Eagle River, Wisconsin Short-Term Rental Market
Eagle River, WI STRs averaged $190/night at 40.1% occupancy in April 2026 across 14,852 active listings.
Quick Answer: Eagle River, Wisconsin is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 40%. average monthly revenue is $1,967. average daily rate is $190. the top operator is Evolve with 553 listings. market score is 80/100 (grade B).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Eagle River is the county seat of Vilas County in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, serving as a year-round destination anchored by the Eagle River Chain of Lakes (billed as the world’s largest freshwater chain) and a strong snowmobile tourism industry. The short-term rental market is one of the largest lake-country markets in the Midwest, with approximately 14,852 active listings. Entire-place rentals account for 14,056 of those (94.6%), with 792 private-room listings and 4 shared-room options. The average daily rate was $190.23 in April 2026, with occupancy at 40.1%, producing a RevPAR of $76.35. April sits in the shoulder period between snowmobile and summer lake seasons; historically, April averages 40.6% occupancy. Year-over-year in April, occupancy rose 1.6% and ADR increased 6.7%, with revenue essentially flat at +0.3%. Two-bedroom units lead supply at 4,277 listings, followed by three-bedroom (4,069), one-bedroom (2,983), four-bedroom (2,156), and five-bedroom or larger (1,339). Both Airbnb and VRBO have strong presence: 5,664 Airbnb-only listings, 2,129 VRBO-only, and 7,059 cross-listed on both platforms. The market’s composite score of 80.0 is driven by outstanding investability (91.9) and revenue growth (91.9), with seasonality (56.8) and rental demand (57.8) scores reflecting the market’s concentration in peak months.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36% | $192 | $1,941 |
| Feb | 41% | $199 | $1,945 |
| Mar | 35% | $172 | $1,827 |
| Apr | 41% | $168 | $1,752 |
| May | 50% | $199 | $2,082 |
| Jun | 62% | $247 | $3,627 |
| Jul | 70% | $254 | $4,555 |
| Aug | 62% | $250 | $4,230 |
| Sep | 47% | $220 | $2,811 |
| Oct | 43% | $196 | $2,421 |
| Nov | 38% | $176 | $1,919 |
| Dec | 41% | $190 | $1,982 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Eagle River
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 553 | 19,950 | ★ 4.74 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 421 | 11,122 | ★ 4.62 |
| 3 | Hiller Vacation Homes | 95 | 1,825 | ★ 4.46 |
| 4 | Northwoods Property Managment | 63 | 445 | ★ 4.71 |
| 5 | Wild Eagle Lodge | 59 | 18 | ★ 4.50 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Eagle River?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,983 |
| 2 bed | 4,277 |
| 3 bed | 4,069 |
| 4 bed | 2,156 |
| 5 bed | 1,339 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $199 |
| Luxury | $425 |
| Professionally Managed | $207 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,426 |
| Entire Place | $2,034 |
| House | $2,097 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 38.1% |
| vrbo | 14.3% |
| both | 47.5% |
Investment Analysis
Eagle River’s investability score of 91.9 out of 100 and revenue growth score of 91.9 are the headline signals for investors. Typical home values are approximately $377,288 based on the most recent housing data, with a median list price of $416,083 and 44 active listings for sale as of the April 2026 snapshot. At a $1,967 average monthly revenue in April 2026, the annualized figure is approximately $23,609. Using the typical home value as a proxy for acquisition cost, the annualized revenue-to-value ratio is approximately 6.3% (annualized from the latest monthly figure; note that peak summer months generate substantially more revenue, and full-year income would be higher than this figure suggests). The 2025 annual average revenue of $3,015 per month produces an annualized figure of approximately $36,180 against the $377,288 typical home value, for a gross ratio closer to 9.6% before expenses. The ADR tier spread is wide: all-listings average $190, entire-home $199, professionally managed $207, and luxury $425. The luxury premium of 124% above market average suggests a meaningful performance gap between top-tier properties and the broader supply. Revenue has grown steadily from $1,898 per month in 2017 to $3,015 in 2025, a 59% increase over eight years. The 2026 partial-year figure of $2,115 reflects the early-calendar shoulder months.
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 (Eagle River)
Booking Insights
Eagle River’s average booking lead time of 47.3 days indicates guests book roughly six to seven weeks in advance. This longer planning window is consistent with a destination outdoor-recreation market where groups coordinate travel dates, fishing charters, or snowmobile weekend packages ahead of time. The average length of stay of 3.9 nights is shorter than many comparable lake markets, suggesting a mix of long-weekend travelers and midweek getaway bookings rather than exclusively week-long cabin stays. The 3.9-night average generates higher turnover than a 7-day-minimum market, which increases cleaning and management workload but also provides more flexibility to fill gaps. Operators in R-1 zones should note the 7-day minimum applicable to non-owner-occupied properties under Ordinance 590, which may suppress turnover in single-family-zoned listings. For non-R-1 properties, minimum stays of three to four nights align with the revealed booking pattern. The 47-day lead time gives operators a solid window to use dynamic pricing to protect weekend and peak-summer rates.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Eagle River adopted Short-Term Rental Licensing Ordinance 590 on January 14, 2025, establishing the city’s first dedicated STR licensing framework. Operators must obtain a city STR license with a specific fee amount set by the City Council in the city fee schedule (the dollar amount was not published online as of the time of research). The city license layers on top of Wisconsin state requirements: a Tourist Rooming House license through the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), a Vilas County tourist rooming house permit (renewing annually by January 31), and a Wisconsin seller’s permit for tax collection. Key operating rules include a minimum $300,000 liability insurance requirement, and a functional 7-day minimum stay for non-owner-occupied rentals in single-family (R-1) zones (a property in R-1 cannot be rented more than once in a 7-day period unless the owner resides on site). Occupancy is capped by septic capacity at two persons per bedroom. Operators must collect and remit the City of Eagle River accommodations tax of 4.5% plus a 0.5% premier resort area tax, totaling 5.0%. There is no published cap on total rental nights per year and no general primary-residence requirement. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. Existing rentals operating before January 2025 received a 120-day grace period to come into compliance.
Market Comparison
Eagle River’s 40.1% April occupancy reflects the shoulder season; peak July occupancy of 70.3% is above the US STR median of approximately 55%. The $190 ADR in April and $254 in July both exceed the national median ADR of approximately $220 in peak season, positioning Eagle River as a premium-priced lake market rather than a budget destination. The market’s revenue growth score of 91.9 and investability score of 91.9 are both in the top tier nationally for markets of this size. On the operator side, Evolve leads with 553 listings and a 4.74 average rating across 19,950 reviews, making it the largest professional manager in the market. Vacasa manages 421 listings with a 4.62 rating, Hiller Vacation Homes holds 95 listings at a 4.46 rating, Northwoods Property Management manages 63 at 4.71, and Wild Eagle Lodge holds 59 listings with a 4.50 rating. Together the top five manage approximately 1,191 listings, roughly 8% of the 14,852-listing market, indicating the market remains primarily independently operated despite the presence of national management companies.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eagle River, Wisconsin
What is the average daily rate for short-term rentals in Eagle River, Wisconsin?
When is peak season for STRs in Eagle River, WI?
Do I need a permit for an Airbnb in Eagle River, Wisconsin?
What is the average monthly revenue for an Eagle River, WI STR?
Is Eagle River a good market for STR investment?
How far in advance do guests book Eagle River cabin rentals?
Who are the largest STR property managers in Eagle River, Wisconsin?
Analyze Eagle River Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Eagle River.
Free Eagle River STR Calculator →
