Top Places to Start an Airbnb in the United States

Using Airbnb guest reviews, we identified tourist hotspots across the United States: places guests mention when they stay nearby. For each one, we measured how much extra revenue short-term rentals earn compared to similar listings in the same market.

The table lists 50 markets from our best Airbnb markets in the United States guide. Each row shows one top hotspot, sorted by market rank rather than hotspot premium.

For all hotspot types worldwide, see our Top Places to Start an Airbnb hub. If you are still picking a market, see our best Airbnb markets worldwide guide.

We pulled hotspots from Airbnb review text. These are locations guests name in reviews, not just entries from a generic tourist attraction list.

For each hotspot, we set a search radius based on listing density nearby. In central London, a major landmark might use a 500m radius. A national park might need 5 to 10 km.

For listings near each hotspot, we predicted revenue using comparable listings in the same market (bedrooms, property type, amenities, review scores). Actual revenue minus predicted revenue is the location premium. The table shows the average premium for nearby listings.

Last updated: June, 2026

Top 50 Markets & Hotspots in the United States

Browse by region
Rank Market Hotspot Name Category No. of Listings Premium % Country
1Lake buena vistaEPCOTTheme Parks & Family39+13%United States
2Las vegasVdaraResort & Hotel Areas137+43%United States
3Los angelesCulver CityNeighborhood Areas43+17%United States
4New yorkBarclays CenterSports & Events68+66%United States
5San diegoLa Jolla CoveBeaches & Coastlines43+55%United States
6AustinUMLAUF Sculpture GardenCulture & History38+68%United States
7HoustonThe Menil CollectionCulture & History50+39%United States
8JacksonvilleSt. Johns County Ocean PierLandmarks & Attractions26+8%United States
9MiamiCocoWalkShopping & Retail270+21%United States
10OahuLanikai BeachBeaches & Coastlines290%United States
11Big islandHāpuna BeachBeaches & Coastlines41+220%United States
12MauiMakenaBeaches & Coastlines30+71%United States
13ChicagoLincoln Park ZooTheme Parks & Family40+35%United States
14PhoenixArcadiaNeighborhood Areas38+16%United States
15GalvestonKemah BoardwalkTheme Parks & Family260%United States
16Myrtle beachMyrtle Beach Convention CenterConventions & Business Events520-19%United States
17Barnstable townProvincetownDowntown & City Centers208+19%United States
18HonoluluHonolulu ZooTheme Parks & Family882+3%United States
19AtlantaKrog Street MarketMarkets & Food66+12%United States
20Miramar beachSeascape ResortResort & Hotel Areas713-21%United States
21New orleansCaesars New Orleans / Harrah's CasinoNightlife & Entertainment234+23%United States
22SeattlePike Place MarketMarkets & Food124+15%United States
23HeberJordanelle ReservoirLakes, Rivers & Waterfronts108-36%United States
24San antonioHemisfairParks & Gardens33+33%United States
25ColumbusDublinResidential Suburbs35+23%United States
26KauiHanalei BayBeaches & Coastlines55+66%United States
27Hilton head islandVillamareResort & Hotel Areas138+19%United States
28Long islandBridgehamptonNeighborhood Areas32+69%United States
29WashingtonCapitol HillNeighborhood Areas127+33%United States
30DallasUptown DallasNeighborhood Areas66+32%United States
31PhiladelphiaIndependence Hall / Liberty Bell areaCulture & History71+33%United States
32Fort lauderdaleBeach PlaceNightlife & Entertainment113+35%United States
33Panama city beachCalypso Resort & TowersResort & Hotel Areas605-18%United States
34Orange beachFlora-Bama Lounge & Oyster BarNightlife & Entertainment261-4%United States
35LebanonOkemo Mountain ResortResort & Hotel Areas55+87%United States
36Cape coralCape Coral Yacht ClubLandmarks & Attractions47+13%United States
37St. georgeTuacahn AmphitheatreNightlife & Entertainment42+32%United States
38San franciscoMarina DistrictNeighborhood Areas29+45%United States
39ScottsdaleTroon NorthResort & Hotel Areas29+23%United States
40Prescott valley-prescottJeromeCulture & History26-26%United States
41East stroudsburgMount PoconoNeighborhood Areas27+4%United States
42Palm springsDeepwell EstatesNeighborhood Areas104-1%United States
43DenverElitch GardensTheme Parks & Family81+3%United States
44Broken bowBroken Bow LakeLakes, Rivers & Waterfronts46-20%United States
45KalispellSomersNeighborhood Areas35+18%United States
46CharlotteSouth EndNeighborhood Areas43+18%United States
47EdwardsVail VillageDowntown & City Centers194+66%United States
48DestinCamille's at Crystal BeachRestaurants & Cafes234-10%United States
49Fayetteville-springdale-rogersBentonvilleNeighborhood Areas74+12%United States
50IndianapolisBroad RippleNeighborhood Areas47+13%United States

Key Findings

Hotspot analysis for San Francisco, USA with map pins, active listings, and location premium table
Hotspot analysis for San Francisco showing neighborhoods and location premium by hotspot

What hotspot analysis tells you

Hotspot analysis shows where Airbnb guests pay more to stay, not just where tourists visit on a map.

Property prices and long-term rents often miss this. A neighborhood can look average on paper but still earn strong Airbnb revenue if it sits near a landmark, beach, venue, or other draw that guests mention in reviews.

That is the gap this data fills. It points to areas where acquisition may still be reasonable while short-term rental revenue runs above the market average.

In the Airbtics dashboard, each market includes its own hotspot breakdown so you can compare neighborhoods before buying or listing.

Frequently Asked Questions

A hotspot is a location guests mention in Airbnb reviews. We find them in review text, then compare revenue for nearby listings against similar properties in the same market.
For listings near each hotspot, we predict revenue using comparable listings in the same market (bedrooms, property type, amenities, review scores). Actual revenue minus predicted revenue is the location premium. The table shows the average premium for nearby listings.
We analyzed hotspots from Airbnb guest reviews across the United States. This page lists 50 markets with one hotspot each.

See hotspot data for your market

Open any market in Airbtics to see which areas earn a location premium and compare neighborhoods side by side.

Open Airbtics Dashboard