Cle Elum, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
Cle Elum, WA STRs averaged $221 per night at 45.7% occupancy in April 2026, anchored by Suncadia Resort demand.
Quick Answer: Cle Elum, Washington is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 59%. average monthly revenue is $4,611. average daily rate is $299. the top operator is Vacasa with 292 listings. market score is 53/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Washington State Area regional market, which includes Cle Elum. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Cle Elum.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Cle Elum is a mountain gateway town of about 2,157 residents roughly 80 miles southeast of Seattle, anchored by the Suncadia Resort. The STR market here reflects a mix of resort-adjacent lodging, lake recreation visitors, and Seattle-area weekend travelers.
As of April 2026, the market posted a 45.7% occupancy rate and an average daily rate of $221, producing a RevPAR of $101 and average monthly revenue of $2,626 per listing. Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy declined 1.8 percentage points, while ADR increased 2.4%, and overall revenue per listing fell 2.7%.
The listing inventory is dominated by entire-place accommodations: 8,353 entire-place listings, alongside 552 private rooms and 4 shared rooms. By bedroom count, one-bedroom units are most common (3,013), followed closely by two-bedroom (2,173) and three-bedroom (2,164) properties. Larger homes with four or five bedrooms account for 972 and 576 listings respectively.
On distribution channels, Airbnb holds 4,236 listings and VRBO holds 580. A substantial 4,093 listings operate on both platforms. The market’s composite Apivex score is 53.1 out of 100, with investability at 76.7 and rental demand at 68.1. Revenue growth scores (48.5) and seasonality (65.4) reflect recent softening trends and a pronounced summer peak.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38% | $228 | $2,478 |
| Feb | 45% | $217 | $2,373 |
| Mar | 45% | $194 | $2,340 |
| Apr | 49% | $199 | $2,518 |
| May | 52% | $223 | $2,856 |
| Jun | 60% | $256 | $3,867 |
| Jul | 67% | $261 | $4,745 |
| Aug | 67% | $260 | $4,710 |
| Sep | 52% | $234 | $3,314 |
| Oct | 45% | $209 | $2,675 |
| Nov | 42% | $211 | $2,335 |
| Dec | 45% | $249 | $3,015 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Cle Elum
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 292 | 12,331 | ★ 4.51 |
| 2 | Evolve | 287 | 14,409 | ★ 4.75 |
| 3 | Suncadia Resort | 145 | 348 | ★ 4.26 |
| 4 | Bloomer Estates Vacation Rentals | 99 | 6,805 | ★ 4.83 |
| 5 | All Seasons Vacation Rentals | 81 | 8,802 | ★ 4.91 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Cle Elum?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 3,013 |
| 2 bed | 2,173 |
| 3 bed | 2,164 |
| 4 bed | 972 |
| 5 bed | 576 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $309 |
| Luxury | $544 |
| Professionally Managed | $437 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,188 |
| Entire Place | $4,776 |
| House | $5,066 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 47.5% |
| vrbo | 6.5% |
| both | 45.9% |
Investment Analysis
Cle Elum presents a higher-cost, lower-yield STR investment profile compared to many regional markets. The Zillow typical home value stands at $590,499 as of April 2026, while average monthly STR revenue reached $2,626. Annualizing the April revenue figure produces approximately $31,517 in gross annual revenue, implying a gross yield of roughly 5.3% on the typical home value before expenses, management fees, and vacancy.
Tier comparisons show a notable spread: the all-listings ADR of $221 rises modestly to $230 for entire-home properties, but professionally managed listings average $316, nearly 43% above the market mean. Luxury-tier properties command $404 per night. This premium for professional management suggests that operators with strong distribution and pricing capabilities earn significantly more than the typical self-managed listing.
Revenue by property type: entire-place listings average $2,717 per month, and houses average $2,835, both above the market average of $2,626. Apartments average $1,963.
