-bedroom (1,396), 3-bedroom (1,145), 4-bedroom (481), and 5-bedroom (193). By distribution channel, listings appearing on both Airbnb and Vrbo total 2,442, with Airbnb-only at 2,535 and Vrbo-only at 409.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36% | $177 | $1,851 |
| Feb | 47% | $182 | $2,000 |
| Mar | 50% | $188 | $2,477 |
| Apr | 56% | $204 | $2,992 |
| May | 58% | $215 | $3,092 |
| Jun | 68% | $247 | $4,266 |
| Jul | 79% | $256 | $5,321 |
| Aug | 79% | $255 | $5,363 |
| Sep | 63% | $228 | $3,781 |
| Oct | 50% | $194 | $2,718 |
| Nov | 45% | $192 | $2,271 |
| Dec | 45% | $193 | $2,323 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Camano Island
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 327 | 24,080 | ★ 4.52 |
| 2 | Evolve | 144 | 9,100 | ★ 4.83 |
| 3 | San Juan Property Management | 91 | 8,680 | ★ 4.73 |
| 4 | AvantStay | 83 | 6,296 | ★ 4.75 |
| 5 | Brigadoon Vacation Rentals | 58 | 3,491 | ★ 4.81 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Camano Island?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,160 |
| 2 bed | 1,396 |
| 3 bed | 1,145 |
| 4 bed | 481 |
| 5 bed | 193 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $240 |
| Luxury | $412 |
| Professionally Managed | $265 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,475 |
| Entire Place | $3,362 |
| House | $3,532 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 47.1% |
| vrbo | 7.6% |
| both | 45.3% |
Investment Analysis
Camano Island’s strongest market dimension scores are rental demand (83.4 out of 100) and revenue growth (81.5), reflecting sustained traveler interest in island retreats within the Seattle day-trip radius. The overall market score is 70.2, with the investability score at 65.1.
At the April 2026 snapshot, average monthly revenue was $3,259 per listing, implying roughly $39,100 annualized before platform fees, management, taxes, and operating costs. Housing snapshot data for Camano Island is not available in the current dataset, so a gross yield calculation against typical home value cannot be provided.
Pricing tiers show meaningful spread. The all-listings ADR of $233 compares to $240 for entire-home listings, $265 for professionally managed properties (a 14% premium over the market average), and $412 for luxury-tier listings (77% above the market average). The professionally managed premium is more modest here than in many markets, suggesting that management quality alone is less the differentiator and that property positioning and amenities matter more.
The April 2026 data shows a slight revenue contraction year-over-year (-2.2%), driven by a 1.9 percentage point occupancy decline partially offset by a 4.3% ADR gain. The 2025 annual average of $3,908 in monthly revenue per listing represents the highest full-year figure in the historical record, suggesting the current softness is a short-term fluctuation rather than a structural reversal.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Guests on Camano Island book an average of 44.2 days in advance, roughly six weeks out. This lead time is somewhat shorter than some comparable Pacific Northwest island markets, reflecting the island’s accessibility from Seattle (no ferry required) and the tendency for spontaneous weekend getaways among regional travelers. For operators, pricing adjustments made five to six weeks out still capture most bookings.
Average length of stay is 3.43 nights, somewhat shorter than a typical weekly-rental market. This creates higher turnover and more frequent cleaning cycles relative to markets with 5-to-7-night minimums. Operators setting minimum stays should weigh the revenue per booking against cleaning costs at this average stay duration. The short stay profile also suggests that last-minute weekend availability can be monetized effectively through dynamic pricing tools.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Camano Island is unincorporated Island County, WA, and operators must comply with Island County requirements. A Short-Term Rental License is required, currently priced at $100 per year, administered by Island County Planning and Community Development.
Applications require site and floor plans, parking documentation, a building inspection or life-safety self-assessment, and a 24/7 on-island contact who can respond within a 20-minute drive. Properties on septic systems require Environmental Health Department sign-off. STRs must be in a zone that permits the use; operators must verify zoning compliance via Island County’s interactive map before applying.
Washington State law (RCW 64.37) adds statewide minimums: $1 million aggregate liability insurance, a valid Washington business license (UBI number), posted occupancy limits and emergency information, and carbon monoxide alarm compliance.
The combined accommodation tax is approximately 11%: Washington’s 6.5% state sales tax plus 2.5% Island County local sales tax plus Island County’s 2% hotel-motel lodging tax. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement is in effect, and no maximum nights per year cap has been identified. First violations result in a written warning; subsequent violations are Class 2 civil infractions up to $500 per day. Operating without a license may be declared a public nuisance.
Island County is actively drafting new STR regulations as of 2025 that may add guest limits tied to septic capacity and neighbor notification requirements. Operators should monitor Island County Planning updates, as changes could affect compliance requirements before the next license renewal.
Market Comparison
Camano Island’s April 2026 ADR of $233 is close to the US STR median of approximately $220, slightly above average, which reflects a market with solid but not exceptional rate power. Occupancy at 53.6% is just below the US median of approximately 55%, consistent with the island’s seasonal pattern and moderate off-peak demand.
The total market score of 70.2 out of 100 positions Camano Island in the upper half of US STR markets, with rental demand (83.4) and revenue growth (81.5) as the strongest signals. The investability score of 65.1 is more moderate, partly reflecting the absence of available housing price data in this snapshot.
The operator landscape is led by national platforms. Vacasa manages 327 listings (4.52 average rating), followed by Evolve with 144 listings (4.83 rating), San Juan Property Management with 91 listings (4.73 rating), AvantStay with 83 listings (4.75 rating), and Brigadoon Vacation Rentals with 58 listings (4.81 rating). These five operators together account for 703 listings, or roughly 13% of the approximately 5,375 total active listings. The remaining 87% is independently managed or with smaller local operators. Evolve and the boutique firms (Brigadoon, AvantStay) all carry ratings above 4.74, suggesting quality-focused management is a differentiator in this market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Camano Island, Washington
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