Best Places for Airbnb in 2022 (USA)

The dream of owning Airbnb investment properties is nothing new, but the rise of “work from home” flexibility is further fueling inspiration, making short-term rental ownership realistic and attainable for the next generation of property owners.

Why not live in your vacation home, paid for by your other vacation homes? It’s a realistic goal… and it all starts with finding the best locations.

• National Parks
• Vacation Destinations
• Tourist Attractions
• Hospital Travel
• Universities
• Historic Neighborhoods
• State Capitals
• Popular Cities

What locations are best for Airbnb?

This article focuses on properties in the United States but the methodology can be applied elsewhere.

The “best location” for an Airbnb property is subjective, based largely on personal preference. So ask yourself: where would you like to travel and live? A beach house, lake house, mountain house, ski house, suburban family home, city house? The “best location” depends on finding a property you’re proud to own, in a place you personally enjoy, with a purpose you can easily explain.

Personal preferences can lead the way, but it’s imperative to outline the opportunities (or lack thereof). Picking locations with consistent, built-in travel demand is a huge strategic benefit and it guides our approach. It’s much easier to serve people who already plan on visiting your area rather than creating a destination and convincing people to visit.

That’s why we base our research on “travel magnets”: places that reliably attract travelers based on their unique characteristics.

We’ll whittle down each list by analyzing the full scope of the opportunity, taking into account local Airbnb Laws, current home prices, and projected revenue.

National Parks with Airbnb

The biggest opportunity for Airbnb investors right now is in land surrounding National Parks. There are only 63 officially designated National Parks in the United States and they are huge travel magnets.

As corporate workforces become more mobile, people are finding refuge in the great outdoors like never before. Owning a property near a National Park essentially guarantees visibility on short-term rental platforms.

Although many national parks have lodging options within their borders, some people seek the comfort of properties in nearby towns. Finding gems near national park entrances can be especially lucrative, but don’t overlook strategic areas that are in close proximity to other attractions as well, helping visitors round out a longer, more complete trip.

