Disclaimer: ADR and occupancy figures are estimates based on aggregated market data as of early 2026. Individual property performance varies significantly. Always conduct your own due diligence before purchasing or listing.
TL;DR
- Miami Beach: High ADR ($250–$450/night), year-round demand, permit-heavy regulation.
- Destin, FL: Strong summer beach season, ADR $200–$380/night, STR-friendly zoning.
- Myrtle Beach, SC: Accessible entry price, long summer season, STR-permissive rules.
- Smoky Mountains (Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge): 4-season demand, ADR $150–$280/night, cabin-centric.
- Joshua Tree, CA: Design-forward desert market, ADR $220–$400/night, tightening STR ordinance.
The US short-term rental market is not monolithic. A beachfront condo in Destin and a boulder-view cabin in Joshua Tree attract completely different guests, peak at different times, and face different regulatory headwinds. If you're evaluating where to buy or expand your STR portfolio in 2026, here is what the data says about five of the most active vacation-home markets in the country.
1. Miami / Miami Beach, Florida
| Peak season | December–April (winter escape), Art Basel (December), Ultra Music Festival (March) |
| Typical ADR | $250–$450/night (1-BR); $380–$700/night (2-BR) |
| Typical occupancy | 65–80% annually; 85%+ during peak months |
| Key risk | Miami Beach permit requirements — strict annual caps on STR licenses |
Miami is one of the highest-revenue STR markets in the country, driven by a combination of international leisure travelers, domestic snowbirds, and a packed events calendar. The city of Miami (Brickell, Wynwood, Little Havana) is relatively permissive — hosts register annually and pay the county's 6% Tourist Development Tax plus 7% state sales tax. Miami Beach is a different story. The barrier-island city has imposed a cap on STR licenses in most residential zones, and enforcement has intensified since 2024. If you're buying on Miami Beach specifically, verify that the property already holds a transferable STR license before closing. Without it, you may be limited to 30-day-plus stays or owner-occupied rentals only.
Hurricane season (June–November) is the market's primary demand valley. Direct hits are rare, but guests avoid South Florida during named storms — booking cancellations spike, and travel insurance costs are a real guest deterrent in August and September.
2. Destin / 30A, Florida
| Peak season | Memorial Day–Labor Day (June–August core); Spring Break (March) |
| Typical ADR | $200–$380/night (1-BR beachfront); $350–$650 (3-BR) |
| Typical occupancy | 55–70% annually; 90%+ in July |
| Key risk | Heavy summer concentration — off-season October–February can be slow |
The Emerald Coast — Destin, Fort Walton Beach, and the 30A corridor (Rosemary Beach, Seaside, WaterColor) — is the quintessential Gulf Coast family beach destination. The sugar-white sand and emerald-green water pull enormous summer demand, and the region's STR regulatory environment remains among the most favorable in the Southeast. Florida state law largely preempts local STR bans, so Okaloosa and Walton counties have limited tools to restrict short-term rentals.
The risk here is demand concentration. Roughly 60–65% of annual revenue is earned in a 12-week summer window. Hosts who model their returns on peak rates year-round consistently underperform. Off-season rates can fall to $120–$180/night for a 1-bedroom unit, and occupancy in November–January often drops below 35%. Strong operators mitigate this with minimum-stay rules during peak (5–7 nights), aggressive off-season discounts, and targeting snowbird monthly stays November–February.
3. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
| Peak season | June–August; secondary spring (Golf season, March–May) |
| Typical ADR | $130–$220/night (1-BR oceanfront condo); $200–$340 (3-BR house) |
| Typical occupancy | 55–68% annually |
| Key risk | Oversupply — large condo inventory creates strong price competition |
Myrtle Beach offers the most accessible entry point of the five markets covered here. Oceanfront condos can be acquired for $180,000–$350,000, versus $600,000+ for comparable Destin or Miami inventory. South Carolina is one of the most STR-friendly states: Horry County (which includes Myrtle Beach) requires a simple business license and the collection of state accommodations tax (7%) plus local hospitality tax (1.5%). There is no cap on licenses and no minimum-stay mandate at the county level.