The YoY revenue trend has been declining. Annual average revenue was $3,473 in 2024 and $3,468 in 2025, and the 2026 partial-year average of $2,559 reflects ongoing pressure at the April 2026 snapshot date. The revenue growth score from Apivex data is 48.5 out of 100, signaling below-average growth momentum. Investors should factor in the $1,000 annual permit fee when modeling expenses.
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 (Cle Elum)
Booking Insights
In April 2026, Cle Elum STR guests booked an average of 41.7 days in advance and stayed an average of 3.3 nights per visit.
A lead time of nearly six weeks is meaningfully longer than many comparable regional markets, reflecting the planning behavior of Seattle-area visitors who secure popular Suncadia-area accommodations well in advance, especially for summer weekends. For operators, this longer booking window creates a strong case for holding rates firm through five to six weeks out before considering discounts to fill remaining inventory.
The 3.3-night average length of stay sits just above the standard two-night weekend trip, suggesting a blend of weekend visits and occasional extended stays. This translates to higher turnover costs per week compared to markets with longer stays, which operators should factor into cleaning fee structures.
Practically, the combination of a 42-day lead time and a relatively short 3.3-night stay means the booking pipeline refills regularly, and pricing flexibility closest to arrival is the primary lever for squeezing out last-minute occupancy.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Cle Elum adopted a formal short-term rental ordinance in March 2021 under CEMC Chapter 17.160 (Ordinance 1601). Operating an STR without a city permit is unlawful.
Permit cost is $1,000 per property ($880 permit fee plus $120 licensing and processing). A separate city business license is also required. Permits run on a calendar year (January-December) basis, with renewals due by December 15 annually. Fees are not prorated for partial years.
There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. However, if the applicant does not reside in the dwelling, a Type 2 review process applies, which includes notice to nearby property owners.
STRs are allowed in unlimited numbers in commercial zones. In residential districts, a 250-foot spacing requirement between STR property boundaries limits density, and each owner or host is capped at three STRs total.
Operating standards include quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM, a minimum of two off-street hard-surface parking spaces, mandatory city garbage service, a local emergency contact person, and fire and building safety inspections before a permit issues. Maximum occupancy is set by Fire Department guidelines.
Guests pay Washington state and local sales tax (approximately 8.4%) plus a city lodging tax of 2.0%. There is no cap on annual rental nights.
No major regulatory changes have been identified since the 2021 adoption. Enforcement is handled by planning and building departments at a moderate severity level.
Market Comparison
Against national STR benchmarks, Cle Elum’s April 2026 occupancy of 45.7% is below the US median of approximately 55%, while its $221 ADR sits close to the national median of roughly $220. The market trades above average on rate but below average on occupancy, which is typical of seasonal mountain resort markets where strong peak months are offset by slow winters.
The overall composite score of 53.1 out of 100 puts Cle Elum in the lower half of Apivex-tracked markets, reflecting the declining revenue growth trend and seasonal volatility. Investability (76.7) remains above average, supported by the high-rate environment.
Professional operators are a significant presence. Vacasa leads with 292 listings and 12,331 reviews (4.51 rating). Evolve holds 287 listings and 14,409 reviews (4.75 rating). Suncadia Resort itself operates 145 on-property listings. Together, the top three professional managers account for approximately 724 listings out of an estimated 8,900-plus total active listings.
The resort presence through Suncadia (a Destination by Hyatt property) provides a pricing floor and marketing anchor for the broader market, which differentiates Cle Elum from pure residential STR markets of similar size.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cle Elum, Washington
What is the average nightly rate for STRs in Cle Elum, WA?
What occupancy rates do Cle Elum STRs achieve?
Does Cle Elum require a permit to operate a short-term rental?
How many STRs can one owner operate in Cle Elum?
What is the gross revenue potential for a Cle Elum STR?
What taxes apply to Cle Elum short-term rentals?
Who are the dominant property managers in the Cle Elum STR market?
Analyze Cle Elum Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Cle Elum.
Free Cle Elum STR Calculator →
