California · Market rankings
Most Seasonal Vacation Rental Markets in California
Where California demand concentrates into a short window — and where cash flow has to be planned around it.
Modelled estimate
| # | Market | Share of revenue in top 4 months | Nightly rate | Occupancy | Peak season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Arrowhead, CASan Bernardino County | 54% | $292 | 54% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 2 | Truckee, CANevada County | 52% | $365 | 57% | Jan–Feb–Mar |
| 3 | South Lake Tahoe, CAEl Dorado County | 52% | $312 | 60% | Jan–Feb–Mar |
| 4 | Big Bear Lake, CASan Bernardino County | 52% | $282 | 55% | Jan–Feb–Mar |
| 5 | Mammoth Lakes, CAMono County | 52% | $352 | 57% | Jan–Feb–Mar |
| 6 | Mariposa, CAMariposa County | 48% | $228 | 56% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 7 | Groveland, CATuolumne County | 48% | $248 | 55% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 8 | Yosemite West, CAMariposa County | 48% | $318 | 58% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 9 | Palm Desert, CARiverside County | 45% | $298 | 60% | Jan–Feb–Mar |
| 10 | Joshua Tree, CASan Bernardino County | 45% | $252 | 58% | Jan–Feb–Mar |
| 11 | Palm Springs, CARiverside County | 45% | $352 | 62% | Jan–Feb–Mar |
| 12 | La Quinta, CARiverside County | 45% | $318 | 58% | Jan–Feb–Mar |
| 13 | San Diego, CASan Diego County | 44% | $292 | 68% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 14 | Oceanside, CASan Diego County | 44% | $282 | 64% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 15 | Pismo Beach, CASan Luis Obispo County | 44% | $282 | 60% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 16 | Laguna Beach, CAOrange County | 44% | $452 | 62% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 17 | Carmel-by-the-Sea, CAMonterey County | 44% | $452 | 60% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 18 | Monterey, CAMonterey County | 44% | $352 | 62% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 19 | Newport Beach, CAOrange County | 44% | $432 | 63% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 20 | Coronado, CASan Diego County | 44% | $432 | 64% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 21 | Santa Barbara, CASanta Barbara County | 44% | $412 | 66% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 22 | Venice, CALos Angeles County | 44% | $332 | 66% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 23 | Santa Monica, CALos Angeles County | 44% | $392 | 68% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 24 | Huntington Beach, CAOrange County | 44% | $318 | 64% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 25 | Carlsbad, CASan Diego County | 44% | $318 | 65% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 26 | Sonoma, CASonoma County | 42% | $365 | 60% | Jul–Aug–Sep |
| 27 | Napa, CANapa County | 42% | $412 | 62% | Jul–Aug–Sep |
| 28 | Healdsburg, CASonoma County | 42% | $452 | 60% | Jul–Aug–Sep |
| 29 | Paso Robles, CASan Luis Obispo County | 42% | $298 | 58% | Jul–Aug–Sep |
| 30 | San Francisco, CASan Francisco County | 38% | $292 | 70% | Apr–May–Jun |
| 31 | Anaheim, CAOrange County | 38% | $252 | 70% | Apr–May–Jun |
Seasonality is the share of modelled annual revenue that lands in the four strongest months. Above roughly 48% we call a market highly seasonal. Operating costs are modelled at 32% of gross revenue for a nightly rental (cleaning, supplies, utilities, platform fees, maintenance, insurance) and 14% for a monthly rental. Financing assumes a 25% down payment and a 30-year loan at 7%. These are planning assumptions, not quotes — replace them with your own numbers.
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