Top 10 Year-Round Short-Term Rental Markets in 2025

Key Takeaways

• Year-round short-term rental markets offer investors predictable revenue streams and operational simplicity, eliminating the anxiety of seasonal revenue gaps.
• Hawaii dominates the top year-round markets with three islands in the top 10, while mid-sized cities like Lafayette, Louisiana, and Little Rock, Arkansas, surprise with impressively stable occupancy patterns year-round.
• Beyond location, AirDNA's Seasonality Score, monthly occupancy patterns, and booking lead time provide the critical metrics investors need to identify the best year-round rental markets.

Seasonal vacation rentals can be as temperamental as a first-time guest with unrealistic expectations. One minute, they're showering you with summer bookings; the next, they're ghosting you through those long winter months.

Steady markets offer something more valuable than fleeting summer surges—they deliver predictable income that makes forecasting, financing, and frankly, sleeping at night much easier. In these destinations, vacation rentals attract guests in January just as reliably as July, with revenue graphs that would make your financial advisor proud. These top year-round STR markets let you build a scalable business rather than ride a seasonal wave.

For investors eager to minimize those nail-biting slow months, we've analyzed occupancy rates, RevPAR fluctuations, and booking lead times to identify destinations where demand remains remarkably stable. So strap in — we're about to explore the markets where "off-season" is just a theoretical concept.

The Benefits of Investing in Year-Round Short-Term Rental Markets

Investing in short-term rental markets without seasonality is like choosing a reliable sedan over a flashy convertible. Sure, the convertible might turn more heads during those perfect summer days, but it's the sedan that gets you where you need to go reliably, rain or shine.

The math behind the top year-round STR markets is compelling. When your property maintains consistent occupancy across all four seasons, you eliminate those anxiety-inducing revenue gaps that plague seasonal destinations. A listing that generates steady income in February carries far less risk than one that shines in July but hibernates through winter.

This stability translates directly to your bottom line. When you invest in year-round vacation destinations, you can forecast your annual revenue with greater confidence, plan renovations during genuinely slower periods (not dead ones), and maintain more predictable cash flow. For financing purposes, lenders often prefer properties with consistent income streams over those with dramatic seasonal swings.

Beyond the financial advantages, markets with minimal travel seasonality simplify your operational logistics. You'll maintain a more consistent cleaning and maintenance schedule, keep your property management team steadily employed, and avoid the feast-or-famine cycle of seasonal destinations. You can optimize your systems for consistency rather than constantly ramping up or down.

For first-time investors, this reliability creates a much gentler learning curve. Instead of immediately facing the advanced challenge of maximizing a brief peak season while minimizing losses during extended off-periods, you can hone your skills in a forgiving environment where mistakes don't carry such steep financial penalties.

Top 10 Year-Round Short-Term Rental Markets in 2025

Before we dive into the top 10 markets, let's point out a few things about our list.

First, our analysis reveals that the markets with the top year-round STR markets fall into three distinct categories: 

1. Beach destinations
2. Major urban centers
3. Mid-sized cities

It should make sense why urban markets make the list—they typically demonstrate less seasonality because their attractions aren't weather-dependent. Business travel, cultural venues, and governmental activities create steady booking patterns throughout the year. 

Meanwhile, beach destinations require closer examination—don’t assume they’re all non-seasonal Airbnb markets. Weather consistency is the crucial factor separating year-round performers like Hawaii from highly seasonal coastal markets like Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

With that said, let's examine the leading destinations where Airbnb seasonality trends barely register on an investor's radar:

1. Hawaii

The Hawaiian islands dominate our list of STR markets that get bookings year-round, claiming three of the top spots. This tropical paradise maintains steady occupancy thanks to its consistently pleasant climate and position as a bucket-list destination that attracts as many travelers on Christmas as on the Fourth of July.

Oahu

• Seasonality Score: 99.4
• Annual Revenue: $72,300
• ADR: $328.15
• Occupancy: 73%

Kauai

• Seasonality Score:98.8
• Annual Revenue: $101,000
• ADR: $486.76
• Occupancy: 72%

Maui

• Seasonality Score: 98.1
• Annual revenue: $91,700
• ADR: $486.02
• Occupancy: 67%

Big Island

• Seasonality Score: 96.1
• Annual revenue: $70,900
• ADR: $379.58
• Occupancy: 65%

2. Lafayette, Louisiana

• Seasonality Score: 98.6
• Annual Revenue: $22,00
• ADR: $144.62
• Occupancy: 51%

This southern Louisiana city might surprise some investors, but with a remarkable Seasonality Score of 98.6, Lafayette proves that you don't need a flashy property in a beach town or big city to achieve year-round demand.

Lafayette benefits from a diverse economy anchored by healthcare, education, and energy sectors, plus a steady stream of visitors drawn to its unique Cajun and Creole culture.

3. Little Rock, Arkansas

• Seasonality Score: 98.5
• Annual Revenue: $21,300
• ADR: $142.47
• Occupancy: 51%

Arkansas' capital city maintains an impressive Seasonality Score, offering reliable performance throughout the year. Little Rock benefits from being the state’s governmental and business hub, generating consistent corporate travel alongside tourism driven by its historical sites, outdoor recreation, and cultural attractions.

4. El Paso, Texas

• Seasonality Score: 98.3
• Annual Revenue: $17,100
• ADR: $118.10
• Occupancy: 51%

With a Seasonality Score of 98.3, El Paso demonstrates how border cities can offer remarkably stable Airbnb year-round performance. El Paso's steady demand stems from its position as a commercial gateway to Mexico, military presence at Fort Bliss, and growing reputation as a cultural destination.

5. Jackson, Mississippi

• Seasonality Score: 97.8
• Annual Revenue: $24,400
• ADR: $154.81
• Occupancy: 54%

Mississippi's capital claims a strong Seasonality Score with balanced performance across all seasons. Jackson benefits from government and business travel, university-related visits, and tourists exploring its significant civil rights history and southern culture.

6. Las Vegas, Nevada

• Seasonality Score: 97.6
• Annual Revenue: $49,500
• ADR: $277.94
• Occupancy: 57%

Sin City defies Airbnb slow season patterns that plague other tourist destinations. With year-round conventions and entertainment drawing consistent crowds regardless of weather, Las Vegas maintains surprisingly stable demand patterns. 

The city's vast entertainment infrastructure works as a weather-proof attraction system, creating what amounts to an indoor tourist economy that operates 365 days a year.

7. Las Cruces, New Mexico

• Seasonality Score: 97.5
• Annual Revenue: $22,800
• ADR: $142.01
• Occupancy: 55%

This southern New Mexico gem offers investors a remarkably balanced performance calendar with minimal seasonal variations. Las Cruces benefits from its proximity to White Sands National Park, year-round outdoor recreation opportunities due to mild winters, and steady university-related demand from New Mexico State University.

8. San Francisco, California

• Seasonality Score: 97.0
• Annual Revenue: $52,400
• ADR: $284.19
• Occupancy: 63%

The City by the Bay demonstrates how urban centers with diverse demand drivers can achieve impressive year-round stability. San Francisco's combination of corporate travel, tourism attractions, and cultural events creates a market that resists typical Airbnb off-season patterns.

9. Atlanta, Georgia

• Seasonality Score: 96.1
• Annual Revenue: $29,000
• ADR: $187.42
• Occupancy: 51%

Georgia's capital and business hub offers solid performance metrics with minimal seasonal fluctuations. Atlanta's diverse economy spans corporate headquarters, entertainment production, conventions, and sporting events—creating multiple demand drivers that operate independently of typical Airbnb low season patterns.

10. Riverside, California

• Seasonality Score: 95.0
• Annual Revenue: $43,900
• ADR: $286.89
• Occupancy: 50%

Rounding out our top 10 is this Southern California market that benefits from consistent year-round weather and proximity to multiple demand drivers.

Riverside's location within driving distance of Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and Joshua Tree National Park creates a steady flow of visitors, while its university and business presence generate additional demand that maintains consistent occupancy patterns.

Year-Round Markets vs. Seasonal Rental Hotspots

The difference between consistent year-round markets and seasonal rental hotspots is like comparing a steady paycheck to winning the lottery once a year. One keeps your bank account at a comfortable simmer, the other delivers a spectacular boil followed by months of watching the pot run dry.

Let's pit Oahu (our year-round champion) against Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri (a seasonality poster child with a score of just 2.62) in a market performance cage match:

Occupancy patterns

Lake of the Ozarks occupancy performs like a heartbeat monitor during a horror movie—wild spikes and terrifying flatlines. January bottoms out at 26.2% while July surges to 71.8%—a jarring 45% swing. 

Meanwhile, Oahu's occupancy chart resembles the steady vitals of a yoga instructor: A calm range from 66% in November to 79% in July, just a 13% variation.

Revenue fluctuations

When we index revPAR against annual averages, Lake of the Ozarks reveals its split personality. July revPAR rockets 92% above the annual average—spectacular!—but winter months crash nearly 60% below average—catastrophic! 

Oahu, meanwhile, stays remarkably centered, with even its best month rising just 10% above the annual average. It's the difference between a rollercoaster and a leisurely train ride—both can be enjoyable, but one requires significantly stronger nerves.