Most Visited National Parks in the USA

National Park	Annual Visitors	State(s)	Best Places to Stay
Great Smoky Mountains	12,095,720	North Carolina, Tennessee	Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Cherokee, Bryson City (thebrokebackpacker.com)
Yellowstone	3,806,306	Wyoming, Montana, Idaho	West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Cooke City – Silver Gate, Cody, Grand Teton NP (Source)
Zion	3,591,254	Utah	Springdale (at the entrance), La Verkin, Hurricane, St. George, Mt. Carmel Junction, Cedar City, East Zion, Kanab (CitrusMilo and VisitUtah)
Rocky Mountain	3,305,199	Colorado	Estes Park or Grand Lake (FullSuitcase.com)
Grand Teton	3,289,638	Wyoming	Jackson Hole
Grand Canyon	2,897,098	Arizona	Tusayan, Valle, Williams (FullSuitcase.com)
Cuyahoga Valley	2,755,628	Ohio	Cleveland, Akron, Summit (NPS)
Acadia	2,669,034	Maine	Bar Harbor
Olympic	2,499,177	Washington	Port Angeles, Lake Crescent, Forks (WheatlessWanderlust.com)
Joshua Tree	2,399,542	California	North of the park in the towns of Joshua Tree or Twentynine Palms, or west of the park in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, or Indio (RoadTrippingCalifornia)
Indiana Dunes	2,293,106	Indiana	Beverly Shores, Dune Acres, and Chicago is 1 hour away
Yosemite	2,268,313	California	Big Oak Flat Entrance (Highway 120) and Groveland, Arch Rock Entrance (Highway 140) El Portal and Mariposa, South Entrance is Fish Camp and Yosemite Forks, Hetchy Hetchy Entrance is longer hiking season and some waterfalls (PracticalWanderlust.com).
Glacier	1,698,864	Montana	Columbia Falls, Whitefish, Kalispell, and Bigfork (AlexOnTheMap.com)
Shenandoah	1,666,265	Virginia	Front Royal, Luray, Staunton, Sperryville, Charlottesville
Bryce Canyon	1,464,655	Utah	Bryce Canyon City and Tropic (DirtInMyShoes.com)
Hot Springs	1,348,215	Arkansas	Hot Springs
Arches	1,238,083	Utah	Moab (FullSuitcase.com)
Mount Rainier	1,160,754	Washington	Eatonville, Ashford, Packwood, Chehalis, Longview, Cougar (ExperienceWA.com)
New River Gorge	1,054,374	West Virginia	Fayetteville, Beckley (HowToBookYourTrip.com)
Capitol Reef	981,038	Utah	Torrey (HowToBookYourTrip.com)
Badlands	916,932	South Dakota	Interior, Murdo, Pine Ridge, Wall (BlackHillsVacations.com)
Death Valley	820,023	California, Nevada	Pahrump, Amargosa, Beatty (roadtrippingcalifornia.com)
Sequoia	796,086	California	Three Rivers, Visalia, Kernville (thecrazytourist.com)
Saguaro	762,226	Arizona	Tucson (howtobookyourtrip.com)
Everglades	702,319	Florida	Everglades City (outsideonline.com)
Crater Lake	670,500	Oregon	Prospect (destinationparks.com)
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes	589,775	Hawaii	Volcano Village, Hilo (thepointsguy.com)
Theodore Roosevelt	551,303	North Dakota	Medora (nationalparkstraveler.org)
Lassen Volcanic	542,274	California	Chester, Susanville, Red Bluff, Mt. Shasta, Redding, Burney (fodors.com, nps.gov)
Canyonlands	493,914	Utah	Moab (Island in the Sky), Monticello (Needles), Hanksville or Green River (Maze) – (moabadventurecenter.com)
Gateway Arch	486,021	Missouri	St. Louis (thebrokebackpacker.com)
Great Sand Dunes	461,532	Colorado	Alamosa, Mosca, Fort Garland, Monte Vista, San Luis, Moffat, Crestone, Pagosa Springs (mycoloradoparks.com)
Wind Cave	448,405	South Dakota	Hot Springs (15 minutes south), Custer (25 minutes north) (nps.gov)
White Sands	415,383	New Mexico	Alamogordo (13 miles), Las Cruces (50 miles) (travelandleisure.com)
Kings Canyon	415,077	California	Three Rivers, Visalia (destinationparks.com)
Biscayne	402,770	Florida	Homestead, Florida City, Miami (nps.gov)
Big Bend	393,907	Texas	Marathon, Lajitas, Study Butte, Terlingua Ghost Town (planetware.com)
Petrified Forest	384,483	Arizona	Holbrook, (usatoday.com)
Black Canyon of the Gunnison	341,620	Colorado	Montrose (South Rim), Crawford (North Rim) (mycoloradoparks.com)
Haleakalā	319,147	Hawaii	Anywhere in Maui besides Hana (tripadvisor)
Mammoth Cave	290,392	Kentucky	Bowling Green, Brownsville, Cave City, Glasgow, Horse Cave, Mundfordville (nps.gov, nearby attractions)
Mesa Verde	287,477	Colorado	Mancos, Cortez, Durango, Pagosa Springs (mycoloradoparks.com)
Redwood	265,177	California	Fort Bragg, Arcata, Crescent City, Mendocino (thebrokebackpacker.com)
Voyageurs	263,091	Minnesota	International Falls, Ranier, Kabetogama, Ash River, Crane Lake, and Orr (travelwithaplan.com)
Carlsbad Caverns	183,835	New Mexico	White City, Carlsbad (frommers.com)
Virgin Islands	167,540	Virgin Islands	St. John (nps.gov)
Channel Islands	167,290	California	Ventura or Santa Barbara (nps.gov)
Pinnacles	165,740	California	Soledad, Salinas, San Benito County (nps.gov)
Guadalupe Mountains	151,256	Texas, New Mexico	Dell City (TX), Whites City (NM), Carlsbad (NM), (dirtinmyshoes.com)
Great Basin	120,248	Nevada	Baker (frommers.com)
Congaree	119,306	South Carolina	Columbia (theculturetrip.com)
Kenai Fjords	115,882	Alaska	Seward (nps.gov)
Denali	54,850	Alaska	Healy (11 miles north), Cantwell (30 miles south), (nps.gov)
Katmai	51,511	Alaska	King Salmon, Naknek, Homer, Kodiak, Anchorage (nps.gov)
Dry Tortugas	48,543	Florida	Key West (ferry and flight departures) (thrillist.com)
North Cascades	30,885	Washington	Stehekin, Marblemount (seattletimes.com)
Wrangell–St. Elias	16,655	Alaska	Copper Valley (coppervalleychamber.com)
Kobuk Valley	11,185	Alaska	Kotzebue (Visitor Center) (nps.gov)
Isle Royale	6,493	Michigan, Minnesota	Houghton, Copper Harbor, Grand Portage, Grand Marais (nps.gov)
Glacier Bay	5,748	Alaska	Gustava (nps.gov)
Lake Clark	4,948	Alaska	Port Alsworth, Upper Twin Lake, Tuxedni Bay, Crescent Lake, Silver Salmon Creek, Chinitna Bay (nps.gov)
American Samoa	4,819	American Samoa	Too remote (americanfieldtrip.com)
Gates of the Arctic	2,872	Alaska	Too remote (nps.gov)

