Rural Airbnb hosts in Minnesota have seen their incomes double during the pandemic

By Judy J. Beasley Last updated Jan 30, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many vacationers looking for quiet getaways within driving distance of home, resulting in a boon for rural Airbnb hosts.

The online rental service said Greater Minnesota hosts have raised $23 million since the pandemic began. That’s almost double the amount they earned in 2019.

The ‘typical’ rural Minnesota host has banked $6,900 in the past 12 months, Airbnb says bring me the news. Normally, these hosts would earn around $3,300 over the course of a summer.

It’s a trend the company said it is continuing nationwide, with requests for remote stays booming ahead of Memorial Day weekend. Searches for rentals within 50 to 300 miles are about seven out of 10 searches lately. That makes properties away from denser cities — “off the beaten path,” as Airbnb puts it — an attractive option for vacationers.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources saw a similar spike in interest last year, and changed its accommodation booking policies in response growing demand.

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is also seeing a flood of interest.