Airbnb’s “America Off-the-Map” List: 20 Rural STR Markets Where Hosts Earned $10B in 2025

Airbnb Dropped An STR Investing Cheat Sheet (And Nobody Noticed?)

Airbnb released something new last week.

Not a new app update. Not a fee change.

It's actually something…pretty cool.

The platform unveiled their first-ever America Off-the-Map list. Twenty rural destinations most travelers have never heard of, where short-term rentals are quietly driving tourism and creating new economic opportunities.

They did the research. They found the unconventional spots with incredible natural features and wow factors. So we're just going to call this what it is: An STR investment cheat sheet.

Here's our quick breakdown of Airbnb's findings and surprising rural picks.

READ THE FULL BREAKDOWN

Still Skeptical About Tumbleweed Markets? Read This.

If the word "rural" is making you want to keep scrolling, Airbnb shared some data that might change your mind.

86% of travelers say they're interested in rural getaways. For Gen Z, that number jumps to 94%. And in many of these rural places, Airbnb isn't just an option, it's the only option.

Across the country, 63% of US Census tracts have active Airbnb listings but no hotels. And the hosts in those hotel-free areas are raking it in. In 2025, they collectively earned nearly $10 billion. To put that in perspective, that's nearly 40% of ALL US host earnings.

Now that you're sitting up straight in your chair, here are rural destinations investors need to watch from Airbnb's list.

Airbnb's America Off-the-Map List: Rural Destinations Worth Watching

Every one of these has a natural wow factor. Add to that some decent ADRs and a few promising occupancy rates, and there's an opportunity for serious hosts to build something incredible.

Data sources: AirDNA & AirROI (12-month average)

Northeast

Alexandria, New Hampshire
ADR: ~$280 | Occupancy: ~48%

Sits on the shores of Newfound Lake. Mount Cardigan offers 360-degree White Mountain views. The kind of quiet that's getting harder to find. Locals say the best waterslide in New England is here.

Pine Creek Gorge, Pennsylvania
ADR: ~$236 | Occupancy: ~57%

They call it the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. Rim trails, kayaking, and the charming gas-lit town of Wellsboro nearby. Stunning scenery without the crowds.

Sodus Point, New York

ADR: ~$302 | Occupancy: ~31%

A Lake Ontario escape with a historic lighthouse, fishing boats, and sunsets people drive hours to see. Apple orchards and a local cider trail make it more than a summer spot.

South East

Stanley, Virginia
ADR: ~$335 | Occupancy: ~48%

Minutes from the western entrance of Shenandoah National Park. All the mountain views and hiking trails, none of the congestion. This one has serious year-round potential.

Arnaudville, Louisiana
ADR: ~$121 | Occupancy: ~37%

A Cajun bayou town where 40% of residents speak French at home. Live Zydeco music, swamp tours, and authentic culture you won't find anywhere else. A true niche play.

Cedar Key, Florida
ADR: ~$204 | Occupancy: ~37%

A Gulf Coast fishing village of 700 people, surrounded by 13 wilderness islands. Premier birdwatching, working clam farms, and sunsets over open water. Florida without the crowds.

Midwest

Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan
ADR: ~$256 | Occupancy: ~40%

America's original copper mining boom. Now it's deep powder skiing, miles of biking trails, dark skies, and a Finnish-American culture you won't find anywhere else. Four-season potential.

Fort Peck Lake, Montana
ADR: ~$290 | Occupancy: ~47%

A 134-mile reservoir in the prairie. World-class fishing, undeveloped shoreline, and a landscape that feels prehistoric. Montana as it was before everyone discovered it.

Fairview, Utah
ADR: ~$236 | Occupancy: ~41%

Northern gateway to Sanpete Valley. Mountain biking, ATV routes, and a local ski area. Utah's famous scenery without Utah's famous crowds.

West

Coarsegold, California
ADR: ~$361 | Occupancy: ~41%

Yosemite is 20 miles up the road—close enough for a day trip, far enough to avoid the parking queues. Sierra Nevada foothills with actual breathing room.

Dubois, Wyoming
ADR: ~$288 | Occupancy: ~42%

Set between Yellowstone and Jackson Hole. The National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center, Shoshone National Forest, and the solitude its more famous neighbors have lost.

Haines, Alaska
ADR: ~$252 | Occupancy: ~41%

Most visitors never make it here. Brown bears fishing for salmon, a decommissioned fort turned arts village, and Alaska as it was meant to be experienced.

There's More Where That Came From.

That's 12 of the 20. Read our full breakdown for spots like Goldfield, Nevada (a genuine ghost town), Snowflake, Arizona (high desert at 5,600 feet), and Pinos Altos, New Mexico (where Geronimo walked these mountains).

But here's the thing:
Not every destination on Airbnb's list will make a great investment.

Some have tricky regulations. Some lack the demand drivers you need for consistent bookings. Others are simply too small to support a sustainable STR business.

In our full blog, we show you how to weed out the potential from the risky bets.

Read it to learn:

•  The complete list of all 20 destinations

•  Our Golden Triangle method for vetting any market's actual demand

•  A quick and dirty way to see whether a market or property will pencil out

GET THE FULL LIST

Any places on here you'd never even heard of?

That's just proof that there's always potential and opportunity if you're willing to look.

Happy investing,

The Host Camp Team

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