Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin Short-Term Rental Market
Wisconsin Dells STRs need a state tourist rooming house license; Dells-Baraboo area August ADR $404, occupancy 57.9%, revenue $6,662.
Quick Answer: Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Wisconsin Dells market area is 40%. average monthly revenue in the Wisconsin Dells market area is $3,778. average daily rate in the Wisconsin Dells market area is $333. the top operator in the Wisconsin Dells market area is Spring Brook Resort with 100 listings. market score is 79/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the wider Wisconsin Dells market, which covers 7 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Wisconsin Dells.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Apivex reports Wisconsin Dells performance data as part of a shared series that also covers Baraboo and La Valle. All performance numbers on this page therefore describe the Wisconsin Dells and Baraboo area STR market, not the city of Wisconsin Dells alone. In August 2026, the newest month in the data, that market posted an average daily rate (ADR) of $404, occupancy of 57.9%, and average revenue of $6,662 per listing for the month.
Year over year, ADR rose 6.6%, occupancy fell 6.5%, and revenue fell 0.5%, so higher rates only offset the demand decline. Across 2025, the annual averages were an ADR of $311, occupancy of 44.3%, and monthly revenue of $3,861. For January through August 2026, the average ADR was $337, occupancy was 45.9%, and monthly revenue was $4,351, compared with $326, 47.4%, and $4,324 for the same eight months of 2025.
The city of Wisconsin Dells has 2,942 residents but draws more than 5 million visitors a year, per the area profile. It is branded the Waterpark Capital of the World, about 42 miles northwest of Madison, and reported a record $2.08 billion in total economic impact in 2025. Most visitors are Midwestern travelers with children who arrive by car from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. The area has more than 10,000 lodging rooms. Attractions include Noah’s Ark Waterpark, Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park, and Kalahari Resorts, plus the sandstone gorge, river boat tours, and a casino. Listing counts, listing-type mix, and bedroom mix are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for the city, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 33% |
| Feb | 35% |
| Mar | 39% |
| Apr | 35% |
| May | 42% |
| Jun | 56% |
| Jul | 64% |
| Aug | 57% |
| Sep | 39% |
| Oct | 40% |
| Nov | 34% |
| Dec | 39% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Wisconsin Dells are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Wisconsin Dells market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Wisconsin Dells market as a whole, which includes Wisconsin Dells, so these counts are not Wisconsin Dells-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spring Brook Resort | 100 | 3,363 | ★ 4.72 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 92 | 2,746 | ★ 4.23 |
| 3 | Christian Taylor Vacations | 86 | 300 | ★ 4.52 |
| 4 | Destination Dells | 83 | 8,012 | ★ 4.91 |
| 5 | CVR Management | 36 | 427 | ★ 4.30 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Wisconsin Dells?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Wisconsin Dells 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 | 34.6% |
| vrbo | 13.9% |
| both | 51.6% |
Home Value Trends (Wisconsin Dells)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Wisconsin Dells 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 Wisconsin Dells — 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 Wisconsin Dells under both state and local rules. Any operator renting for fewer than 30 days must hold a Tourist Rooming House license from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). The license costs about $110 a year, plus a one-time pre-inspection fee of about $300, and requires a health and safety inspection. Locally, operators register with the City Clerk, collect and remit taxes, and may need a city overnight lodging license. Some zoning districts require a conditional use permit from the Planning Commission, reported at about $250.
Lodging in the Dells and Lake Delton area carries about 12.25% in tax. That is 5.0% state sales tax, 0.5% county sales tax, a 1.25% premier resort area tax, and a 5.5% city room tax.
Wisconsin’s 2017 Right to Rent law (Wis. Stat. 66.1014) bars cities from banning rentals of residential dwellings and from requiring primary residence. A city may cap rentals of 6 to 29 days at 180 days per year. Enforcement is rated moderate. No new city STR ordinance was found in the last 24 months, though city-specific zoning detail could not be fully verified on an official ordinance page. Confirm licensing and zoning with the City Clerk at 608-254-2012.
Market Comparison
The Wisconsin Dells and Baraboo STR market posted 57.9% occupancy in August 2026, above the rough US STR median of about 55%. Its ADR of $404 is about 84% above the US median of roughly $220. This is a high-rate summer market, but the 2025 annual occupancy of 44.3% is well below the national figure.
August year over year shows rates up 6.6% and occupancy down 6.5%. Revenue per listing is high in summer and low in the rest of the year, so the August figure overstates a typical month. The 2025 annual average of $3,861 per month is a better guide to a full year.
Top-operator rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Wisconsin Dells, so this profile omits them. Compared with national medians, this is a high-rate, strongly seasonal market with a visitor base of more than 5 million people a year. The city-specific facts to weigh are the state license requirement, the 12.25% lodging tax, and a typical home value of $303,492.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
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