Airbnb Occupancy in the Smoky Mountains (2026)
The Great Smoky Mountains — anchored by Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee — are one of the most-searched cabin-rental markets in the United States, drawing millions of visitors to America's most-visited national park every year. For hosts and investors weighing a 2026 purchase, the single number that matters most is occupancy rate: how many nights per year a typical listing is actually booked.
Based on live STRmetrics data pulled from public Airbnb listings on 2026-07-02, the median Gatlinburg-area short-term rental is running a forward occupancy of 52.2% over the next 90 nights, at a median nightly rate (ADR) of $286.
Key Smoky Mountains Benchmarks
- Median ADR: $286 / night
- Forward occupancy (next 90 nights): 52.2%
- RevPAR (revenue per available night): $149
- Estimated monthly revenue per listing: $4,532
- Estimated annual revenue per listing: $54,390
What Drives Occupancy Here
Smoky Mountains demand is highly seasonal — peaking in summer and during the fall leaf-season, with a strong Christmas/New-Year cabin surge. Because the park itself is free to enter and open year-round, this market holds occupancy better in shoulder seasons than most beach or ski destinations. Cabins with hot tubs, mountain views, and easy access to the Parkway consistently out-book generic listings.
Occupancy by Bedroom Count
ADR climbs sharply with size, since large groups and family reunions are a core segment of Smoky Mountains travel:
- 1BR: median ADR $280/night (from 15 live listings sampled)
- 2BR: median ADR $319/night (from 2 live listings sampled)
Should You Invest in a Smoky Mountains STR in 2026?
At roughly $54,390 in estimated annual revenue for a typical listing, the Smoky Mountains remain one of the highest-yielding cabin markets in the country — but the numbers vary enormously by property. A hot-tub cabin near downtown Gatlinburg performs very differently from a remote 1-bedroom. Before you buy or set your 2026 rates, pull the live occupancy and ADR distribution for the exact sub-market and bedroom count you're targeting.
STRmetrics gives you that live Airbnb marketplace data — occupancy, ADR, RevPAR and revenue estimates — for the Smoky Mountains and any other U.S. market, via a simple API.