The challenge is inventory depth. Myrtle Beach has an enormous stock of short-term rental condos — tens of thousands of units — and competition is fierce during the shoulder months. Hosts who differentiate on quality (high-end finishes, resort amenities, professional photography) routinely outperform the median by 25–35% ADR. Golf tourism from March through May is an underutilized secondary peak — nearby courses like TPC Myrtle Beach and Caledonia draw repeat visitors who prefer house rentals over hotels.
4. Smoky Mountains — Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
| Peak season | Summer (June–August) + Fall foliage (October); strong Christmas/New Year |
| Typical ADR | $150–$280/night (1-BR cabin); $250–$450 (3-BR cabin with hot tub) |
| Typical occupancy | 65–78% annually — one of the most balanced year-round markets |
| Key risk | Sevier County zoning limits on new STR permits in certain residential areas |
The Smoky Mountains market — centered on Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge in Sevier County, Tennessee — is one of the most consistently booked STR markets in the US. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (the most-visited national park in the country with 13+ million annual visitors) drives demand across all four seasons: summer hiking and tubing, fall foliage in October, Christmas cabin season, and spring wildflower blooms. This four-season balance is rare and reduces the off-season revenue risk that plagues beach-only markets.
The product type matters here more than in most markets. Guests expect private hot tubs, game rooms, mountain views, and a distinctly "cabin" aesthetic. A well-appointed 2-bedroom cabin with a hot tub and mountain view can command $220–$300/night and sustain 72%+ annual occupancy. Generic condo-style units perform significantly worse. Gatlinburg zoning has introduced restrictions on new STR permits in some residential zones — check Sevier County's current zoning map before purchasing.
5. Joshua Tree, California
| Peak season | October–April (desert spring); avoids brutal summer heat |
| Typical ADR | $220–$400/night (1-BR design property); $350–$600 (3-BR compound) |
| Typical occupancy | 55–68% annually; peaks hit 85%+ in October–November |
| Key risk | San Bernardino County 2024 STR ordinance caps new permits in unincorporated areas |
Joshua Tree has become a darling of the design-forward STR world. Instagram-ready desert homes — domes, Airstream pads, mid-century bungalows, and shipping-container retreats — have driven national attention and ADRs well above market norms for the San Bernardino County desert. Proximity to Joshua Tree National Park, two-hour drive time from Los Angeles, and a strong music and arts scene (Coachella spillover in April) support peak-season demand from a high-income, experience-seeking guest demographic willing to pay $300–$500/night for the right property.
The regulatory situation tightened significantly in 2024. San Bernardino County adopted a new STR ordinance for unincorporated areas that caps the number of permits per census tract and requires annual renewal with noise-monitoring device installation. Properties that already hold permits are grandfathered, but new applications in saturated tracts may be denied. Before buying for STR purposes in the 92252 or 92284 zip codes, confirm permit availability with the county planning department.
Summer (June–September) is genuinely off-season — daytime temperatures of 100°F+ suppress demand hard. Hosts who price aggressively downward in summer or temporarily block the calendar avoid the risk of bad reviews from guests underestimating desert heat.
Market Comparison at a Glance
| Market | 1-BR ADR | Occupancy | STR Regulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami / Miami Beach | $250–$450 | 65–80% | ⚠ Permit cap on Miami Beach |
| Destin / 30A | $200–$380 | 55–70% | ✓ State preemption protects STR |
| Myrtle Beach | $130–$220 | 55–68% | ✓ STR-friendly, no cap |
| Smoky Mountains | $150–$280 | 65–78% | ⚠ Sevier Co. zoning limits in some zones |
| Joshua Tree | $220–$400 | 55–68% | ⚠ County cap on new permits (2024) |
How to Use This Data
ADR and occupancy ranges are market medians — your specific property will land above or below based on location within the market, property type, amenity quality, listing photos, review score, and pricing strategy. A well-managed cabin in Gatlinburg with strong photography and a hot tub will outperform the market median; a dated condo with mediocre photos will underperform.
Regulation is the variable that can change fastest. Miami Beach went from permissive to capped in a short legislative cycle. California has pre-empted local bans but San Bernardino's cap mechanism sidesteps that. Always verify current permit status before committing capital.