If you’re wondering why Niagara Falls isn’t on the list of National Parks, that’s because it’s actually a State Park. You’ll find that state parks are among the most beautiful in the country and can find a full list by state on Wikipedia.

And what about the iconic Mt. Rushmore? National Parks are the highlight of the National Park Service, but don’t overlook other NPS units that attract travelers near and far:

• National Memorials (ex: Mt Rushmore)
• National Military Parks (ex: Gettysburg)
• National Recreation Areas (ex: Chattahoochee River)
• National Seashores (ex: Assateague Island)

For more, see the complete list of NPS units at NPS.gov.

Vacation Destinations for Airbnb

When you think of a vacation home, what comes to mind? Most people think of a beach house or a log cabin on a mountain. Those two opposites – one being close to the water and one super high in the sky – are the two biggest travel magnets for vacation homes (aside from big cities).

Unlike years past, vacation destinations needn’t be limited to areas with amazing branding, marketing teams, and chambers of commerce- these days you can browse and book waterfront properties across the globe without leaving your computer.

This list of beach and lake destinations should prove to you that vacation destinations can be found anywhere… even in your own backyard!

List of Beaches in the USA including the 27 Best Beaches for Families:

1. Maui (Hawaii)
2. Kauai in (Hawaii)
3. Sanibel Island (Florida)
4. Destin (Florida)
5. Cannon Beach (Oregon)
6. Laguna Beach California
7. Outer Banks (North Carolina)
8. Cannon Beach (Oregon)
9. Naples (Florida)
10. Miami Beach (Florida)
11. Key West (Florida)
12. Bald Head Island (North Carolina)
13. Amelia Island (Florida)
14. St. Petersburg (Florida)
15. Huntington Beach (California)
16. St. Augustine in (Florida)
17. Cape May (New Jersey)
18. Hilton Head (South Carolina)
19. The Hamptons (New York City)
20. Nantucket (Massachusetts)
21. Big Sur (California)
22. Kennebunkport (Maine)
23. Golden Isles (Georgia)
24. Cape Cod (Massachusetts)
25. Santa Monica (California)
26. Ogunquit (Maine)
27. Boca Chica (Texas)

List of Lakes in the USA including the 25 Best:

1. Lake Champlain (New York & Vermont)
2. Lake Superior (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin)
3. Crater Lake (Oregon)
4. Lake Winnebago (Wisconsin)
5. Lake Kabetogama (Minnesota)
6. Lake Clark (Alaska)
7. Lake Tahoe (California & Nevada)
8. Lake Michigan (Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois)
9. Finger Lakes
10. Lake Powell (Utah & Arizona)
11. Lake Havasu (Arizona)
12. Moosehead Lake (Maine)
13. Walden Pond (Massachusetts)
14. Yellowstone Lake (Wyoming)
15. Table Rock (Missouri)
16. Caddo Lake (Texas & Louisiana)
17. Lake Chelan (Washington)
18. Lake Charles (Louisiana)
19. Lake Washington (Washington)
20. Flathead Lake (Montana)
21. Lady Bird Lake (Texas)
22. Lake Oconee (Georgia)
23. Lake Erie (Ohio)
24. Lake Coeur d’Alene (Idaho)
25. Lake of the Ozarks (Missouri)

It doesn’t stop here: America is filled with all types of bodies of water including Bays, Canals, Lagoons, Rivers, Springs, and many more. Water puts people at ease and everyone enjoys relaxing on vacation, so find a place close to water and make your property their personal oasis!

And remember, bigger is not always better- finding a strategically positioned property on a pond or a great house with a pool might be all the water you need to attract reservations.

On the other end of the spectrum we’ve got mountain homes. They’re everywhere! But consider what extracurricular activities happen around mountains to make the biggest impact with a short-term rental: skiing!

List of Ski Areas in the USA including the 10 Best Ski Resorts

1. Breckenridge (Colorado)
2. Vail (Colorado)
3. Aspen Snowmass (Colorado)
4. Alta (Utah)
5. Jackson Hole (Wyoming)
6. Telluride (Colorado)
7. Squaw Valley (California)
8. Beaver Creek (Oregon)
9. Steamboat (Colorado)
10. Snowbird (Utah)

Diamonds in the Rough

The lists above highlight the “Best” areas but that often equates to “overpriced” when it comes to purchasing property. The key to ROI is finding the right property, in the right place, at the right price. The best deals are often found in destinations off the beaten path.

The goal of this exercise is to get you searching, looking for opportunities, understanding what makes your ideal travel magnet, and finding one that pulls you into a great investment opportunity.

Tourist Attractions for Airbnb

The most powerful force on earth might be Mother Nature, but America’s National Parks and other Vacation Destinations aren’t the only places luring travelers. From coast to coast you can find other natural and man-made attractions that present amazing opportunities not only for the tourists who visit them, but also for investors that own property nearby.

In many cases these attractions are found in America’s largest cities (ex: Statue of Liberty, Golden Gate Bridge, Liberty Bell, Alcatraz, Space Needle), but tourists will venture to remote locations for the right reasons… and they’ll need somewhere to stay when they arrive.

Here are some of the top tourist attractions (outside of major cities) that draw enough visitors to fuel short-term rental properties:

• Amusement Parks including:
  • Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, FL
  • Disneyland in Anaheim, CA
  • Hersheypark in Hershey, PA
  • Kings Island in Mason, OH
  • Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH
  • Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Vista, CA
• Sports Halls of Fame including:
  • Baseball in Cooperstown, NY
  • Football in Canton, OH
  • Basketball in Springfield, MA
• Stadiums and Arenas including:
  • Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI
  • Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH
  • Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA
  • Nascar Tracks (list)
  • Greensboro Coliseum in NC
• Festivals and Seasonal Events
  • One-time and limited run events cannot alone sustain annual business but can present lucrative opportunities.

What other iconic travel destinations draw visitors outside city limits? Let us know in the comments!

Top Hospitals for Airbnb

People will travel across the world to visit the most prestigious hospitals where top specialists perform groundbreaking procedures with the great expertise. And while recreational tourism can be seasonal or cyclical, the need for fantastic medical care will never go away.

Strategically investing in properties near the best hospitals in America can help drive additional rental revenue you might not have otherwise attracted. When looking for property near hospitals, consider what might attract these guests to your property:

• Garage for easy in/out to appointments and treatment
• Quiet property with peaceful environment
• Bedrooms on ground level for accessibility

Although proximity to hospital is important, don’t make the mistake of being as close as possible (like you might for National Parks): the areas immediately surrounding hospitals are also crime-ridden and properties a bit further away might be more attractive.

