Florida Vacation Rental Statistics & Travel Trends 2027
Arri Roy
Author · August 28, 2026
Explore the latest Florida vacation rental statistics and travel trends, including visitor numbers, Orlando tourism, rental performance and the outlook for 2027.
“Florida remains one of the world's most significant travel destinations…”
Florida remains one of the world's most significant travel destinations, attracting visitors for its beaches, theme parks, cruises, warm-weather escapes, outdoor recreation and family vacations.
For travelers, vacation-rental owners and the broader hospitality industry, the scale of Florida tourism creates an enormous accommodation market. But Florida is not one uniform vacation-rental destination. Demand patterns in Orlando and Kissimmee can look very different from those in Destin, Miami, Cape Coral, Naples or the Florida Keys.
This report examines the latest available Florida tourism statistics, Orlando visitor data and vacation-rental performance indicators to understand the trends shaping Florida travel heading into 2027.
Last updated: August 2026
Data note: Full-year 2027 statistics are not yet available. This report uses verified 2025 tourism statistics and available 2026 performance data to examine the trends shaping Florida travel and vacation rentals heading into 2027.
Florida Travel Statistics at a Glance
Florida's latest tourism numbers demonstrate just how large the state's visitor economy has become.
StatisticLatest FigureFlorida visitors in 2025143.33 millionFlorida visitor growth vs. 2024**+0.2%Florida visitors in Q1 202639.88 millionDomestic visitors in Q1 202636.54 millionOverseas visitors in Q1 20262.29 millionQ1 2026 overseas visitor growth+8.5%Orlando visitors in 202576.7 millionOrlando domestic visitors in 202570.3 millionOrlando international visitors in 20256.3 millionFlorida hotel & motel rooms, Dec. 2025507,282**
VISIT FLORIDA reports that Florida welcomed a record 143.33 million visitors in 2025 and another 39.88 million during the first quarter of 2026. Visit Orlando reports 76.7 million visitors to Orlando during 2025.
These figures don't measure vacation rentals specifically, but they demonstrate the enormous underlying travel market supporting hotels, resorts, vacation homes, condos, villas and other accommodation throughout Florida.
Florida Welcomed a Record 143.33 Million Visitors in 2025
Florida welcomed approximately 143.33 million visitors in 2025, according to revised estimates from VISIT FLORIDA.
That represented a 0.2% increase over 2024 and established a new annual visitation record for the state.
Growth of 0.2% may appear modest, but the scale is what matters. Maintaining growth when annual visitation already exceeds 143 million means Florida continues to operate from an exceptionally large tourism base.
For the vacation-rental industry, that creates opportunities across multiple types of destinations—from private-pool homes near Central Florida's theme parks to beachfront condos, waterfront homes and family-oriented coastal rentals.
Nearly 40 Million Travelers Visited Florida in Q1 2026
Florida's tourism momentum continued into 2026.
Preliminary estimates indicate that approximately 39.88 million visitors traveled to Florida between January and March 2026.
Of those visitors:
36.54 million were domestic travelers
13.85 million domestic visitors arrived by air
22.69 million domestic visitors arrived through non-air transportation
2.29 million were overseas visitors
Domestic air visitation increased 2.5% year over year, while overseas visitation increased an impressive 8.5%.
These numbers reinforce one of Florida's major tourism advantages: the state attracts both fly-in and drive-in travelers.
That can benefit vacation-rental destinations throughout Florida rather than concentrating demand exclusively around major airports.
Most Florida Visitors Travel From Within the United States
Domestic travelers continue to form the foundation of Florida tourism.
For 2025, approximately 40.7% of Florida visitors arrived by air and 59.3% arrived by non-air transportation, according to VISIT FLORIDA.
That means Florida isn't solely dependent on air travel.
Drive-to tourism can be particularly important for vacation rentals because travelers arriving by car may find it easier to bring luggage, groceries, children's equipment, beach gear or pet supplies.
It can also make larger vacation homes in residential communities more practical for families and groups.
International Tourism Remains Important to Florida
Florida also continues to attract millions of international travelers.
Approximately 12.5 million visitors from Canada and overseas markets traveled to Florida in 2025.
Early 2026 figures showed particularly encouraging overseas growth.
Florida received approximately 2.29 million overseas visitors in Q1 2026, representing an 8.5% year-over-year increase.