Pricing dynamics

Airbnb peak seasons transform Lake of the Ozarks into a pricing powerhouse each summer, commanding $385-$400 average daily rates that temporarily outshine Oahu's steady $360. But winter tells a different story, with rates plunging to $210.

The plot twist? Despite Lake of the Ozarks' impressive summer pricing, Oahu still delivers better revPAR even during those months. It's a classic tortoise-and-hare situation where consistent occupancy outperforms flashy rates when it comes to actual dollars in your account.

3 Metrics to Assess a Market's Year-Round Potential

Want to separate the steady performers from the fair-weather friends in the STR marketplace? Three key metrics will tell you everything you need to know about a market's year-round earning potential. 

1. Seasonality Score

AirDNA's Seasonality Score is like a market's consistency report card. This clever metric takes the highest and lowest monthly revPAR figures and flips them into an inverse ratio—meaning higher scores indicate steadier performance throughout the year.

Score above 80? You've found a unicorn market with minimal seasonality, where your revenue chart will look more like a gentle wave than a roller coaster. These destinations are the investment equivalent of finding a partner who's equally charming to your parents and your friends—reliable in any context.

Spot a score below 30? Prepare for extreme seasonal mood swings, with dramatic differences between peak glory and Airbnb off-season despair. These markets can deliver spectacular summer flings but might leave you feeling abandoned come winter. They're not necessarily bad investments—just higher-maintenance relationships.

 2. Occupancy rate

Monthly occupancy patterns tell the real truth about a market's personality, while the annual average is just the highlight reel. 

Markets like Oahu maintain occupancy rates that hover reliably between 66-79% year-round, like that friend who's always down to hang out, regardless of what else is happening. This steady demand lets you plan with confidence instead of biting your nails over booking gaps.

But here's where investors tend to get tripped up: A decent annual occupancy average can hide some serious seasonal highs (and lows). Take Myrtle Beach, sporting a respectable 58% annual average that masks an impressive peak occupancy of 81.8%. 

For seasonal markets, monthly occupancy trends help you decide when to actively pursue bookings and when it might be time for a strategic break from operations. Sometimes, the question isn't how to get bookings year-round but rather when to stop trying and focus exclusively on the high-performing months.

3. Booking lead time

A market's seasonality fundamentally changes how guests book—and having insights into booking patterns gives you an extraordinary edge in your Airbnb seasonal pricing strategy. 

In highly seasonal destinations, the ticking clock of peak season scarcity drives guests to secure reservations months in advance. 

Lake of the Ozarks provides a textbook example of this behavior: 54% of prime summer bookings were locked down more than 60 days in advance. On July 25th specifically, less than half of total bookings (777 out of 1,7000) occurred in the preceding 60 days—the majority were secured much earlier, when most hosts weren't even thinking about summer pricing.

This revelation is pure profit potential. In markets with strong advance booking patterns, your pricing strategy needs to be firing on all cylinders 9-12 months before peak season, when eager guests are already planning and booking. Implement summer pricing too late, and you've essentially left stacks of cash on the table that your competitors will gladly pocket.

Year-round markets tend to offer more forgiving booking patterns, giving you breathing room to adjust rates strategically without the pressure of a single make-or-break booking window that determines your entire annual performance.

FAQs

What are the best markets for short-term rentals?

Hawaii dominates year-round performance, with Oahu, Kauai, and Maui leading the pack. For investors who prioritize consistency, cities like Lafayette, Little Rock, and Las Vegas offer impressive stability. 

Meanwhile, seasonal rental hotspots like Lake of the Ozarks can deliver extraordinary peak-season returns for those willing to navigate the off-season challenges. The ideal market ultimately depends on your investment goals, operational capabilities, and risk tolerance.

What is the peak season for Airbnb?

The majority of Airbnb peak seasons fall during summer months (June-August), though notable exceptions include ski destinations, which thrive during winter months (December-March). Urban markets typically experience less dramatic seasonal patterns, with business travel and local events creating more consistent demand throughout the year.

What is Airbnb's slow season?

Airbnb's slow season for most markets occurs during fall and winter months (November-February) when travel typically decreases nationwide. 

Ski destinations experience their slow periods during opposite times (April-November), while desert locations often see reduced bookings during the summer heat. The intensity of these slow seasons varies dramatically by market—highly seasonal destinations may see occupancy drop below 35% during off-peak months, while year-round performers maintain steady 65%+ occupancy even during their "quieter" periods.

Do Airbnbs get more expensive closer to the date?

Yes, Airbnb pricing typically gets more expensive closer to the stay date, particularly during high-demand periods. 

In year-round vacation destinations with steady demand, last-minute bookings often command premium rates as availability shrinks. However, in seasonal markets during Airbnb low season, prices frequently drop as the stay date approaches to capture whatever demand exists.