Airbnb Market Analytics, Statistics and Data in South Lake Tahoe, California, United States
Last updated: 2025-01-31
Looking to make more money with hosting or rental arbitraging Airbnbs, short-term rentals, vacation rentals in South Lake Tahoe? AirROI have just the data insights! Over the last twelve months from February 2024 to January 2025, we've uncovered key trends and opportunities that successful hosts are leveraging in South Lake Tahoe:
How much do Airbnb hosts make on average per month in South Lake Tahoe?
The short-term rental market in South Lake Tahoe shows distinct revenue patterns across different property tiers. Our analysis reveals that successful properties combine strategic pricing with quality management to maximize earnings potential. Market data demonstrates clear revenue differentiation among properties:
- Typical properties (median) earn $4,220 per month
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) make $8,064 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) achieve $14,091+ monthly
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) typically earn around $1,886
Revenue Variations by Month
Occupancy Rates Throughout the Year in South Lake Tahoe
The market in South Lake Tahoe shows distinct occupancy patterns influenced by seasonal trends and local dynamics. Properties that maintain high guest satisfaction scores and implement strategic pricing consistently achieve stronger occupancy rates. Current market data shows:
- Typical properties (median) maintain 36% occupancy rates
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) achieve 57% or higher
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) reach 76%+occupancy
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) average around 18%
Occupancy Variations by Month
Average Daily Rates Seasonal Trends in South Lake Tahoe
Daily rates in South Lake Tahoe vary based on seasonality, property quality, and market dynamics. Properties that effectively balance competitive pricing with strong amenities typically command higher rates. Market analysis shows the following rate structure:
- Typical properties (median) generate $303 per night
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) secure $506 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) pull in $831+ per night
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) earn around $185
Daily Rate Variations by Month
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Seasonality patterns in South Lake Tahoe
Peak Season (July, June, February)
- Revenue peaks at $8263.60 per month
- Occupancy rates reach 53.89%
- Daily rates average $465.58
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $6223.62 per month
- Occupancy maintains 39.17%
- Daily rates hold at $419.41
Low Season (September, November, October)
- Revenue drops to $4145.51 per month
- Occupancy decreases to 31.12%
- Daily rates adjust to $385.17
Is it still profitable to do Airbnb in South Lake Tahoe in 2025?
Yes! South Lake Tahoe demonstrates highly seasonal trends requiring strategic adaptation, featuring a growing occupancy rate of 39% and strong monthly revenue averaging $6224 and As a mature market with 1630 active listings, there's strong demand despite the competition. There's also room for profit through rental arbitrage strategies, if you can identify competitively priced properties. To maximize your return on investment, consider employing the following strategies:
Peak Season Strategy
- Implement premium seasonal pricing strategies
- Set longer minimum stay requirements during high-demand periods
- Enforce stricter cancellation policies
Shoulder Season Strategy
- Maintain competitive market-based pricing
- Offer moderate-length stay incentives
- Target a mix of leisure and business travelers with flexible booking terms
- Focus on weekend getaway packages and mid-week business traveler promotions
Low Season Strategy
- Adjust pricing to remain competitive in the market
- Target different guest segments (leaf-peepers, wine tourists, cultural festival attendees, solo travelers)
- Create targeted promotional campaigns to drive occupancy
Top Places to Start Airbnb in South Lake Tahoe
| Area | Why Choose This Area | Key Attractions |
|---|---|---|
| Stateline | Located on the California-Nevada border, Stateline is famous for its casinos, nightlife, and proximity to the slopes. It's a popular destination for those looking to combine outdoor adventure with evening entertainment. | Harrah's Lake Tahoe, MontBleu Resort Casino, Stateline Lookout, Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, Heavenly Ski Resort |
| Heavenly Village | A vibrant area offering shopping, dining, and easy access to both ski slopes and the beach. It's perfect for visitors year-round, with activities for all seasons. | Heavenly Ski Resort, Shopping at Heavenly Village, Lake Tahoe Bike Path, Heavenly Gondola, Stateline Beach |
| South Lake Tahoe | The heart of the Tahoe area with numerous options for dining, entertainment, and access to both the lake and mountains. It's ideal for families and groups. | Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena, Bijou Community Park, MontBleu Resort, Riva Grill |
| Emerald Bay | A breathtaking natural area known for its stunning views and outdoor activities. It attracts those looking to immerse themselves in nature, hiking and photography. | Emerald Bay State Park, Vikingsholm Castle, Emerald Bay Lookout, Eagle Lake, Chickadee Ridge |
| Kirkwood | Famous for its excellent skiing and snowboarding opportunities, Kirkwood is a prime location during winter months, attracting ski enthusiasts. | Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Kirkwood Village, Snowkirk Ski School, Kirkwood Meadows, Lake Margaret |
| Tahoe City | A charming lakeside town with a mix of outdoor activities and a quaint downtown area. Very appealing to families and nature lovers. | Lake Tahoe, Commons Beach, Tahoe City Marina, Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area, Historic Fanny Bridge |
| Incline Village | Located on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, Incline Village offers a mix of outdoor recreation and upscale living, popular among those seeking a more peaceful getaway. | Burnt Cedar Beach, Diamond Peak Ski Resort, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, Incline Village Championship Golf Course, Incline Village Community Center |
| Sierra-at-Tahoe | A family-friendly ski resort known for its fun atmosphere and access to various outdoor activities including hiking and mountain biking in summer. | Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort, Hiking Trails, Bike Park, Nimbus Flat Picnic Area, Lake Tahoe Views |
Do you need a license for Airbnb in South Lake Tahoe?
