Airbnb Occupancy Rate in South Lake Tahoe, United States, Data & Trends 2026
Curious about the performance of short-term rentals in South Lake Tahoe, United States? Over the last year, the average occupancy rate was 46% with an ADR (Average Daily Rate) of 414€. Hosts earned on average 5088€ per month.
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90-day occupancy forecast for South Lake Tahoe so you can update rates and stay ahead of competitors.
Market summary in South Lake Tahoe
Key metrics to optimize your pricing strategy
Avg. Monthly Revenue
5088€
$4630 USD
YoY Revenue Change
-7%
vs. previous year
Occupancy Rate
46%
~14 days/month
Average Daily Rate
414€
$377 USD
Seasonality Index
118%
demand variation
Best Months
July, August
peak season
Worst Months
November, April
low season
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What South Lake Tahoe's occupancy and ADR actually mean
Over the June 2025 to May 2026 window, South Lake Tahoe ran 46% average occupancy across roughly 165 booked nights a year, ten points below the 56% US national average and among the lower occupancies of the 42 US cities ListingOK tracks, a direct consequence of its strict permit cap and twin shoulder troughs. The headline figure is the 416 euro (about 378 dollar) average daily rate, one of the highest on the entire list, reflecting premium ski-and-lake cabin pricing.
That high rate is what carries the market: despite modest occupancy and just 165 nights a year, average monthly revenue reaches 5,112 euros (about 4,647 dollars) per listing, the strongest in this batch. A 116% seasonality index confirms the sharp twin-peak concentration, and a 6% year-on-year revenue dip points to mild cooling. Read together, this is a high-ADR, low-occupancy, supply-constrained market where rate, not nights, drives the economics.
Monthly Airbnb occupancy in South Lake Tahoe
Average occupancy rate by month in South Lake Tahoe, compared with the same month a year earlier.
| Month | Occupancy | Prior year |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2025 | 70.3% | 70.8% |
| Aug 2025 | 61.2% | 59% |
| Sep 2025 | 39.2% | 41% |
| Oct 2025 | 31.4% | 31.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 38.7% | 38.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 52.1% | 54.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 47.7% | 48.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 57.2% | 60.9% |
| Mar 2026 | 41.9% | 46.7% |
| Apr 2026 | 26.2% | 32.3% |
| May 2026 | 42.6% | 39.7% |
| Jun 2026 | 61.5% | 65.1% |
Historical Airbnb occupancy in South Lake Tahoe (last 12 months)
📌 Historical trends reveal seasonal highs – plan accordingly.
Airbnb occupancy forecast in South Lake Tahoe (next 90 days)
These figures reflect real-time demand in South Lake Tahoe, helping you plan and price strategically.
Why people book Airbnbs in South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe sits on the California side of Lake Tahoe's southern shore, straddling the Nevada state line, and its short-term rental demand is uniquely dual-natured, driven by both a winter ski season and a summer lake season. In winter, the Heavenly Mountain Resort gondola rising straight from the town centre, plus nearby Kirkwood and Sierra-at-Tahoe, pull skiers and snowboarders; in summer, the lake's beaches, boating, hiking and the Stateline casinos just over the Nevada border draw a completely different crowd.
The core traveller alternates by season: ski families and groups renting cabins in winter, lake-and-outdoor visitors in summer, with the Stateline casino-resort strip providing nightlife and events year-round. Emerald Bay, the Tahoe Rim Trail and the lake's famous clarity anchor warm-season appeal. With 159 active listings in a town of just over 21,000, supply is tightly regulated, making this a high-rate, permit-constrained mountain-and-lake market.
When Airbnb demand peaks in South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe is genuinely twin-peaked, a rare profile: it has both a summer lake peak and a winter ski peak, separated by deep shoulder troughs. The strongest months in the data are July and August, with July reaching 70.9% in 2024 and June-July consistently in the mid-to-high 60s, driven by lake recreation. A clear secondary peak forms in the December-to-February ski season, with February reaching 60.9% in 2025 on snow and holiday demand.
The genuine troughs are the shoulder seasons: April, the worst month, drops to just 26% in 2026 as the snow melts but the lake season has not begun, and October-November fall to the low 30s after summer ends. This double-peak, double-trough shape means operators must price two distinct high seasons and accept two soft mud-season windows, making April and late autumn the clear discount periods.
Best neighbourhoods for short-term rentals in South Lake Tahoe
The Heavenly Valley and Ski Run Boulevard area, close to the Heavenly gondola, is prime winter stock, converting on ski-in convenience and commanding peak rates in snow season. The Stateline strip on the Nevada border puts guests next to the casino-resorts, nightlife and events, suiting year-round visitors who want walkable amenities.
The Tahoe Keys, a waterfront community of canals and private boat docks, is the premium summer product, drawing lake-and-boating renters at top rates, while the Al Tahoe and Bijou residential neighbourhoods offer classic cabins set back from the action for families and longer stays. Across all areas, the binding constraint is South Lake Tahoe's VHR permit system: a property cannot be legally let without an active vacation-home-rental permit, which matters more than location.
Short-term rental rules in South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe runs one of the strictest vacation-rental regimes in the US, and the rules have changed materially. A 2025 court ruling struck down Measure T, the 2018 voter measure that had largely banned vacation home rentals (VHRs) in residential neighbourhoods, and the City Council then adopted an amended VHR ordinance effective July 2025 that re-legalised VHRs citywide with guardrails. A further amendment (Ordinance 2026-1203) took effect 23 April 2026.
The binding constraint is a cap of 900 VHR permits in residential areas, with the city processing applications subject to that cap; the older distance buffer between rentals was removed. Operators need an active VHR permit, must comply with occupancy, parking and noise standards, and collect the city's transient occupancy tax. Because the cap means permits are limited and the rules are still being amended, only treat a unit as viable if it holds an active VHR permit, and confirm current terms with the City of South Lake Tahoe before buying or onboarding.
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* Calculations based on 30 days/month. Actual results may vary depending on market, season, property type, and implemented strategy.
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Frequently asked questions about Airbnb occupancy in South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe averaged about 46% occupancy over the June 2025 to May 2026 period, roughly 165 booked nights a year, ten points below the 56% US national average. The figure is held down by a strict permit cap and two deep shoulder troughs, but the market runs on very high nightly rates rather than high occupancy.
It has two peaks: July and August lead on lake recreation, with July topping 70%, and a winter ski peak forms from December to February, with February near 61%. The troughs are the shoulder seasons, with April the worst at about 26% as snow melts before lake season. Price both high seasons and discount the mud months.
Yes, and it is strict. After a 2025 court ruling struck down Measure T's residential ban, the city re-legalised vacation home rentals with a cap of 900 VHR permits in residential areas, effective July 2025 and amended again in April 2026. You need an active VHR permit plus occupancy, parking and noise compliance and the transient occupancy tax. Only buy a unit with an active permit.
Heavenly Valley and Ski Run Boulevard near the gondola are prime for winter ski-in stays, while the Stateline strip suits year-round casino-and-nightlife guests. The Tahoe Keys waterfront draws premium summer boating renters, and Al Tahoe and Bijou offer classic family cabins. An active VHR permit matters more than the neighbourhood.