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 is 46%. average monthly revenue is $2,629. average daily rate is $221. the top operator is Vacasa with 300 listings. market score is 54/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex 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 | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38% | $228 | $2,478 |
| Feb | 45% | $217 | $2,372 |
| Mar | 45% | $194 | $2,340 |
| Apr | 49% | $199 | $2,518 |
| May | 52% | $218 | $2,803 |
| Jun | 60% | $251 | $3,774 |
| Jul | 67% | $261 | $4,744 |
| Aug | 67% | $260 | $4,709 |
| Sep | 52% | $234 | $3,314 |
| Oct | 45% | $209 | $2,674 |
| Nov | 42% | $210 | $2,334 |
| Dec | 45% | $249 | $3,015 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Ellensburg
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 3,020 |
| 2 bed | 2,186 |
| 3 bed | 2,165 |
| 4 bed | 971 |
| 5 bed | 580 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $230 |
| Luxury | $404 |
| Professionally Managed | $315 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,956 |
| Entire Place | $2,720 |
| House | $2,839 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 47.5% |
| vrbo | 6.5% |
| both | 46.1% |
Investment Analysis
Ellensburg presents a mid-tier investment profile with no housing snapshot data available in the current data pull, which limits precise yield calculation. Based on the average monthly revenue of $2,629, an annualized gross revenue estimate is approximately $31,548 before operating costs.
Property type has a large impact on revenue. Houses average $2,839 per month, entire-place listings average $2,720, and apartments average $1,956 — a 45% gap between the top and bottom tiers. Investing in a detached house or larger entire-place property targets the top of the market’s revenue distribution.
At the ADR tier level, luxury listings command a $404.14 average daily rate versus the market-wide $221.35, nearly double. Professionally managed listings average $314.86 per night — a $93.51 premium over the overall average (42% above market). That premium is among the highest in any comparable-size market and suggests that professional management generates measurable rate lift in Ellensburg.
The multi-year trend is mixed. Revenue grew from $2,249 in 2017 to a peak of $3,905 in 2021, then retreated to $3,453 in 2023 and $3,467 in 2024, with 2025 averaging $3,467. The 2026 partial-year figure is pulled down by a weak first quarter. Revenue growth score of 48.6 reflects this plateau. Investability scores 76.6, driven by the market’s above-average ADR and stable demand from events and the university calendar.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Ellensburg guests book further in advance than most comparable markets, with an average lead time of 41.7 days — roughly 6 weeks ahead of arrival. That extended window reflects event-driven demand: the Ellensburg Rodeo over Labor Day weekend, CWU events, and summer outdoor recreation all tend to generate bookings well in advance.
Average length of stay is 3.26 nights, shorter than the national average and reflecting the weekend-getaway nature of many visits. A 3.26-night average at current occupancy implies approximately 4 to 5 turnovers per listing per month, which keeps cleaning costs elevated relative to markets with longer stays.
The 41.7-day lead time gives operators a clear dynamic-pricing advantage. Rates can be held firm at 6 weeks out and adjusted in the final 2 to 3 weeks as arrival approaches. For peak months like July and August (67-68% occupancy), early price increases capture the event-driven bookers who plan furthest in advance. The Ellensburg Rodeo weekend in particular should be priced at a significant premium and blocked well before the standard 42-day horizon.
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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