24 vacation markets where the numbers — and the lifestyle — both matter

Ski + lake cabin town

Median price: $570,000
ADR / occupancy: $385 · 38%
Gross yield: 9.4%
STR rules: License required

South Lake Tahoe, CA

Big-mountain ski + alpine lake resort

Median price: $665,000
ADR / occupancy: $490 · 42%
Gross yield: 11.3%
STR rules: Permit-capped

Palm Springs, CA

Midcentury-modern desert resort

Median price: $640,000
ADR / occupancy: $470 · 50%
Gross yield: 13.4%
STR rules: Permit-capped

Joshua Tree, CA

Bohemian desert-design Airbnb mecca

Median price: $370,000
ADR / occupancy: $265 · 52%
Gross yield: 13.6%
STR rules: License required

Oceanside, CA

Surf-town beach city gone upscale

Median price: $845,000
ADR / occupancy: $305 · 62%
Gross yield: 8.2%
STR rules: Permit-capped

Monterey / Carmel, CA

Storybook coastal luxury (Carmel, Pebble Beach, Big Sur gateway)

Median price: $1,150,000
ADR / occupancy: $400 · 55%
Gross yield: 7.0%
STR rules: Restricted

Florida

Florida vacation markets

Destin, FL

White-sand beach + charter-fishing resort town

Median price: $630,000
ADR / occupancy: $440 · 50%
Gross yield: 12.7%
STR rules: License required

Panama City Beach, FL

High-volume family beach + condo strip

Median price: $385,000
ADR / occupancy: $335 · 50%
Gross yield: 15.9%
STR rules: License required

Kissimmee, FL

Theme-park vacation-home capital

Median price: $365,000
ADR / occupancy: $245 · 56%
Gross yield: 13.7%
STR rules: Restricted

Cape Coral, FL

Canal-front boating suburb

Median price: $370,000
ADR / occupancy: $270 · 48%
Gross yield: 12.8%
STR rules: License required

St. Augustine, FL

Oldest-city historic charm + beach

Median price: $430,000
ADR / occupancy: $250 · 55%
Gross yield: 11.7%
STR rules: Restricted

Key West, FL

Conch Republic island escape

Median price: $1,095,000
ADR / occupancy: $550 · 58%
Gross yield: 10.6%
STR rules: Restricted

Alabama

Alabama vacation markets

Gulf Shores, AL

Sugar-sand family beach + condo towers

Median price: $455,000
ADR / occupancy: $410 · 48%
Gross yield: 15.8%
STR rules: License required

Arizona

Arizona vacation markets

Scottsdale, AZ

Golf, spring training, and desert-luxury party market

Median price: $845,000
ADR / occupancy: $365 · 55%
Gross yield: 8.7%
STR rules: License required

Sedona, AZ

Red-rock hiking + wellness retreat

Median price: $950,000
ADR / occupancy: $370 · 55%
Gross yield: 7.8%
STR rules: License required

Missouri

Missouri vacation markets

Branson, MO

Live-show family entertainment + lake town

Median price: $300,000
ADR / occupancy: $230 · 47%
Gross yield: 13.2%
STR rules: Restricted

North Carolina

North Carolina vacation markets

Outer Banks, NC

Classic weekly-rental beach-house strand

Median price: $625,000
ADR / occupancy: $300 · 58%
Gross yield: 10.2%
STR rules: Open

Asheville, NC

Mountain arts-and-food city

Median price: $480,000
ADR / occupancy: $190 · 50%
Gross yield: 7.2%
STR rules: Restricted

Oklahoma

Oklahoma vacation markets

Broken Bow, OK

Luxury log-cabin forest escape

Median price: $305,000
ADR / occupancy: $300 · 40%
Gross yield: 14.4%
STR rules: License required

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania vacation markets

Pocono Mountains, PA

Lake-community mountain weekender

Median price: $260,000
ADR / occupancy: $330 · 40%
Gross yield: 18.5%
STR rules: License required

South Carolina

South Carolina vacation markets

Myrtle Beach, SC

High-volume boardwalk-and-golf condo beach

Median price: $305,000
ADR / occupancy: $170 · 47%
Gross yield: 9.6%
STR rules: Restricted

Hilton Head Island, SC

Bike-path golf-and-tennis resort island

Median price: $795,000
ADR / occupancy: $325 · 52%
Gross yield: 7.8%
STR rules: License required

Tennessee

Tennessee vacation markets

Gatlinburg, TN

Hot-tub cabin capital of the Smokies

Median price: $555,000
ADR / occupancy: $315 · 55%
Gross yield: 11.4%
STR rules: License required

Texas

Texas vacation markets

Galveston, TX

Historic Victorian island city + beach

Median price: $315,000
ADR / occupancy: $250 · 40%
Gross yield: 11.6%
STR rules: License required