Baton Rouge Airbnb Market: What the Numbers Say
Short answer: Mixed. Baton Rouge short-term rentals earned more per property over the past year, with average annual revenue up 51.6% to $25,800, but the average nightly rate fell 21.5% to $148 and fewer properties got booked over a full year (AirDNA via Baton Rouge Business Report).
If you've ever thought about turning a Baton Rouge property into an Airbnb, the latest numbers tell an interesting story: more money per property, but lower nightly rates and more competition. Here's my quick breakdown in video, with the full details below.
Part of our guide to house hacking and investing in Baton Rouge.
What happened: a fresh look at BR's short-term rental market
According to Baton Rouge Business Report, Baton Rouge had 1,221 active short-term rental listings as of October, up 6% from a year earlier. That figure comes from AirDNA, which tracks rental performance across platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo, and it counts properties booked at least once within the past month.
But there's a flip side. The number of properties that got at least one booking over the past 12 months dropped 18.9% year over year.
The report also breaks down where those listings live: about 60.6% are only on Airbnb, 35.7% are on multiple platforms, and 3.8% are only on Vrbo.
The key numbers
Average annual revenue per property: up 51.6% to $25,800 (trailing 12 months)
Occupancy: up 5.2% to 51%
Average daily rate: down 21.5% to $148
Revenue per available rental night: down 4.7% to $76
Typical BR Airbnb host earnings in 2025: $11,000 (Airbnb's median figure)
Guests welcomed (July 2025 to June 2026): nearly 70,000
Airbnb says most local hosts share just one home, and visitors came from cities like Houston, New Orleans, Shreveport and Dallas.
Game day is still king
LSU sports are a big driver of demand. Airbnb searches in Baton Rouge for the Nov. 6-8 LSU-Alabama weekend jumped more than 250% compared with a typical fall weekend, based on company data collected through Aug. 31.
On the Vrbo side, Expedia Group told Business Report that Vrbo doesn't share occupancy data, but it has more than 600 listings in the Baton Rouge area with an average nightly rate of roughly $310.
One local host near LSU told Business Report that football season is one of her strongest booking periods, along with graduations, LSU baseball and big concerts. She also said steadier year-round bookings come from people visiting family, helping LSU students move, or visiting relatives in assisted living. Her other point: growing competition and rising operating costs have made pricing more important than ever.
Why it matters if you're thinking about buying
As a realtor, I get questions about short-term rentals all the time. These numbers show why you have to look past the headline. Revenue per property is up, but nightly rates are down, and fewer properties are getting booked over a full year. That usually means the hosts who price smart and stay booked are doing well, while others are getting squeezed.
If you're buying a property with a short-term rental in mind, run the numbers before you buy: realistic nightly rates, how many nights you can actually fill outside of game weekends, cleaning and operating costs, insurance, and any local rules that apply. A property that only works on game weekends is a very different investment from one that books steadily all year.
And if you already own a home near LSU, these trends are worth knowing too, whether you're thinking about renting it out, selling, or just watching how the market around you is changing.
What to watch next
Whether nightly rates keep sliding as more listings compete
How the rest of the football season and spring events like graduation and LSU baseball affect bookings
Updated AirDNA numbers in the coming months
I'll keep an eye on this one and share updates as new numbers come out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an Airbnb make in Baton Rouge?
Average annual revenue per property was $25,800 over the trailing 12 months, according to AirDNA. Airbnb says the typical Baton Rouge host earned about $11,000 in 2025.
How many short-term rentals are in Baton Rouge?
About 1,221 active listings as of October, up 6% from a year earlier.
What's the average occupancy for Baton Rouge Airbnbs?
About 51%, up 5.2% year over year, with an average daily rate of $148.
When is demand highest?
LSU game weekends. Searches for the LSU-Alabama weekend jumped more than 250% compared with a typical fall weekend. Graduations, LSU baseball and big concerts also drive bookings.
What should I check before buying a short-term rental?
Realistic nightly rates, how many nights you can fill outside game weekends, cleaning and operating costs, insurance and local rules. See our guide to buying your first duplex for another investing path.
Want more local news like this?
Every weekday I break down what's happening around Baton Rouge, Gonzales and the rest of the Capital Region, from the housing market to new businesses and big developments. Comment the word "Report" on the video above, or reach out to me directly, and I'll add you to my weekly newsletter that dives deeper into stories just like this one.
I'm Brian Mackey with Pivot Realty, here in the trenches gathering the news in the Baton Rouge area so you're always in the loop. If you have questions about buying or selling a home in Baton Rouge or Ascension Parish, I'm always happy to help.
