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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This article focuses on properties in the United States but the methodology can be applied elsewhere.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That’s why we base our research on “travel magnets”: places that reliably attract travelers based on their unique characteristics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
National Park<\/td> | Annual Visitors<\/td> | State(s)<\/td> | Best Places to Stay<\/td><\/tr> |
Great Smoky Mountains<\/td> | 12,095,720<\/td> | North Carolina, Tennessee<\/td> | Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Cherokee, Bryson City (thebrokebackpacker.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Yellowstone<\/td> | 3,806,306<\/td> | Wyoming, Montana, Idaho<\/td> | West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Cooke City – Silver Gate, Cody, Grand Teton NP (Source<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Zion<\/td> | 3,591,254<\/td> | Utah<\/td> | Springdale (at the entrance), La Verkin, Hurricane, St. George, Mt. Carmel Junction, Cedar City, East Zion, Kanab (CitrusMilo<\/a> and VisitUtah<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Rocky Mountain<\/td> | 3,305,199<\/td> | Colorado<\/td> | Estes Park or Grand Lake (FullSuitcase.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Grand Teton<\/td> | 3,289,638<\/td> | Wyoming<\/td> | Jackson Hole<\/td><\/tr> |
Grand Canyon<\/td> | 2,897,098<\/td> | Arizona<\/td> | Tusayan, Valle, Williams (FullSuitcase.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Cuyahoga Valley<\/td> | 2,755,628<\/td> | Ohio<\/td> | Cleveland, Akron, Summit (NPS<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Acadia<\/td> | 2,669,034<\/td> | Maine<\/td> | Bar Harbor<\/td><\/tr> |
Olympic<\/td> | 2,499,177<\/td> | Washington<\/td> | Port Angeles, Lake Crescent, Forks (WheatlessWanderlust.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Joshua Tree<\/td> | 2,399,542<\/td> | California<\/td> | 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<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Indiana Dunes<\/td> | 2,293,106<\/td> | Indiana<\/td> | Beverly Shores, Dune Acres, and Chicago is 1 hour away<\/td><\/tr> |
Yosemite<\/td> | 2,268,313<\/td> | California<\/td> | 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<\/a>).<\/td><\/tr> |
Glacier<\/td> | 1,698,864<\/td> | Montana<\/td> | Columbia Falls, Whitefish, Kalispell, and Bigfork (AlexOnTheMap.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Shenandoah<\/td> | 1,666,265<\/td> | Virginia<\/td> | Front Royal, Luray, Staunton, Sperryville, Charlottesville<\/td><\/tr> |
Bryce Canyon<\/td> | 1,464,655<\/td> | Utah<\/td> | Bryce Canyon City and Tropic (DirtInMyShoes.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Hot Springs<\/td> | 1,348,215<\/td> | Arkansas<\/td> | Hot Springs<\/td><\/tr> |
Arches<\/td> | 1,238,083<\/td> | Utah<\/td> | Moab (FullSuitcase.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Mount Rainier<\/td> | 1,160,754<\/td> | Washington<\/td> | Eatonville, Ashford, Packwood, Chehalis, Longview, Cougar (ExperienceWA.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
New River Gorge<\/td> | 1,054,374<\/td> | West Virginia<\/td> | Fayetteville, Beckley (HowToBookYourTrip.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Capitol Reef<\/td> | 981,038<\/td> | Utah<\/td> | Torrey (HowToBookYourTrip.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Badlands<\/td> | 916,932<\/td> | South Dakota<\/td> | Interior, Murdo, Pine Ridge, Wall (BlackHillsVacations.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Death Valley<\/td> | 820,023<\/td> | California, Nevada<\/td> | Pahrump, Amargosa, Beatty (roadtrippingcalifornia.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Sequoia<\/td> | 796,086<\/td> | California<\/td> | Three Rivers, Visalia, Kernville (thecrazytourist.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Saguaro<\/td> | 762,226<\/td> | Arizona<\/td> | Tucson (howtobookyourtrip.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Everglades<\/td> | 702,319<\/td> | Florida<\/td> | Everglades City (outsideonline.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Crater Lake<\/td> | 670,500<\/td> | Oregon<\/td> | Prospect (destinationparks.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Hawai\u02bbi Volcanoes<\/td> | 589,775<\/td> | Hawaii<\/td> | Volcano Village, Hilo (thepointsguy.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Theodore Roosevelt<\/td> | 551,303<\/td> | North Dakota<\/td> | Medora (nationalparkstraveler.org<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Lassen Volcanic<\/td> | 542,274<\/td> | California<\/td> | Chester, Susanville, Red Bluff, Mt. Shasta, Redding, Burney (fodors.com<\/a>, nps.gov<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Canyonlands<\/td> | 493,914<\/td> | Utah<\/td> | Moab (Island in the Sky), Monticello (Needles), Hanksville or Green River (Maze) – (moabadventurecenter.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Gateway Arch<\/td> | 486,021<\/td> | Missouri<\/td> | St. Louis (thebrokebackpacker.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Great Sand Dunes<\/td> | 461,532<\/td> | Colorado<\/td> | Alamosa, Mosca, Fort Garland, Monte Vista, San Luis, Moffat, Crestone, Pagosa Springs (mycoloradoparks.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Wind Cave<\/td> | 448,405<\/td> | South Dakota<\/td> | Hot Springs (15 minutes south), Custer (25 minutes north) (nps.gov<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