The United Kingdom was particularly notable. Florida welcomed approximately 1.2 million UK visitors during 2025, up 5.9%, while UK visitation during Q1 2026 increased another 17.2% year over year.
International visitors can be particularly relevant to vacation-rental markets because longer stays and larger travel parties can make multi-bedroom homes attractive alternatives to booking several hotel rooms.
Orlando Welcomed a Record 76.7 Million Visitors in 2025
Central Florida remains one of the country's tourism powerhouses.
Orlando welcomed approximately 76.7 million visitors in 2025, representing a 1.8% increase over 2024 and the highest visitation total in the destination's history.
Domestic visitation reached approximately 70.3 million, increasing 2.2%, while international visitation totaled approximately 6.3 million.
The scale of Orlando tourism has implications beyond Orlando itself.
Vacation-home markets in Kissimmee, Four Corners, ChampionsGate and surrounding Central Florida communities serve many travelers visiting the wider Orlando tourism region.
This helps explain why Central Florida supports such a broad accommodation ecosystem encompassing hotels, resorts, condos, townhomes, villas and large private vacation homes.
Orlando Visitors Spend More Than $1,000 Per Person Per Trip
Visitor behavior provides additional context for the accommodation market.
According to Visit Orlando's 2025 data, domestic leisure visitors spent an average of approximately $1,047 per person per trip and stayed an average of 2.9 nights.
The average domestic leisure party contained 2.4 people, and approximately 29% of travel parties included children under 18.
Overseas travelers excluding Canada showed substantially different patterns.
They stayed an average of approximately 8.5 nights, spent approximately $1,123 per person per trip, and traveled in parties averaging 3.3 people. Approximately 51% of those overseas travel parties included children under 18.
These characteristics are particularly relevant to vacation rentals.
Longer stays and larger travel parties can increase the appeal of properties offering kitchens, multiple bedrooms, laundry facilities and common living spaces.
Orlando's Accommodation Market Is Enormous
Vacation rentals compete within a very large Central Florida lodging market.
At the end of 2025, Orlando had approximately 132,685 hotel rooms.
Those hotels recorded:
71.4% average occupancy
$202.71 average daily rate
34.5 million room nights of demand
Vacation homes aren't direct replacements for every hotel stay. The products can serve very different types of travelers.
A couple visiting for two nights may prefer a hotel room, while an extended family of eight staying for a week may place much greater value on four bedrooms, a kitchen, laundry facilities and a private pool.
The size of Orlando's hotel industry nevertheless demonstrates the extraordinary volume of accommodation demand generated by Central Florida tourism.
Osceola County Vacation Rentals Showed Strong 2026 Performance
One of the most relevant indicators for Florida vacation rentals comes from Osceola County, home to Kissimmee and numerous vacation-home communities serving Central Florida visitors.
Key Data's analysis for the July 4, 2026 period showed Osceola County RevPAR pacing 27.9% higher, supported by:
7.9% occupancy growth
18.6% ADR growth
27.9% RevPAR growth
ADR means Average Daily Rate, while RevPAR means Revenue Per Available Rental.
These figures shouldn't be interpreted as annual results for every Osceola County vacation rental. They represent performance within the specific period and dataset analyzed by Key Data.
However, they provide a useful indicator of strong vacation-rental demand and pricing performance within an important Central Florida market.
Florida's Coastal Vacation-Rental Markets Also Showed Strength
Strong vacation-rental performance wasn't limited to Central Florida.
In the same 2026 analysis, Bay County was pacing approximately 19.3% higher in RevPAR, supported by a 15.2% increase in occupancy.
Walton County and Okaloosa County each showed approximately 13.5% RevPAR growth.
These markets serve a very different type of traveler than Kissimmee.
Where Central Florida demand is heavily influenced by theme parks and family attractions, Northwest Florida markets are strongly connected with beaches and coastal vacations.
This demonstrates why statewide vacation-rental averages should be treated carefully.
Florida Is Not One Vacation-Rental Market
Talking about the "Florida vacation-rental market" can sometimes be misleading.
Florida contains numerous distinct tourism markets.
Central Florida
Orlando, Kissimmee, Four Corners and surrounding communities are heavily influenced by theme parks, family vacations and group travel.
Large vacation homes, villas, private pools and resort-style communities are common considerations for travelers in this region.
