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Best Airbnb Markets in Tennessee (2026)

Based on Airbtics data from January 2025 to December 2025, this page shows the top Airbnb locations to invest in Tennessee with key statistics and information, like short-term rental regulations, number of listings, occupancy rate, average daily rate, and annual revenue. This allows you to discover the most profitable cities to invest in, buy, and own Airbnb rental properties in Tennessee.

The Airbtics Market Score indicates how attractive a location is for investing in an Airbnb rental property. We determine this score based on the following criteria:

  1. Short-term rental yield: The ratio between annual revenue and property price, as a percentage. Locations with higher Airbnb rental yield score better.
  2. Short-term rental regulations: How STR-friendly the local Airbnb rules and laws are. Markets with more lenient regulations get a higher score.
  3. Market size: The number of Airbnb listings. Larger vacation rental markets get a higher score as it is easier for investors to buy and sell properties.
  4. Growth: How fast the market is becoming saturated. Priority is given to markets that are already developed but are not approaching saturation yet.
  5. Seasonality: To what degree Airbnb performance is affected by seasonality. Less seasonal impact is preferred as investors can enjoy a more stable short-term rental performance throughout the year.
Learn more about how we collect the data and accuracy

Last updated: February, 2026

Tennessee Short-Term Rental Market Overview (Full-Year 2025 Analysis)

National averages across all Tennessee markets
Average Occupancy Rate i
57.77%
Average Annual Revenue i
$42,596
Average Daily Rate (ADR) i
$194
YoY Supply Growth i
16.69%
YoY Revenue Change i
16.84%

Top 13 Tennessee Cities for Airbnb in 2026

Position Market Grade Market Name Regulation No of Listings Avg. Occupancy Rate Avg. Daily Rate Revenue Short-term Rental Yield Rent Gap
1C+Nashville
Lenient
8,28860%$220$49,98012.3%34.5%
2C+Knoxville
Lenient
2,56658%$186$40,47612.3%34.5%
3C+Cullowhee
Lenient
2,25854%$216$44,00412.3%34.5%
4CBoone
Lenient
2,20053%$278$55,37912.3%34.5%
5CChattanooga
Lenient
2,00961%$168$38,84512.3%34.5%
6CGatlinburg
Lenient
1,78065%$260$63,78512.3%34.5%
7CPigeon forge
Lenient
1,75865%$239$58,85912.3%34.5%
8C+Memphis
Lenient
1,67354%$150$30,86512.3%34.5%
9D+Huntsville
Lenient
92956%$139$29,61212.3%34.5%
10D+Kingsport-bristol
Lenient
88252%$156$30,50912.3%34.5%
11C+Clarksville
Lenient
73361%$154$35,48812.3%34.5%
12BJohnson city
Lenient
64259%$144$31,91012.3%34.5%
13C+Morristown
Lenient
57953%$221$44,04212.3%34.5%

Find the Best Airbnb Markets with Our Interactive Tool

Use our interactive Market Explorer to find the best places to start an Airbnb in Tennessee. Compare multiple markets side by side, apply filters like regulations, budget (property or rent prices), and market size, and even export the results to Excel.

Explore Interactive Tool

📊 Want a deeper dive into Tennessee's STR market?

Explore our comprehensive 2025 Short-Term Rental Market Report for Tennessee, featuring detailed market trends, supply analysis, and year-over-year insights.

View 2025 Market Report

Why Invest in Airbnb Tennessee in 2026?

In recent years, Tennessee has emerged as one of the best locations for investing in short-term rentals thanks to its popular tourist attractions, thriving business activities, growing digital nomad presence, and vibrant cities like Gatlinburg, Pigeon forge and Boone. With millions of international visitors coming each year, the demand for vacation rental accommodations is growing, making Airbnb Tennessee a lucrative option for both local and foreign investors.

Due to strong demand from travelers, Tennessee offers competitive average daily rates (ADR), healthy occupancy rates, and attractive revenue potential in the best Airbnb markets. Whether you're looking to start your first Airbnb business with a modest budget or to add a luxury short-term rental property to your portfolio, Tennessee has a profitable location to meet your budget and aspirations as an investor.

Market Saturation Analysis: Tennessee

Benchmark: Markets are categorized relative to Tennessee's national averages (Supply: +16.7%, Revenue: +16.8%). Markets above the national average are marked with ↑, while those below are marked with ↓.

🟢

Healthy Growth

Supply > avg, Revenue > avg
Expansion with demand keeping up

  • Nashville Supply: +20.1% | Revenue: +24.5%
  • Johnson city Supply: +17.3% | Revenue: +22.4%
  • Clarksville Supply: +20.6% | Revenue: +20.7%
🟡

Early Saturation

Supply > avg, Revenue ≤ avg
Competition rising

  • Memphis Supply: +21.7% | Revenue: +13.5%
  • Morristown Supply: +20.4% | Revenue: +9.9%
  • Huntsville Supply: +20.0% | Revenue: +9.6%
  • Kingsport-bristol Supply: +19.6% | Revenue: +6.9%
  • Gatlinburg Supply: +17.7% | Revenue: +15.6%
🔵

Under-the-Radar

Supply ≤ avg, Revenue > avg
Hidden opportunities

  • Boone Supply: +4.4% | Revenue: +20.3%
  • Chattanooga Supply: +14.3% | Revenue: +19.8%
  • Pigeon forge Supply: +16.3% | Revenue: +19.8%
  • Knoxville Supply: +16.4% | Revenue: +18.2%
  • Cullowhee Supply: +8.3% | Revenue: +17.8%
🔴

Declining

Supply ≤ avg, Revenue ≤ avg
Risky markets

  • No markets in this category

Best Cities for Airbnb in Tennessee by Budget

Top 3 Affordable & Mid-Range Airbnb Markets: $500,000 & Below

These markets offer accessible investment opportunities with lower to moderate property prices, suitable for investors seeking entry-level or mid-range options.

  1. Memphis
    • Property price: $150,000
    • STR revenue: $30,865/year
    • Yield: 19.5%
  2. Clarksville
    • Property price: $180,000
    • STR revenue: $35,488/year
    • Yield: 17.5%
  3. Johnson city
    • Property price: $180,000
    • STR revenue: $31,910/year
    • Yield: 18.8%

Top 3 Best Places for Airbnb Arbitrage in Tennessee

  1. Morristown
    • STR revenue: $44,042/year
    • Rent gap: $3,918
  2. Boone
    • STR revenue: $55,379/year
    • Rent gap: $3,714
  3. Gatlinburg
    • STR revenue: $63,785/year
    • Rent gap: $3,638



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