How to Price Your Airbnb in Morgantown: The Complete 2026 Guide

Morgantown's short-term rental market is powered by WVU football, hospital travel, and outdoor tourism. This guide covers everything from seasonal rate adjustments to local regulations.

Understanding the Morgantown Short-Term Rental Market

• WVU football games and graduation weekends drive the highest demand of the year.
• Ruby Memorial Hospital and WVU Medicine create steady weekday travel-nurse and medical visitor bookings.
• Coopers Rock State Forest and Cheat Lake attract outdoor enthusiasts in spring and fall.
• Summer sees a dip in student-related travel but gains from family reunions and festival traffic.
• Winter months are slow unless you offer long-term corporate or winter sports stays near Wisp Resort.

Morgantown's Seasonal Pricing Calendar

Peak Season

WVU home football weekends and graduation. Raise your nightly rate by 2x to 3x your base and enforce a 2-3 night minimum.

High Season

Spring and fall foliage months (April-May and September-October). Increase rates by 25-40% on weekends and 15-20% on weekdays.

Shoulder Season

Summer (June-August) and early winter (December). Keep rates near base level but offer 10-15% discounts for week-long stays to fill gaps.

Low Season

January through March (excluding WVU basketball tournament weekends). Drop rates 20-30% below base to attract long-term corporate or medical travelers.

Event-Specific Pricing Windows

WVU Home Football Games — Raise rates 2.5x to 3x for Thursday through Sunday. Mountaineer Week — Increase by 50% during family weekend and homecoming. Graduation Weekend — Set rates at 2x base with a 3-night minimum.

Setting Your Base Rate in Morgantown

Build Your Comp Set

Find 10-15 similar listings near your property. Compare by bedroom count, amenities (parking, kitchen, pet-friendly), and location proximity to WVU or the hospital. Use this data to set a realistic base rate.

Neighbourhood Matters in Morgantown

Downtown/Wharf District — Highest demand for WVU events and nightlife; base rates often 20-30% higher than city average. Suncrest — Popular with medical travelers near Ruby Hospital; steady weekday bookings. South Park — Historic homes appeal to families and longer stays; rates slightly below downtown. Cheat Lake — Waterfront properties command premium summer and fall rates. Sabraton — Budget-friendly option with lower competition; good for value-focused listings.

Weekday vs Weekend Split

Set weekdays (Sunday-Thursday) at your base rate to attract medical and business travelers. Raise weekends (Friday-Saturday) by 30-50% during high and peak seasons.

The New Listing Strategy

Start your base rate 15-20% below comparable listings for the first 90 days. This builds reviews and booking history, then gradually increase to market rate.

Morgantown STR Regulations

Morgantown requires a Short-Term Rental Permit from the city. You must collect and remit 6% Hotel Occupancy Tax plus 6% West Virginia Sales Tax. Check our STR Regulation Finder for the latest requirements.

Pricing Mistakes Morgantown Hosts Make

• Ignoring WVU event calendar — Missing home game or graduation pricing windows leaves thousands on the table.
• Setting one flat rate year-round — Without seasonal adjustments, you lose money in peak and book nothing in low season.
• Underpricing for medical travelers — Ruby Hospital guests often book weeks ahead and value reliability over the lowest price.
• Overpricing in winter — January through March demand drops sharply; high rates lead to zero bookings.
• Not enforcing minimum stays — Single-night bookers on football weekends block longer, higher-paying guests.

When to Switch to Dynamic Pricing in Morgantown

If you manage more than one listing or struggle to manually adjust for 20+ WVU events each year, dynamic pricing saves time and maximizes revenue. It automatically raises rates for game weekends and drops them during slow periods.

Dynamic pricing tools like Beyond Pricing connect directly to your Airbnb calendar and adjust rates daily based on real-time demand data.

See our Analytics & Revenue Software directory for a full comparison of pricing tools.

Quick-Start Morgantown Pricing Checklist

• Research 10-15 comp listings near your property
• Set base rate 15-20% below comps for new listings
• Create seasonal rate calendar for peak, high, shoulder, low
• Add WVU football and graduation multipliers (2x-3x)
• Set weekday vs weekend split (30-50% weekend premium)
• Apply 2-3 night minimums for peak events
• Get your STR permit and register for hotel tax
• Use our Airbnb Fee Calculator to understand your net payout
• Check our STR Profit Calculator to model revenue against costs
• Test dynamic pricing if managing multiple listings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average nightly rate for an Airbnb in Morgantown? Most 2-bedroom listings range from $100 to $150 base, jumping to $250-$400 on WVU game weekends.

Do I need a license to rent my home in Morgantown? Yes, you need a Short-Term Rental Permit from the city and must collect hotel occupancy tax.

When is the best time to raise prices in Morgantown? WVU home football weekends, graduation, and Mountaineer Week are the highest-demand periods.

How far in advance should I set prices? Adjust rates at least 90 days out for peak events, and review your calendar monthly for slow-season adjustments.

Can I make money with a Morgantown Airbnb year-round? Yes, but expect 70-80% of revenue to come from August through November and spring months.