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Vacation Rental Properties for Sale in Montpelier, Utah
Montpelier, Idaho sits just across the Utah border in Bear Lake County, but when buyers talk about vacation rental properties near Montpelier in the Bear Lake region of Utah, they're eyeing one of the Intermountain West's most underrated income-producing markets. Bear Lake — the "Caribbean of the Rockies" for its vivid turquoise water — draws tens of thousands of visitors every summer for boating, personal watercraft, fishing, and raspberry shakes from the famous Bear Lake Raspberry Days festival. Properties within a short drive of the lake, particularly along the Utah side in Garden City and surrounding Bear Lake Valley, routinely command strong short-term rental income from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with a secondary winter window tied to skiing at nearby Beaver Mountain (roughly 45 minutes west) and snowmobiling on the trails threading through the Bear River Mountains. Altitude here runs around 6,000 feet, which means cool summer nights even when daytime highs reach the mid-80s — a genuine selling point for renters escaping the 100°F+ heat of the Wasatch Front or Las Vegas.
For buyers evaluating vacation rental properties in this corridor, the math starts with zoning and HOA rules — Bear Lake County and Rich County each have short-term rental ordinances that affect where nightly rentals are permitted, so due diligence matters before assuming any cabin or lakeside home qualifies for platforms like Airbnb or VRBO. Home prices in the Bear Lake Valley range widely, from modest cabins under $400,000 to lakefront properties exceeding $1.5 million, and gross rental yields can be compelling given the area's limited hotel inventory and high seasonal demand. A local agent familiar with Rich County regulations and seasonal rental history can help you project realistic income figures before you make an offer. Browse the active listings below to see what's currently on the market.
June 2026 · Montpelier market
Live from the Utah MLS — what's actually happening in Montpelier right now.
Median sale
$285,000
6 closed in June 2026
Median DOM
239 days
listing → contract
Sale-to-list
98.5%
of final list price
Unsold inventory
42
active + pending
5 matching · page 1 of 1
Active listings
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Common questions
About vacation rental properties in Montpelier.
Wait — is Montpelier in Utah or Idaho? ▾
Montpelier is actually just over the state line in Bear Lake County, Idaho, but it's lumped in with the Bear Lake market that straddles both states. Most buyers shopping Utah's Bear Lake side (Garden City, Laketown, Pickleville) also look at Montpelier because it's 20 minutes north and feeds the same vacation economy. Listings in this area often appear on the Wasatch Front Regional MLS.
Can I legally run a short-term rental in the Bear Lake area? ▾
Rules vary by jurisdiction. Garden City and Laketown on the Utah side both allow nightly rentals in most zones but require a business license and transient room tax registration. Idaho's Bear Lake County is generally more permissive. Always verify zoning and HOA rules on a specific property before writing an offer — Sweetwater and Ideal Beach, for example, have their own rental management requirements.
When is the rental season and what kind of income should I expect? ▾
Peak runs roughly mid-June through Labor Day, when the lake hits its famous turquoise color and water temps climb into the 70s. A well-located 4-bedroom cabin can book at $400–$800 per night in summer. Winter brings a smaller bump from snowmobilers heading to the Bear Lake and Logan Canyon trail systems, plus skiers at Beaver Mountain 30 minutes south.
What's the price range for a property that actually cash-flows? ▾
Entry-level condos at Bear Lake-area resorts start around $300K, while detached cabins sleeping 10–14 typically run $650K to $1.2M. Lakefront or lake-view homes with private beach access push well past $1.5M. The properties that pencil out usually combine sleeping capacity (8+) with proximity to the water or to Raspberry Days festivities.
How far is Montpelier from Salt Lake City and the airport? ▾
It's about 2.5 hours from SLC via I-15 and US-89 through Logan Canyon — a drive that itself is a selling point for guests. That distance is close enough for weekend renters from the Wasatch Front but far enough that the area stays quiet compared to Park City or Midway.
What should I know about year-round access and utilities? ▾
Montpelier and the north end of Bear Lake get real winter — snow, sub-zero nights, and occasional road closures on US-89. Confirm the property has a reliable heat source, freeze-protected plumbing, and plowed access if you plan to rent in winter. Many older cabins were built as summer-only and need upgrades before they work as four-season rentals.