Gulf Coast Florida
Destinations along Florida's Gulf Coast attract beach vacations, winter visitors, couples, families and longer seasonal stays.
Waterfront access, beach proximity, pools and outdoor living spaces can be particularly important.
Atlantic Coast Florida
Florida's Atlantic side combines beach tourism with cruise travel, outdoor recreation, urban destinations and family vacations.
South Florida
Miami, Fort Lauderdale and surrounding communities attract a mixture of domestic and international travelers seeking beaches, nightlife, dining, events and urban experiences.
Florida Keys
The Keys offer another distinct vacation-rental environment shaped by island travel, fishing, boating and waterfront recreation.
As a result, nightly rates, occupancy, seasonality and desirable amenities can differ substantially from one Florida destination to another.
Why Vacation Homes Appeal to Families and Groups
Vacation rentals compete on something hotels often struggle to provide at the same scale: space under one roof.
Depending on the property, a Florida vacation home may provide:
Multiple bedrooms
Multiple bathrooms
Full kitchens
Private swimming pools
Laundry facilities
Game rooms
Outdoor living spaces
Parking
Pet-friendly accommodation
Resort amenities
These features can be particularly valuable for multigenerational families and groups traveling together.
Visit Orlando's finding that 51% of overseas visitor parties excluding Canada included children under 18 illustrates the importance of family travel within one of Florida's largest tourism markets.
Florida Has More Than Half a Million Hotel and Motel Rooms
Traditional lodging remains enormous across the state.
As of December 2025, Florida had approximately 507,282 hotel and motel rooms across 4,738 properties, according to VISIT FLORIDA.
Vacation rentals broaden that accommodation landscape by offering property types that hotels generally cannot replicate.
For a large group, the relevant comparison may therefore not be:
one hotel room vs. one vacation home.
A better comparison may be:
multiple hotel rooms vs. one multi-bedroom vacation home.
Travelers should consider the total accommodation cost along with bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, amenities, parking, location and privacy.
Private Pools Remain a Valuable Florida Vacation-Rental Amenity
Private pools are particularly relevant to Florida's vacation-home market.
In Central Florida, families may use a private pool during rest days between theme-park visits.
In coastal destinations, travelers may value having both beach access and a pool.
Other amenities become more or less important depending on destination and traveler type.
Beach travelers may prioritize ocean views and beach access, while larger Central Florida groups may prioritize bedroom count, game rooms and proximity to theme parks.
This is another reason vacation-rental demand cannot be understood purely through nightly rates.
Five Florida Vacation Rental Trends to Watch in 2027
Because 2027 hasn't happened yet, these should be considered trends to watch rather than predictions of guaranteed performance.
1. Florida's Visitor Base Remains Enormous
Florida enters the period following a record 143.33 million visitors in 2025 and nearly 40 million visitors during Q1 2026.
Even modest percentage changes represent millions of travelers when the underlying visitor base is this large.
2. Central Florida Remains a Critical Vacation-Rental Market
Orlando's record 76.7 million visitors in 2025, combined with strong 2026 vacation-rental indicators in Osceola County, makes Central Florida an important market to watch heading into 2027.
3. International Travel Could Become Increasingly Important
Florida's overseas visitation increased 8.5% year over year during Q1 2026.
If this momentum continues, destinations traditionally popular with international travelers could benefit.
However, international travel can be influenced by exchange rates, economic conditions, air capacity and geopolitical developments, so this trend should be monitored rather than assumed.
4. Travelers Have More Accommodation Choices
Vacationers can compare hotels, resorts, condos, vacation homes and other lodging options more easily than ever.
That means simply owning or listing a vacation rental isn't enough to guarantee demand.
Location, pricing, photography, amenities, reviews, property condition and booking flexibility can all influence a traveler's decision.
5. Local Performance Will Matter More Than Statewide Headlines
Record Florida tourism doesn't mean every vacation-rental market—or every individual property—will experience record performance.
A Kissimmee pool home, Destin beachfront condo and Cape Coral waterfront villa compete in fundamentally different markets.
Travelers, owners and property managers should therefore evaluate destination-level data alongside statewide tourism statistics.
What These Statistics Mean for Florida Travelers
For travelers, Florida's enormous accommodation market creates choice.
Families planning a theme-park vacation can compare Orlando hotels with vacation homes in Kissimmee, Four Corners, ChampionsGate and surrounding areas.