Best Hospitals in the United States (ranked by US News & World Report)

       1. Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN)
       2. Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, OH)
       3. UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA)
       4. Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore, MD)
       5. Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA)
       6. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA)
       7. New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia and Cornell (NY)
       8. NYU Langone Hospitals (New York, NY)
       9. UCSF Medical Center (San Francisco, CA)
      10. Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago, IL)
      11. University of Michigan Hospitals (Ann Arbor, MI)
      12. Stanford Health Care-Stanford Hospital (Palo Alto, CA)
      13. Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn (Presbyterian, PA)
      14. Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston, MA)
      15. Mayo Clinic (Phoenix, AZ)
      16. Houston Methodist Hospital (Houston, TX)
      17. Barnes-Jewish Hospital (St. Louis, MO)
      17. Mount Sinai Hospital (New York, NY)
      19. Rush University Medical Center (Chicago, IL)
      20. Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, TN)

Another attractive option is targeting top hospitals for travel nurses.

Universities (Public & Private) with Nearby Airbnbs

Not only do colleges and universities hold some of the biggest events in the country in their humongous stadiums, they can attract travelers for a variety of reasons. College campuses have some of the most impressive buildings on gorgeous, sprawling properties and they make a concerted effort to attract the right types of tourism.

Largest Universities by Enrollment

1. Southern New Hampshire University (Manchester, NH)
2. Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA)
3. University of Central Florida (Orlando, FL)
4. Texas A&M (College Station, TX)
5. Ohio State (Columbus, OH)
6. Florida International University (Miami, FL)
7. University of Florida (Gainesville, FL)
8. University of Illinois (Urbana/Champaign, IL)
9. New York University (New York, NY)
10. Georgia State (Atlanta, GA)
11. Arizona State (Tempe, AZ)
12. University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN)
13. University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX)
14. University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
15. Brigham Young (Rexburg, ID)

Historic Neighborhoods

Travelers seeking unique experiences are drawn to places that tell a story and nothing tells a story quite like a historic neighborhood. Revitalized urban centers with high rises of steel and modern suburban communities with 4 lanes of concrete for self-driving cars don’t exactly illicit the charm and romance of travel.

Developers can make more money by tearing down the old to make way for the new, but some neighborhoods rich in history have been able to protect their past, nurturing a living time capsule that captures the wanderlust of simpler times.

You can find historic neighborhoods across the country that are worthy of your bucket list, but here are the 15 most beautiful:

1. Montford (Asheville, NC)
2. King William District (San Antonio, TX)
3. Fell’s Point (Baltimore, MD)
4. Old City (Philadelphia, PA)
5. Georgetown (Washington, DC)
6. Garden District (New Orleans, LA)
7. Santa Fe Historic District (Santa Fe, NM)
8. Beacon Hill (Boston, MA)
9. French Quarter (New Orleans, LA)
10. Historic Downtown District (Savannah, GA)
11. Charleston Historic District (Charleston, SC)
12. Old San Juan (San Juan, PR)

Old neighborhoods means old buildings: make sure you do your due diligence when researching properties, including getting a home inspection from a qualified, trusted expert before finalizing a purchase!

State Capitals

The biggest city in every state is not always the capital, and that’s where each state’s business gets done, which means (you guessed it): business travel!

In this list of State Capitals we’ve CAPITALIZED (get it?) the cities that are NOT the largest in their state, perhaps providing a more unique travel/investment opportunity.

