Lake of the Ozarks, MO
Midwest's biggest party lake - high-volume boating STR market
Lake of the Ozarks is a 1,150-mile shoreline reservoir in central Missouri - the most-visited lake in the Midwest with over 5 million annual visitors. The STR market is dominated by lakefront properties with boat docks, and summer demand from Kansas City, St. Louis, and Chicago is intense. Entry prices are extremely low relative to returns, producing some of the strongest cash-on-cash returns of any US lakefront market.
41 active listings in Lake of the Ozarks are analyzed and ranked right now
Scored 1-10 against real Airbnb comps. See which properties rank highest and why.
Estimated Annual Performance
* Estimates based on market averages. Individual property performance varies. Always run a full underwriting analysis.
Why Investors Choose Lake of the Ozarks
Lake of the Ozarks STR investing, answered
Is Lake of the Ozarks, MO a good short-term rental market?
Lake of the Ozarks is a Midwest STR market averaging a 3.7% cap rate, 30% annual occupancy, and $312/night across STR-viable listings, based on 41 active listings. Lake of the Ozarks is a 1,150-mile shoreline reservoir in central Missouri - the most-visited lake in the Midwest with over 5 million annual visitors. The STR market is dominated by lakefront properties with boat docks, and summer demand from Kansas City, St. Louis, and Chicago is intense. Entry prices are extremely low relative to returns, producing some of the strongest cash-on-cash returns of any US lakefront market.
What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in Lake of the Ozarks?
STR-viable properties in Lake of the Ozarks average about 30% occupancy across the year. Peak season is Memorial Day - Labor Day (peak: July 4th). 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 Lake of the Ozarks?
At $312/night and 30% occupancy, a typical Lake of the Ozarks STR grosses roughly $34,392 per year before expenses, leaving an estimated $20,635 in net operating income against a $1.4M average price, an implied 1.5% cap rate. Individual results depend on property, amenities, and management.
What types of properties work best for STR in Lake of the Ozarks?
The strongest-performing STR property types in Lake of the Ozarks are Lakefront Home, Condo, Cabin, Single Family. 1,150 miles of shoreline - largest recreational lake in Missouri. 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 Lake of the Ozarks?
STR-viable listings in Lake of the Ozarks average around $1.4M. Primary STR ZIP codes include 65049, 65065, 65020. Combined with the market's 3.7% 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 41 active listings · last updated Sep 1, 2026
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