Beach travelers can compare condos, villas, cottages and waterfront homes across Florida's Gulf and Atlantic coasts.
Larger groups can evaluate whether booking a multi-bedroom vacation home offers better overall value than reserving several hotel rooms.
Rather than choosing accommodation based solely on nightly price, travelers should compare:
Location
Total trip cost
Number of bedrooms
Number of bathrooms
Guest capacity
Kitchen facilities
Pool availability
Parking
Pet policies
Cancellation policies
Distance from planned attractions
The best value isn't necessarily the property with the lowest nightly rate. It is the accommodation that best matches the needs of the trip.
What These Statistics Mean for Vacation-Rental Owners
Record statewide tourism should not be interpreted as guaranteed bookings.
Competition remains significant.
Vacation-rental owners increasingly need to compete on the overall guest experience—including accurate listings, strong photography, useful amenities, competitive pricing and property quality.
Understanding the local market is equally important.
An amenity that strongly influences bookings in Kissimmee may have less importance in a beachfront market, while features such as boat access or waterfront location may carry considerably more weight elsewhere.
The strongest strategy is therefore to understand who travels to a particular destination and why.
Florida Vacation Rental Outlook for 2027
Florida enters 2027 from a position of considerable tourism strength.
The state welcomed a record 143.33 million visitors in 2025, while preliminary Q1 2026 visitation approached 40 million travelers. Orlando separately established a new record with 76.7 million visitors in 2025.
Vacation-rental data also shows encouraging performance in selected Florida markets, including Osceola County and several coastal counties.
However, the most important takeaway is not that every Florida vacation rental will experience growth.
It is that Florida continues to operate at extraordinary tourism scale while individual rental markets remain highly localized.
For travelers, that means more destinations and accommodation types to compare.
For owners and property managers, it means understanding local demand, traveler preferences and competitive positioning will remain essential heading into 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tourists visit Florida each year?
Florida welcomed approximately 143.33 million visitors in 2025, according to revised VISIT FLORIDA estimates. That represented a 0.2% increase from 2024 and established a new statewide visitation record.
How many people have visited Florida in 2026?
Complete 2026 figures aren't available yet. Preliminary data shows approximately 39.88 million visitors traveled to Florida during Q1 2026, including 36.54 million domestic visitors and 2.29 million overseas visitors.
How many tourists visit Orlando?
Orlando welcomed approximately 76.7 million visitors in 2025, up 1.8% from 2024 and the highest annual visitation in the destination's history.
How long do Orlando visitors stay?
In 2025, domestic leisure visitors stayed an average of 2.9 nights. Overseas visitors excluding Canada stayed considerably longer, averaging 8.5 nights.
How much do Orlando visitors spend?
Domestic leisure visitors spent an average of approximately $1,047 per person per trip in 2025, while overseas visitors excluding Canada spent approximately $1,123 per person per trip.
Are Florida vacation rentals performing well?
Performance varies considerably by destination. In Key Data's July 4, 2026 analysis, Osceola County showed RevPAR pacing 27.9% higher, while Bay County showed a 19.3% increase and Walton and Okaloosa counties showed increases of approximately 13.5%. These figures represent the specific period and dataset analyzed rather than statewide annual performance.
What are some popular Florida vacation-rental destinations?
Florida vacation rentals are available across Central Florida, the Gulf Coast, Atlantic Coast, South Florida, Northwest Florida and the Florida Keys. Popular markets include Orlando, Kissimmee, Destin, Panama City Beach, Miami, Naples, Cape Coral and numerous coastal communities.
What will happen to Florida vacation rentals in 2027?
Full-year 2027 data doesn't exist yet. Florida enters the period following record 2025 tourism and strong early-2026 visitation. Local supply, pricing, economic conditions, international travel and destination-specific demand will influence individual vacation-rental markets.
Explore Florida Vacation Rentals
With more than 143 million annual visitors, Florida offers an extraordinary range of vacation experiences—from Central Florida theme-park trips to Gulf Coast beach vacations and South Florida escapes.
Travelers can compare vacation homes based on destination, property type, amenities, group size and proximity to the experiences that matter most to their trip.
Whether you're searching for a private-pool home near Orlando, a family vacation rental in Kissimmee or a waterfront stay along Florida's coast, choosing the right location and property can make all the difference.
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