We recommend checking directly with South Lake Tahoe's local government regarding short-term rental licensing requirements. Current market data shows limited licensing information (5% of listings), making it essential to verify current regulations before starting your Airbnb business.
Top Performing Airbnb Properties in South Lake Tahoe
10 bedroom Mountain Luxury Estate
Entire Place • 10 bedrooms
14 bedroom/14 bath Mega Mansion
Entire Place • 14 bedrooms
Gondola Vista - 6 Bedroom Villa
Entire Place • 6 bedrooms
Gondola Vista - 6 Bedroom Villa w/ EV Charger
Entire Place • 6 bedrooms
Huge backyard - Hot tub - 11 beds - Walkable 'hood
Entire Place • 6 bedrooms
Gondola Vista - 5 Bedroom Villa
Entire Place • 5 bedrooms
Top Performing Professional Hosts in South Lake Tahoe
| Host Name | Properties | Grossing Revenue | Stay Reviews | Avg Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RnR Vacation Rentals | 105 | $9,684,820 | 2497 | 4.54/5.0 |
| Vacasa California | 85 | $5,096,390 | 768 | 4.11/5.0 |
| VRA Tahoe | 20 | $3,733,395 | 1396 | 4.89/5.0 |
| BranchVR | 27 | $3,563,765 | 1033 | 4.80/5.0 |
| Steve | 28 | $2,879,383 | 1758 | 4.79/5.0 |
| Grand Welcome | 33 | $2,233,156 | 1312 | 4.60/5.0 |
| Vacasa California | 28 | $2,223,534 | 1345 | 4.42/5.0 |
| Sean | 12 | $1,969,583 | 206 | 3.95/5.0 |
| Mark | 11 | $1,933,656 | 343 | 4.90/5.0 |
| RoomPicks | 40 | $1,505,910 | 22 | 0.36/5.0 |
Additional analytics on vacation rental, real estate, short term rental data in South Lake Tahoe
AirROI also have other key metrics and comprehensive data for your vacation rental, real estate needs. Go explore the advanced metrics that can help you make informed decisions:
Room Type Distribution
Property Type Distribution
Key Insights
- Market dominated by entire home listings (85.7%), with house and apartment & condo properties comprising 75.0% of inventory
- Strong specialty sector (23.0%) combining boutique hotels, unique stays, and outdoor accommodations indicates market maturity and premium opportunities
- Untapped potential in others, unique stays segments (2.1% combined)
Room Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 1,630 properties in South Lake Tahoe shows that 3 bedrooms properties are most prevalent, making up 25.4% of the market. The market tends to favor larger properties, with 3 bedrooms and 1 bedroom together representing 48.1% of all listings.
Key Insights
- Most common: 3 bedrooms (25.4%)
- Least common: 5+ bedrooms (8.2%)
- Market concentration: 48.1% in top 2 sizes
- Market skew: Favors larger properties
Guest Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 1,630 properties in South Lake Tahoe reveals that 8+ guests properties dominate the market, representing 38.9% of all listings. The average property accommodates 5.7 guests, with a clear trend towards larger guest capacities. Properties accommodating 8+ guests and 4 guests make up 61.2% of the market.