List of State Capitals in the USA

1. MONTGOMERY, Alabama
2. JUNEAU, Alaska
3. Phoenix, Arizona
4. Little Rock, Arkansas
5. SACRAMENTO, California
6. Denver, Colorado
7. HARTFORD, Connecticut
8. DOVER, Delaware
9. TALLAHASSEE, Florida
10. Atlanta, Georgia
11. Honolulu, Hawaii
12. Boise, Idaho
13. SPRINGFIELD, Illinois
14. Indianapolis, Indiana
15. Des Moines, Iowa
16. TOPEKA, Kansas
17. FRANKFORT, Kentucky
18. BATON ROUGE, Louisiana
19. AUGUSTA, Maine
20. ANNAPOLIS, Maryland
21. Boston, Massachusetts
22. LANSING, Michigan
23. SAINT PAUL, Minnesota
24. Jackson, Mississippi
25. JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri
26. HELENA, Montana
27. LINCOLN, Nebraska
28. CARSON CITY, Nevada
29. CONCORD, New Hampshire
30. TRENTON, New Jersey
31. SANTA FE, New Mexico
32. ALBANY, New York
33. RALEIGH, North Carolina
34. BISMARCK, North Dakota
35. Columbus, Ohio
36. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
37. SALEM, Oregon
38. HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania
39. Providence, Rhode Island
40. COLUMBIA, South Carolina
41. PIERRE, South Dakota
42. Nashville, Tennessee
43. AUSTIN, Texas
44. Salt Lake City, Utah
45. MONTPELIER, Vermont
46. RICHMOND, Virginia
47. OLYMPIA, Washington
48. Charleston, West Virginia
49. MADISON, Wisconsin
50. Cheyenne, Wyoming

It so happens that these state capitals often have a ton of historic charm. Take for example Annapolis, Maryland, which was the temporary capital of the entire United States in 1783-1784. It’s home to the famous Maryland State House building where George Washington resigned as General of the Continental Army.

The best travel destinations have a story to tell… do your own research, find the stories that speak to you, and perhaps you can become a small part of their history as a short-term rental host and gracious (self-designated) ambassador.

Best Cities for Airbnb

Last but not least we’ve got the (former) holy grail of travel destinations: the largest cities in the United States. The built-in demand for travel to big cities is phenomenal, but don’t forget that you’ve also got stiffer competition and some cities are clamping down with strict short-term rental regulations.

If you can score property in a big city that’s Airbnb friendly, you’re almost guaranteed to have enough demand to stay booked throughout the year (but that doesn’t guarantee profitability).

20 Top Cities in the USA by Population

1. New York, NY (8.8 Million)
2. Los Angeles, CA (3.9 Million)
3. Chicago, IL (2.7 Million)
4. Houston, TX (2.3 Million)
5. Phoenix, AZ (1.6 Million)
6. Philadelphia, PA (1.6 Million)
7. San Antonio, TX (1.4 Million)
8. San Diego, CA (1.3 Million)
9. Dallas, TX (1.3 Million)
10. San Jose, CA (1 Million)
11. Austin, TX (960k)
12. Jacksonville, FL (950k)
13. Fort Worth, TX (918k)
14. Columbus, OH (905k)
15. Indianapolis, IN (887k)
16. Charlotte, NC (874k)
17. San Francisco (873k)
18. Seattle, WA (737k)
19. Denver, CO (715k)
20. Washington, DC (689k)

This list is from Wikipedia and uses 2020 Census Data.

Given the built-in demand, you should price your property high enough so that it’s not 100% booked! If you’re fully booked early and often, you’re likely giving guests too good of a deal and leaving money on the table.

Airbnb Laws by State

The single most important thing you should do before investing in a short-term rental property is to make sure you’re legally able to rent the property to short-term guests.

We’re in the process of developing a comprehensive guide to Airbnb laws across America, but regardless of when that’s published, potential investors should do their own research. The locations and destinations listed above are meant to serve as idea starters- you should absolutely 100% conduct a thorough investigation of your own.

When doing research for the Airbnb Laws in an area, consider:

• What are the Airbnb laws in the state?
• What are the Airbnb laws in the county?
• What are the Airbnb laws in the city?
• What are the Airbnb laws in the town/village?
• What are the Airbnb laws in the neighborhood?
• What are the Airbnb laws in the HOA?

The stricter law always prevails, so even if you find the city, state, or county to be Airbnb friendly, you could find the neighborhood or HOA prevents or heavily strictest Airbnbs.

Did this jumpstart your STR investment property research? Do you already own a property in one of the aforementioned areas and want to share your experience? Any brilliant or even mediocre commentary to add? Let us know below!