Wyoming’s Most Wish-Listed Vacation Rentals Are Remote Cabins And A Dome

Wyoming’s short term-rental market stands apart from the rest of the country. The state’s most coveted rentals help explain why.

To the annual tally of $4.8 billion in direct visitor spending, tourism is Wyoming’s second-largest economic sector, driven by marquee destinations like Yellowstone National Park along with a growing niche of “Big Empty” gems. 

There’s a clear sense of what visitors aim to do and see in Wyoming. But where do they want to stay?

Cowboy State Daily tracked down the five most wish-listed (MWL) properties on the popular vacation rental site Airbnb, revealing that vacationers ideally seek a balance of seclusion to amenity access, and that unbridled views are nonnegotiable.

All About Wildlife

The No. 1 MWL property in Wyoming is a mountain modern luxury cabin on 5 acres in Cody, whose opulent interior is juxtaposed with the rugged and dangerous world right outside. 

“We saw grizzly bear tracks through the property last summer,” said rental owner Cassandra Wagler, whose husband, Chad, is a third-generation Wyoming builder who built the cabin.

“Visitors have to be bear aware. But they know where they are. They come out here hoping to see a bear.”

The property is a two-bed, one-bath with meticulous concern for detail, from leather-bound cabinetry and Adonis white granite to a towering fireplace of Seneca veneer stone drawn from an Oklahoma quarry.

Floor to ceiling windows allow visitors to spy wildlife from the comfort of a recliner. 

“The view was spectacular. There was deer in [the] yard every morning and night,” commented a New Jersey visitor named Cristi, admiring members of the Upper Shoshone mule deer herd, who winter near the Wagler cabin and summer at Yellowstone Lake.

The property’s six-figure landscaping has also laid a welcome mat for migrating birds.

Visitors may spot a lazuli bunting, evening grosbeak, or a yellow-bellied western tanager darting like sunlight in motion between the ponderosa pines. And that's just the beginning.

“We had hundreds of chukar partridges in winter, they were running around here like little penguins. It was just wild. At one point we had deer, geese and chukars all running around in circles together. It was a freaking zoo!” said Wagler. 

Though at just 30 minutes from a national park, even better views await, and better photo ops, too. Wagler says her rental sees a high number of social media influencers with an itinerary of photogenic destinations in East Yellowstone, like Tower Falls and Fishing Bridge.

Wyoming’s Rental Market Stands Apart

The Wagler property is one of 3,800 STR listings in Wyoming that collectively generated around $395 million in revenue in 2024, according to market-research firm AirDNA.

In Cody, there are now 176 registered STRs, which are predominantly within the city’s mixed-use downtown district, said Utana Dye, interim city planner.

Dye says the number of rentals vary significantly from one year to the next.

“I can see 10 new registrations, and five go away. It’s a very flexible market right now,” she said, explaining why some STR landlords throw in the towel. “People just don't want to manage it. They don't want to have to deal with the cleaning. Some will sell the properties, but new owners don't continue them as short-term rentals.” 

The Waglers’ listing also benefits from being in one of the state's most visited geographic areas, where additional tourism infrastructure helps drive rental demand.

“Northwest Wyoming is a substantial driver to our visitor economy, because of the national parks, and because of a lot of the accommodations and food service providers that are up there. It has a lot of tourism infrastructure, so it gets a lot of interest from visitors,” said Dan McCoy, director of the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality Initiative (WORTH).

Even though this mountain modern cabin is the most wish-listed in the state, it isn’t the most expensive. With a set rate of $459, it’s below the cost of a “luxury quintile” property in the Equality State, whose average daily rate is $753, according to AirDNA's Chloé Garleschi.

The STR market in the Equality State stands apart from the broader U.S. vacation rental market, Garleschi explained.

For instance, Wyoming has a much larger divide between its bottom and top quintiles. Luxury properties here have a monthly average daily rate 5.9 times higher than budget rentals, which run $135 on average. 

Wyoming achieved this by having a considerably lower average daily rate for budget listings while simultaneously holding a much higher rate for luxury listings. Nationally, the rate difference between top and bottom quintiles is just 3.1 times, Garleschi told Cowboy State Daily via email.

Dome Sweet Dome

Though western Wyoming sees an outsize share of visitor interest, its eastern flank is getting in on the action too.

Surrounded by cedar covered hills and meadows where deer and wild turkey roam, the boho-styled Cedar Lights Retreat is billed as a stargazer’s haven. 

The property, just outside the Guernsey State Park boundary, includes two glamping domes with sky windows and a refreshingly off grid feel. It also has EV car chargers. 

The retreat has its origins in 2017 when the state was home to a total eclipse. While many of in her neighborhood were upset at the prospect of visitors flocking to town, owner Lorrie Morgan was eager to accommodate eclipse chasers, and with a 440-acre property, she had the space for it.

They began renting out tent and RV sites on Airbnb. The spots sold out, so they set up more. By the day of the eclipse, she estimated that across multiple sites there were 750 people on their property.

“It was the coolest thing to be able to share that with them,” she told Cowboy State Daily. “Several people said to us, you guys should offer camping here and we would come back here. This is a special place.”

Those comments sparked the idea for a permanent installation, and at the championing of her son, they took a leap and built there first dome, which has been so successful they’ve since added a second.  

The retreat attracts a high volume of Coloradans who come up for the dark skies. 

