Gatlinburg, TN
Great Smoky Mountains gateway - year-round demand
Gatlinburg sits at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park - the most-visited national park in the US with 12M+ annual visitors. Unlike beach markets, Gatlinburg runs nearly year-round: peak summer hiking, fall foliage, winter ski/holiday, and spring wildflower season. Cabin inventory dominates and strong occupancy metrics translate to exceptional cap rates.
1 active listing in Gatlinburg currently rate Strong Buy
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Estimated Annual Performance
* Estimates based on market averages. Individual property performance varies. Always run a full underwriting analysis.
Why Investors Choose Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg STR investing, answered
Is Gatlinburg, TN a good short-term rental market?
Gatlinburg is a Southeast STR market averaging a 4.1% cap rate, 37% annual occupancy, and $268/night across STR-viable listings, based on 489 active listings. Gatlinburg sits at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park - the most-visited national park in the US with 12M+ annual visitors. Unlike beach markets, Gatlinburg runs nearly year-round: peak summer hiking, fall foliage, winter ski/holiday, and spring wildflower season. Cabin inventory dominates and strong occupancy metrics translate to exceptional cap rates.
What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in Gatlinburg?
STR-viable properties in Gatlinburg average about 37% occupancy across the year. Peak season is Year-round (peaks: Oct foliage, Dec holidays). 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 Gatlinburg?
At $268/night and 37% occupancy, a typical Gatlinburg STR grosses roughly $36,096 per year before expenses, leaving an estimated $21,658 in net operating income against a $781K average price, an implied 2.8% cap rate. Individual results depend on property, amenities, and management.
What types of properties work best for STR in Gatlinburg?
The strongest-performing STR property types in Gatlinburg are Cabin, Chalet, Condo. 12M+ visitors to Smoky Mountains NP 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 Gatlinburg?
STR-viable listings in Gatlinburg average around $781K. Primary STR ZIP codes include 37738, 37862, 37863. Combined with the market's 4.1% 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.Stats sourced from 489 active listings · last updated Aug 27, 2026
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