Key Insights
- Most common capacity: 8+ guests (38.9% of market)
- Least common capacity: 1 guest (0.1% of market)
- Average guest capacity: 5.7 guests per property
- Market concentration: 61.2% in top 2 capacity sizes
- Market segmentation: Predominantly larger guest capacities
Booking and Availability Patterns
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Among 1,630 properties in South Lake Tahoe, the most common availability pattern is 271-366 days (47.6% of properties). For actual bookings, properties most frequently secure bookings for 91-180 days (30.7% of properties).
Key Insights
- Most common availability window: 271-366 days (47.6%)
- Most common booking duration: 91-180 days (30.7%)
- Properties with high availability (180+ days): 77.8%
- Properties with long-term bookings (180+ days): 23.7%
Minimum Stay Distributions
1 Night
339 listings
22.8% of total
2 Nights
411 listings
27.7% of total
3 Nights
144 listings
9.7% of total
4-6 Nights
58 listings
3.9% of total
7-29 Nights
46 listings
3.1% of total
30+ Nights
486 listings
32.7% of total
Key Insights
- Short stays (1-2 nights) dominate the market at 50.5%
- Mid-length stays (4-6 nights) represent 3.9% of listings
- Monthly+ stays (32.7%) suggest a stable extended-stay market
- High market flexibility with 60.2% accepting 3 nights or less
Recommendations
- Set minimum stays between 2-3 nights to align with market standards
- Adjust minimum stays seasonally based on demand patterns
- Consider monthly stay discounts to capture the growing extended-stay market
- Implement different minimum stays for weekends vs. weekdays
Cancellation Policy Distribution
Super Strict 60 Days
26 listings
1.9% of total
Super Strict 30 Days
145 listings
10.8% of total
Non-refundable
4 listings
0.3% of total
Flexible
62 listings
4.6% of total
Moderate
256 listings
19% of total
Firm
368 listings
27.4% of total
Strict
484 listings
36% of total
Key Insights
- Strict is the preferred policy at 36.0% of listings
- Stricter policies (Firm & Strict) dominate at 63.4% of the market
- Strong market consensus around Strict policies
- Non-refundable policies are least common at 0.3% of listings
Recommendations
- The market supports stricter policies, with 63.4% using Firm or Strict terms
- Strong market preference for Strict policies suggests this should be your baseline
Booking Lead Time Trends
Key Insights
- Peak booking lead times occur in Jul, Jun, Feb, averaging 81 days
- Shortest booking windows are in Oct, Apr, Nov, averaging 47 days
- Summer shows the longest average booking window at 79 days, while Fall has the shortest at 48 days
Recommendations
- Implement dynamic pricing strategies for Summer bookings at least 79 days in advance
- Consider early bird discounts during Fall to encourage longer lead times
- Focus on last-minute booking promotions during Oct-Nov when lead times are shortest
Popular Airbnb Amenities in South Lake Tahoe
Below is the distribution of amenities across listings in South Lake Tahoe:
Traveler Demographics
Key Insights
- Domestic travelers make up 94.3% of total guests, indicating a dominant local market share.
- Primary international markets: United Kingdom (0.8%) and Mexico (0.5%)
- English is the top language at 71.6%, followed by Spanish (17.8%)
- Notable demographic segment in <=1950s (Pre-1950s (Silent Gen)) at 4.2%
Recommendations
- Target marketing campaigns for San Francisco and San Jose markets
- Develop localized content for United Kingdom and Mexico
- Prioritize English and Spanish language support
- Tailor experiences for Pre-1950s (Silent Gen) while maintaining broad age appeal
- Implement seasonal promotions aligned with key market travel patterns
Nearby Markets
Explore short-term rental performance in markets surrounding South Lake Tahoe. These nearby markets offer diverse opportunities for property investors and hosts:
| Market | Properties | Monthly Revenue | Daily Rate | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenbrook | 33 | $9,573 | $836.73 | 42% |
| Wawona | 62 | $7,189 | $515.43 | 48% |
| Yosemite National Park | 230 | $6,428 | $461.99 | 47% |
| Zephyr Cove | 189 | $6,239 | $568.98 | 36% |
| Yosemite West | 27 | $5,737 | $324.23 | 54% |
| Incline Village-Crystal Bay | 163 | $5,690 | $538.47 | 40% |
| Stateline | 30 | $5,426 | $515.55 | 45% |
| Meyers | 192 | $5,417 | $423.92 | 44% |
| Homewood | 134 | $5,273 | $515.95 | 40% |
| Kyburz | 11 | $4,991 | $320.61 | 45% |
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