by Turo
posted on July 28, 2021
Turo and Airbnb have partnered up to highlight the incredible opportunity of sharing both your car and your space this travel season. Over the coming months, we’ll be featuring hosts across the US who are building a small car sharing business on Turo, while sharing their space on Airbnb to bolster their earnings even more.
America is hitting the road hard this summer, and while some destinations top the charts every summer, there are some off-the-beaten-path destinations that are booming in popularity this year that may surprise you. To look under the hood of this summer’s travel trends, we partnered up with our friends at Airbnb to see which destinations are sizzling this summer, and which markets are generating the most earnings for Turo and Airbnb hosts across the country.
The triumphant return of travel
People are finally taking their long-awaited vacations, and as vacationers flock to destinations near and far for some much-needed R&R, entrepreneurial minded people are cashing in on the triumphant return to travel.
On Turo, average host earnings were $2,300 during the summer months from 2018-2020, and this summer, that number has already jumped 60% to $3,700 as of July 8, 2021. Airbnb hosts who share their spaces on the side averaged $9,600 over the last year as of April 30, 2021, and new hosts booked their first stay within four days of listing their space on average*.
The unexpected stars of summer 2021
And with this travel surge in full swing, some unexpected places are showing up on our list of top 10 growth destinations. The Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, Whitefish, Montana, and Anchorage, Alaska have grown in popularity this summer according to both Turo and Airbnb data. For travelers, these far-flung destinations house some of the best and most attractive natural wonders to take in the fresh summer air. For local residents, this travel surge represents an outstanding economic opportunity to capitalize on the assets you already own.
The 10 hottest markets on Turo and Airbnb
Get inspired by the top 10 destinations with the largest growth in host earnings over the last 12 months, with eye-catching earning numbers for both car sharing and home sharing.
Jackson, WY
Surrounded by rugged mountains and a flourishing valley, Jackson has lured guests as a sanctuary for nature enthusiasts with endless cycling and hiking options. A host in Jackson can earn more than $6,000 per month** by sharing an entire home with four guests on Airbnb and their vehicle on Turo.
Los Angeles, CA
From its luxurious hiking vistas, to its closeness to a variety of immersive nature destinations just a short road trip away, Los Angeles is a top spot amongst travelers craving the outdoors. In the City of Angels, a host can earn more than $5,000 per month** by sharing an entire home with four guests on Airbnb and their vehicle on Turo.
Anchorage, AK
The majestic mountain peaks and unparalleled access to nature — like bears, moose, and whales — just beyond this established city entice travelers to call Anchorage home while they get out and explore the wilderness. A host in Anchorage can earn nearly $4,900 per month** sharing an entire home with four guests on Airbnb and their vehicle on Turo.
Denver, CO
Denver’s lively atmosphere and burgeoning art scene are only rivaled by its access to wilderness, with world-class hiking and national parks just a day trip away. A Denver host can earn more than $4,700 per month** by sharing their vehicle on Turo and an entire home with four guests on Airbnb.
San Francisco, CA
The 7×7 peninsula peppered with quirky Victorian homes, steep inclines, and of course, fog, is also a natural haven with access to balmy coastline, windswept forests, and a wide range of parks. A host in San Francisco could earn more than $4,600 per month** by sharing their vehicle on Turo and an entire home with four guests on Airbnb.
Whitefish Mountain, MT
With a wealth of sprawling landscapes and an easygoing mountain town vibe, Whitefish’s blend of laid back elegance and excellent array of hiking and biking trails beckons travelers seeking the great outdoors experience. A Whitefish host can earn more than $4,500 per month** by sharing an entire home with four guests and their vehicle on Turo.
Atlanta, GA
Outside of its palpable historical, cultural and artistic influence Atlanta’s urban core is also surrounded by dense forest, with hundreds of parks, nature preserves, gardens and public spaces accessible to visitors. A host in Atlanta can earn more than $3,300 per month** by sharing an entire home with four guests on Airbnb and their vehicle on Turo.
Orlando, FL
Guests have been caught up in greater Orlando beyond the parks it’s known for. From charming residential neighborhoods with a slower pace, to a variety of gardens, nature preserves and museums, it’s clear to see why this is a popular spot with travelers this summer. An Orlando host can earn more than $3,100 per month** by sharing an entire home with four guests on Airbnb and their vehicle on Turo.
Newark, NJ
Populated with a variety of museums and music venues, Newark is also home to the biggest collection of cherry blossoms in the country. A host in Newark can earn more than $2,600 per month** by sharing an entire home with four guests on Airbnb as well as their vehicle on Turo.
Smoky Mountains, TN
Travelers have been itching to get back to nature and the log cabin escapes nestled in the lush and romantic peaks of this World Heritage Site in the Appalachian Trail. A host in the Smoky Mountains can earn over $2,500 per month** by sharing an entire home with four guests on Airbnb and their vehicle on Turo.
Hosting on both Turo and Airbnb
Hosts who share both their cars and their space on both Turo and Airbnb share their tips, tricks, insights for hosting on both platforms.
“We love hosting on Airbnb so much that we’ve branched off hosting a few locations. I was introduced to Turo about the same time I started hosting on Airbnb. I first started renting on Turo to help pay for our car payment, and now our car rentals have turned into a full fledged side business, and having a co-host in place, we kind of trade off traveling using the earnings we’ve made. A note for potential hosts — just go for it! The perfectionist in me wants to have everything right for our guests, but you will never succeed if you don’t try.” — Jennifer, host on Airbnb and Turo (Scottsdale, AZ)
“I’m always thinking about how to package our “Little Big Sky” Montana vacation home offering for our guests. I thought providing a car booking option through Turo could potentially enhance the total offering of our property for guests, solve their needs for a more affordable, solid, and secure car booking option, and add a new revenue stream at the same time. I chose a car that suited the region (Montana touring, Yellowstone Park, and 4WD being key for the rugged terrain). As a host, it’s a great feeling to be able to serve up such a critical need for guests — one guest expressed they were distraught by extremely high rental car costs, so offering them a huge break on the car along with their Airbnb was a big relief for them. From a revenue standpoint, Turo income has already covered half of the year’s car payments in the first three months, and our goal is to apply a portion of future revenues towards travels of our own.” — Paul, host on Airbnb and Turo (Big Sky, MT)
Try hosting your space on Airbnb
Take the opportunity to earn some extra money while the travel market is red-hot. See what your space is worth on Airbnb, while you build up your Turo business.
* Based on Airbnb internal data for Q1 2021.
** Airbnb’s What’s My Place Worth tool computes the estimated income through inputs for geography, type of listing and space, and factors in prior Airbnb booking data in the area. Airbnb makes a few simple assumptions and calculations to determine your earnings:
- If you have an entire place, we assume you can host four guests. If you’re listing a private room, we count that as two guests, and for a shared room, just one guest. You can change your selections in the drop-down menu any time.
- We take the median nightly price (before expenses, fees and taxes) based on booking data in your area from the last 12 months.
- We then multiply that price by the total number of occupied nights to get the monthly earnings estimate. To estimate the number of nights that you might host, we look at how often others in your area are hosting.
Keep in mind, these are just estimates. How much you actually earn depends on a number of other factors such as your availability, price, acceptance and cancellation rates, any legal restrictions, and demand in your area. Also, your ability to host may depend on the local laws in your area. You can find more information here.