White Sands<\/td> | 415,383<\/td> | New Mexico<\/td> | Alamogordo (13 miles), Las Cruces (50 miles) (travelandleisure.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Kings Canyon<\/td> | 415,077<\/td> | California<\/td> | Three Rivers, Visalia (destinationparks.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Biscayne<\/td> | 402,770<\/td> | Florida<\/td> | Homestead, Florida City, Miami (nps.gov<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Big Bend<\/td> | 393,907<\/td> | Texas<\/td> | Marathon, Lajitas, Study Butte, Terlingua Ghost Town (planetware.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Petrified Forest<\/td> | 384,483<\/td> | Arizona<\/td> | Holbrook, (usatoday.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Black Canyon of the Gunnison<\/td> | 341,620<\/td> | Colorado<\/td> | Montrose (South Rim), Crawford (North Rim) (mycoloradoparks.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Haleakal\u0101<\/td> | 319,147<\/td> | Hawaii<\/td> | Anywhere in Maui besides Hana (tripadvisor<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Mammoth Cave<\/td> | 290,392<\/td> | Kentucky<\/td> | Bowling Green, Brownsville, Cave City, Glasgow, Horse Cave, Mundfordville (nps.gov<\/a>, nearby attractions<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Mesa Verde <\/td> | 287,477<\/td> | Colorado<\/td> | Mancos, Cortez, Durango, Pagosa Springs (mycoloradoparks.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Redwood<\/td> | 265,177<\/td> | California<\/td> | Fort Bragg, Arcata, Crescent City, Mendocino (thebrokebackpacker.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Voyageurs<\/td> | 263,091<\/td> | Minnesota<\/td> | International Falls, Ranier, Kabetogama, Ash River, Crane Lake, and Orr (travelwithaplan.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Carlsbad Caverns<\/td> | 183,835<\/td> | New Mexico<\/td> | White City, Carlsbad (frommers.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Virgin Islands<\/td> | 167,540<\/td> | Virgin Islands<\/td> | St. John (nps.gov<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Channel Islands<\/td> | 167,290<\/td> | California<\/td> | Ventura or Santa Barbara (nps.gov<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Pinnacles<\/td> | 165,740<\/td> | California<\/td> | Soledad, Salinas, San Benito County (nps.gov<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Guadalupe Mountains<\/td> | 151,256<\/td> | Texas, New Mexico<\/td> | Dell City (TX), Whites City (NM), Carlsbad (NM), (dirtinmyshoes.com)<\/a><\/td><\/tr> |
Great Basin<\/td> | 120,248<\/td> | Nevada<\/td> | Baker (frommers.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Congaree<\/td> | 119,306<\/td> | South Carolina<\/td> | Columbia (theculturetrip.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Kenai Fjords<\/td> | 115,882<\/td> | Alaska<\/td> | Seward (nps.gov<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Denali<\/td> | 54,850<\/td> | Alaska<\/td> | Healy (11 miles north), Cantwell (30 miles south), (nps.gov<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Katmai<\/td> | 51,511<\/td> | Alaska<\/td> | King Salmon, Naknek, Homer, Kodiak, Anchorage (nps.gov<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Dry Tortugas<\/td> | 48,543<\/td> | Florida<\/td> | Key West (ferry and flight departures) (thrillist.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
North Cascades<\/td> | 30,885<\/td> | Washington<\/td> | Stehekin, Marblemount (seattletimes.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Wrangell\u2013St. Elias<\/td> | 16,655<\/td> | Alaska<\/td> | Copper Valley (coppervalleychamber.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Kobuk Valley<\/td> | 11,185<\/td> | Alaska<\/td> | Kotzebue (Visitor Center) (nps.gov<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Isle Royale<\/td> | 6,493<\/td> | Michigan, Minnesota<\/td> | Houghton, Copper Harbor, Grand Portage, Grand Marais (nps.gov<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Glacier Bay<\/td> | 5,748<\/td> | Alaska<\/td> | Gustava (nps.gov<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Lake Clark<\/td> | 4,948<\/td> | Alaska<\/td> | Port Alsworth, Upper Twin Lake, Tuxedni Bay, Crescent Lake, Silver Salmon Creek, Chinitna Bay (nps.gov<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
American Samoa<\/td> | 4,819<\/td> | American Samoa<\/td> | Too remote (americanfieldtrip.com<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr> |
Gates of the Arctic<\/td> | 2,872<\/td> | Alaska<\/td> | Too remote (nps.gov<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n 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<\/a> in the country and can find a full list by state on Wikipedia<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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