“We drove up from Colorado to get a better view of the northern lights and got so many incredible shots!” said a traveler named Keidan. 

Visitors can also check out the historic “Register Cliffs” nearby, where pioneers from the Mormon, California and Oregon trails carved their names in stone.

Guernsey State Park Superintendent Cassie Wells says Cedar Lights’ position on the state’s MWL top five it’s a welcome validation of the area’s sometimes overlooked visitor value.

“The park is a destination for people, but it's nice to have something unique. Guernsey is a small community, so it's great to have something that shines like that here,” she said, adding that despite being in her own backyard, this Airbnb is on her wish list too. 

“I have plans to go up there myself. It's on my wish list. I've had other people talk about it, and it's on their wish list too,” she said.

Morgan says that her clients will often share personal testimony to the power of the eastern Wyoming retreat.

What’s most rewarding thing to us is when we hear from a visitor, Hey, I was on the verge of changing careers. I just didn't know what to do and I needed to get away from the world, put away the noise, and, walk out in nature and just get clarity,” Morgan said. “And then you’ll have another couple who writes and says, We were really struggling in our marriage and we came out here and had a weekend of rejuvenation and just being friends with each other again. For us that means everything.”

Visitors here can expect to pay $205 during the week, $245 on the weekend, and the rates are bumped up by $30 in the summer.

Finding The Balance 

In Pinedale, a riverbend cabin snagged a top spot for its balance of seclusion to access. 

Guests here gulp in views of Pine Creek, a Green River tributary, where moose ford and sandhill cranes and blue herons fish river holes. Yet at only one mile from the town center of Pinedale, accessible from the rental via bike path, they can easily find a sit-down restaurant. 

“Pinedale has great nearby hikes in BT & nice restaurants & breweries. A pleasant diversion from the crowds in the nearby national parks,” commented a Las Vegas resident named Jo. 

Counterintuitively, it’s a cabin on a riverbend that offers neither river access nor fishing, which was a source of consternation for a Salt Lake City visitor named Cody.

“Would have given 5 stars if river access was allowed for swimming/fishing,” he commented.

Angela Goodrich, host and property owner, responded: “If we allowed every guest to fish a 50-yard section of creek we would have no fish, lures everywhere, dead fish and people wandering onto other people's property.”

The property also enjoys a seasonal demand surge more pronounced among Wyoming’s luxury rentals, in part for its access to winter recreation. 

While all rental tiers see demand surge in summer, “luxury has another, smaller boost January-March from skiers, who often pay much higher rates than summer leisure travelers,” Garleschi said, also explaining that Wyoming’s luxury market sees a wider price swing between seasons.

“Wyoming luxury properties have a noticeable seasonal variation in prices. The luxury quintile ADR [STR] reached a monthly high of $973.98 in February and a low of $553.79 in April,” she said, adding that budget listings are comparatively stable, with a low of $108.10 in February and a high of $150.39 in July.

The riverbend cabin is around 10 miles from the White Pine family ski-resort and Kelly Park Nordic ski trails, which offer recreationists a more affordable alternative to larger ski areas, Goodrich told Cowboy State Daily.

“We're not near as busy as Jackson. We're not as big as Jackson. It's very family friendly for skiers of all levels. It's way cheaper to ski here than some of these bigger places.” 

Visitors here can expect to pay a daily rate of around $250 in summer (fluctuating), and about $190 in winter.

Panoramic Views

Toward west-central Wyoming, a ridge-top cabin in Daniel shows that vistas are a high priority for out-of-state visitors.

The location has panoramic views of major mountain ranges, like Bridger Teton and the Wyoming Range. 

“I felt like I was on the top of the world,” commented a visitor named Andrew from Illinois.

It’s a choice getaway for horseback riders and ORV enthusiasts. A visitor named Shannon from Exton, PA, said she’d never forget listening to the horses while watching the sunrise on the back deck.

“There is nothing better for the soul,” she commented on the listing.

The average daily rate here is $159 in the summer and $149 the rest of the year.

In The Neighborhood

Some top tier destinations are right in the community, as with a spacious chalet in the suburb of Alpine on the Idaho-Wyoming border near the Snake River and Palisades Reservoir. The property’s proximity to small town offerings is a high point for some visitors. 

“Alpine is the real deal, great fishing, real cowboy bar "best burger"... grocery store rocks.  get tacos at the food truck, coffee by the river and sloshies at Holbeck,” commented a visitor named Brad. 

Others said they preferred to cook in the property's gourmet kitchen. 

Indulge in a luxury escape amongst the magnificent beauty of the Wyoming mountain ranges here at "Skyview." Home features include 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a gourmet kitchen, beautiful outdoor spaces, and a personal concierge. Drink in the views of Ferry's Peak from one of 3 balconies and soak in the 6-person hot tub. With garage parking for a full-size RV or toy trailer, coupled with direct access to the Bridger-Teton National Forest, this chalet boasts excitement and indulgence for all!

“The location was amazing for snowmobiling at Greys River which was a Winter Wonderland. Already planning our next trip here,” commented a Trenton, Georgia couple, Stephanie and Mike. Nightly rates during peak season here will run a visitor between $399 to $499 a night.

Contract Zakary Sonntag at zakary@cowboystatedaily.com

Zakary Sonntag can be reached at zakary@cowboystatedaily.com.