Ellensburg, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
Ellensburg, WA STRs averaged $221/night at 45.7% occupancy in April 2026, with monthly revenue of $2,629 per listing.
Quick Answer: Ellensburg, 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 300 listings. market score is 54/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Washington State Area regional market, which includes Ellensburg. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Ellensburg.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Ellensburg is the seat of Kittitas County in central Washington, a college and agriculture town anchored by Central Washington University (approximately 8,500 students) and surrounded by the Kittitas Valley. The area draws an estimated 364,000 overnight trips annually, generating roughly $187 million in visitor spending and making tourism the second-largest employer in the local economy.
In April 2026 (the latest data month), listings in the Ellensburg market averaged 45.7% occupancy and a $221.35 average daily rate, yielding $101.15 in revenue per available rental day. Average monthly revenue per listing came in at $2,629.
Year over year, occupancy declined 1.7 percentage points and revenue dipped 2.6%, while ADR edged up 2.5%. The market is in a post-pandemic normalization phase: 2021 saw peak occupancy at 61.9% and $3,905 in average monthly revenue, and performance has moderated since then to a more sustainable baseline.
Entire-place rentals dominate the listing mix at 8,375 units versus 554 private rooms and just 4 shared rooms. The bedroom distribution is relatively balanced: 1-bedroom (3,020), 2-bedroom (2,186), 3-bedroom (2,165), 4-bedroom (971), and 5-bedroom (580). Channel distribution shows Airbnb-only listings at 4,239, VRBO-only at 580, and 4,114 appearing on both platforms. The market’s composite score is 53.5 out of 100, with investability (76.6) and regulation (69.4) as the strongest sub-scores.
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 Ellensburg 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 Ellensburg, so these counts are not Ellensburg-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 300 | 12,673 | ★ 4.50 |
| 2 | Evolve | 289 | 14,471 | ★ 4.75 |
| 3 | Suncadia Resort | 147 | 348 | ★ 4.26 |
| 4 | Bloomer Estates Vacation Rentals | 97 | 6,733 | ★ 4.83 |
| 5 | All Seasons Vacation Rentals | 81 | 8,823 | ★ 4.91 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Ellensburg?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Ellensburg 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 | 46.1% |
Home Value Trends (Ellensburg)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Ellensburg 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 Ellensburg — 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
Short-term rentals are legal in Ellensburg and Kittitas County, but operators face a layered regulatory environment with moderate enforcement.
At the state level, Washington RCW 64.37 requires STR operators to carry at least $1,000,000 in primary liability insurance (or rent through a platform providing equivalent coverage), provide guest contact and safety information, ensure carbon-monoxide alarms are installed, and remit applicable taxes. The law covers stays under 30 consecutive nights.
At the city level, a Washington State business license (UBI) is required, and operators must also register with the City of Ellensburg if grossing over approximately $12,000 per year. A city business license or registration is required. Ellensburg applies a hosted versus unhosted framework: hosted STRs (where the operator’s primary residence is on-site) are permitted in most residential zones with registration. Unhosted or whole-home STRs are restricted to certain zones and may require a Conditional Use Permit (Type III review). Owner-occupancy and primary-residence requirements are documented as false (not required city-wide), but zoning zone determines which rules apply.
On taxes, lodging is subject to the combined Washington sales tax (approximately 8.6%) plus a local lodging tax of approximately 2%, for a total of roughly 10.6%. Airbnb and VRBO typically collect and remit state and local taxes automatically.
No published annual-night cap exists. Kittitas County (surrounding Ellensburg) discussed forming a Short-Term Rental Committee in 2023 and exploring new regulations, which may signal future tightening in unincorporated areas. Investors should confirm zone-specific rules with the Ellensburg Planning Division before operating.
Market Comparison
Against national US STR benchmarks of approximately 55% occupancy and $220 ADR, Ellensburg runs below on occupancy (45.7% in April 2026) but in line on ADR ($221.35). The market’s strength is in rate rather than volume: even during the April shoulder period, the $221 ADR is nearly matching the national median.
Revenue growth is the market’s current weakness. After a strong post-pandemic run peaking in 2021 ($3,905/month average), performance has plateaued in the $3,450-$3,470 range for 2023-2025, and the revenue growth score of 48.6 reflects this. The overall market score of 53.5 is below average, though investability (76.6) is a bright spot.
Professional management is highly concentrated. Vacasa leads with 300 listings and 12,673 reviews at a 4.50 rating. Evolve operates 289 listings with 14,471 reviews at a 4.75 rating. Together, the top two managers control a meaningful share of market inventory and generate the bulk of the guest-review volume. Suncadia Resort (147 listings, 4.26 rating), Bloomer Estates Vacation Rentals (97 listings, 4.83 rating), and All Seasons Vacation Rentals (81 listings, 4.91 rating) round out the top 5. The professionally managed ADR premium of $314.86 versus the market average of $221.35 is a 42% lift — exceptionally high and worth considering for operators evaluating self-management versus third-party management.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ellensburg, Washington
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Do I need a permit to operate an Airbnb in Ellensburg, WA?
What is the lodging tax rate for STRs in Ellensburg, WA?
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