Bar Harbor, ME
Acadia National Park gateway - Maine's premier island STR market
Bar Harbor sits at the entrance to Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island - Maine's top tourist destination and the second most-visited national park in the East. The compressed summer season (July-August) produces some of the highest short-season occupancy rates in New England. Lobster dinners, whale watching, and the carriage road network create a tourism ecosystem that supports premium ADR.
Estimated Annual Performance
* Estimates based on market averages. Individual property performance varies. Always run a full underwriting analysis.
Why Investors Choose Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor STR investing, answered
Is Bar Harbor, ME a good short-term rental market?
Bar Harbor is a Northeast STR market averaging a 7.8% cap rate, 57% annual occupancy, and $385/night across STR-viable listings. Bar Harbor sits at the entrance to Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island - Maine's top tourist destination and the second most-visited national park in the East. The compressed summer season (July-August) produces some of the highest short-season occupancy rates in New England. Lobster dinners, whale watching, and the carriage road network create a tourism ecosystem that supports premium ADR.
What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in Bar Harbor?
STR-viable properties in Bar Harbor average about 57% occupancy across the year. Peak season is July - August (very concentrated). Occupancy here reflects availability-adjusted booking performance, not raw calendar occupancy, so it represents what a full-time operated rental can realistically achieve.
How much do short-term rentals earn in Bar Harbor?
At $385/night and 57% occupancy, a typical Bar Harbor STR grosses roughly $80,099 per year before expenses, leaving an estimated $48,059 in net operating income against a $620K average price, an implied 7.8% cap rate. Individual results depend on property, amenities, and management.
What types of properties work best for STR in Bar Harbor?
The strongest-performing STR property types in Bar Harbor are Cottage, Single Family, Inn Suite, Waterfront Home. Acadia NP gateway - 4M+ national park visitors annually. Matching the local guest profile and the amenities that drive bookings in this market matters more than raw square footage.
What is the median STR-viable home price in Bar Harbor?
STR-viable listings in Bar Harbor average around $620K. Primary STR ZIP codes include 04609, 04660. Combined with the market's 7.8% average cap rate, that price level sets the return baseline you'd underwrite against.
Market averages, not guarantees. Cap rates, occupancy, and nightly rates are market-wide averages based on active STR listings and historical data. Individual property performance depends on location, amenities, management, and listing quality. Always run a full underwriting analysis before purchasing.
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