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 in the Washington State Area market area is 59%. average monthly revenue in the Washington State Area market area is $4,611. average daily rate in the Washington State Area market area is $299. the top operator in the Washington State Area market area 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 StaySTRA 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 StaySTRA 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 |
|---|---|
| Jan | 38% |
| Feb | 45% |
| Mar | 45% |
| Apr | 49% |
| May | 52% |
| Jun | 60% |
| Jul | 67% |
| Aug | 67% |
| Sep | 52% |
| Oct | 45% |
| Nov | 42% |
| Dec | 45% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Cle Elum are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Washington State Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Washington State Area market as a whole, which includes Cle Elum, so these counts are not Cle Elum-only figures.
| # | 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 nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Cle Elum 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 | 47.5% |
| vrbo | 6.5% |
| both | 45.9% |
Home Value Trends (Cle Elum)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Cle Elum 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 Cle Elum — 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
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 StaySTRA-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
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