Smokies vs Other STR Markets

How the Smoky Mountains Compare to Other U.S. Short-Term Rental Markets

This is an overview of other markets compared to the Smokies in YoY past 30 performance. This is data pulled directly from KeyData’s STR Pulse report. KeyData has some great resources on their blog you can check out HERE!

Short-term rental performance varies widely across the U.S., and national averages often hide what’s really happening at the market level. Coastal, urban, and mountain destinations are responding very differently to shifts in travel behavior, pricing power, and booking patterns.

Using KeyData’s U.S. STR Pulse – November 2025 alongside recent Smoky Mountains performance, here’s how the Smokies compare to other major markets, and what that means for owners.

US STR Pulse monthly Report Nov…

Occupancy Trends: Market Health vs. Operator Performance

Across the U.S., occupancy remains mixed:

  • New England: 13% occupancy (+3% YoY)

  • Western U.S.: 24% occupancy (-6% YoY)

  • Southeast: 25% occupancy (-1% YoY)

  • Hawaiian Islands: 38% occupancy (-5% YoY)

These figures show a national trend: many markets are experiencing pressure on occupancy, even where pricing is rising.

Smoky Mountains Comparison (Last 30 Days)

  • Market-wide occupancy: 47%, down from 49% YoY

  • Demand remains solid, but increased supply and pricing sensitivity are putting pressure on market averages

Haven Vacation Rentals Performance

  • Occupancy: 59%, up from 48% YoY

This gap highlights an important reality in the Smokies: operator strategy matters more than market conditions alone. In a high-volume, drive-to destination, active pricing, distribution, and listing optimization can materially outperform market averages.

 

ADR: Pricing Power Isn’t the Same as Revenue Strength

Several U.S. regions continue to push nightly rates higher:

  • Western U.S.: $326 ADR (+10% YoY)

  • New England: $218 ADR (+5% YoY)

  • Southeast: $247 ADR (+4% YoY)

  • Hawaiian Islands: $361 ADR (-1% YoY)

However, higher ADR does not automatically translate to stronger revenue if occupancy softens.

The Smoky Mountains typically sit below luxury coastal markets on ADR, but that pricing flexibility allows properties to stay competitive and capture consistent demand, especially for short stays and weekend travel. 

Smoky Mountains Comparison (Last 30 Days)

  • Market-wide ADR $316

 

RevPAR: Where the Real Story Is Told

RevPAR (Revenue per Available Night) provides the clearest picture of performance because it blends pricing and occupancy.

Nationally:

  • New England RevPAR: $29 (+8% YoY)

  • Western U.S. RevPAR: $79 (-3% YoY)

  • Southeast RevPAR: $61 (-3% YoY)

  • Hawaiian Islands RevPAR: $136 (-6% YoY)

Even markets with strong ADR growth are seeing RevPAR pressure due to softer occupancy.

Smoky Mountains Comparison (Last 30 Days)

  • Market-wide RevPAR: $150, down from $154 YoY

This reflects broader supply growth and increased competition across the region.

Haven Vacation Rentals Performance

  • RevPAR: $175, up from $152 YoY

Despite a slightly softer overall market, Haven-managed properties are generating meaningfully higher revenue per available night, which is driven by better booking density and pricing execution.

 

Booking Windows: Why the Smokies Behave Differently

Booking behavior varies significantly by region:

  • Hawaii: ~91-day booking window

  • Southeast: ~58 days

  • Most U.S. regions: ~36–40 days

The Smoky Mountains operate on shorter booking windows, driven by:

  • Drive-to accessibility

  • Spontaneous weekend trips

  • Weather- and event-driven demand

This makes the Smokies less dependent on long-range forecasting and more reliant on real-time revenue management.

Booking windows can vary drastically based on strategy. This is not always the best way to gauge performance, however, it can gauge general travel behavior. The smokies windows can be anywhere from 70 days to 10 days depending on the home. 

 

Length of Stay: Volume Over Duration

Island destinations benefit from longer stays (Hawaii averages 7.0 nights), while most mainland markets sit between 3.7–4.8 nights.

The Smoky Mountains align with:

  • Shorter stays, 3.4 nights on average

  • Higher booking frequency

  • More opportunities to optimize weekends and gap nights

In this environment, strong operators outperform not by charging the highest nightly rate, but by maximizing revenue across more booked nights.

 

What This Means for Smoky Mountain Owners

Compared to many U.S. short-term rental markets, the Smoky Mountains remain a resilient, demand-driven destination. But as supply increases, market averages are no longer the ceiling, they’re the baseline.

The data shows:

  • The overall Smoky Mountains market is slightly down year-over-year

  • Well-managed portfolios can still grow occupancy and RevPAR meaningfully, Haven is proving this today.

  • Execution now matters more than location alone

At Haven, our focus is on turning market demand into consistent revenue through dynamic pricing, active management, and data-driven strategy, helping owners outperform not just national trends, but their own local market. Contact us HERE!

Here is a full look at the data from KeyData: