Farm stay statistics at a glance
Farm stay statistics show a niche that is small enough to feel personal and large enough to matter economically. Across the supplied datasets, farm stays sit at the intersection of agritourism, rural tourism, and farm diversification, which makes the category useful for both operators and travelers looking for context before they book.
Key takeaways
- U.S. farms and ranches generated $1.26 billion in agritourism income in 2022 (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart).
- U.S. agritourism income increased 12.4% from 2017 to 2022 after adjusting for inflation (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart).
- About 57% of U.S. counties reported agritourism income in 2022 (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart).
- The median county agritourism income was $161,000 in 2022 (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart).
- Italy hosted 4.5 million agritourists in 2023 (ISTAT 2023 agriturismo release).
- Spain’s rural tourism overnight stays rose 3.7% in 2023 (INE EOAT Year 2023).
- The United States farm-stay baseline survey reported an average rental of $125 per night including breakfast (Farm Stay U.S. Farm Stay Basics).
Table of contents
- Farm stay market size and demand
- Farm stay statistics by country and region
- Farm stay economics for operators
- What the agritourism numbers say about farm stays
- Fast facts from the statistics
Farm stay market size and demand
The biggest story in the farm stay statistics is not one single country or season. It is the size of the broader agritourism base and the way demand is spreading across regions that are often outside the usual hotel map.
U.S. farms and ranches generated $1.26 billion in agritourism income in 2022 (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart). That number alone shows that farm stays are not just a tourism side note. They are part of a measurable income stream tied to working farms and ranches.
The longer-term direction is just as important. U.S. agritourism revenue more than tripled between 2002 and 2017 (USDA ERS Agritourism Allows Farms To Diversify). Adjusted for inflation, agritourism revenue grew from $704 million in 2012 to almost $950 million in 2017 (USDA ERS Agritourism Allows Farms To Diversify). That growth suggests the category has moved beyond novelty and into a durable diversification strategy.
A useful way to read the farm stay market is through geography. About 57% of U.S. counties reported agritourism income in 2022 (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart), which means the market footprint is broad, not concentrated in only a few tourist counties. The median county agritourism income was $161,000 in 2022 (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart), which is a reminder that many places are operating on modest but meaningful revenue.
Big number: the top 50 U.S. agritourism counties accounted for $352 million of agritourism income (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart).
That concentration matters because it shows the market has both wide participation and clear hotspots. The 50 counties with the most agritourism income were spread across 23 states (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart), so the demand is geographically diverse even at the top end. Among those leaders, Texas had eight of the top 50 counties, while California had four, Colorado had four, and Hawaii had four (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart).
Farm stay statistics by country and region
Farm stay statistics look different depending on whether you focus on a farm, a county, a region, or a national tourism system. The supplied data gives a clear picture of how the category behaves across the United States and Europe.
U.S. agritourism signals
The U.S. data shows a category that has become economically visible. The 2022 USDA chart shows $1.26 billion in agritourism income, 12.4% inflation-adjusted growth from 2017 to 2022, and 57% of counties reporting income (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart). Those three facts together point to a market that is both expanding and distributed.
The USDA also indicates that the top 50 counties accounted for $352 million, which means the leaders generated a large share of total income while still leaving room for broad participation across counties and states (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart).
European rural tourism signals
Europe adds a broader rural-tourism frame that helps interpret farm stays as part of a larger hospitality pattern. In 2020, rural areas accounted for 39.4% of total nights spent in EU tourist accommodation (STAY Summary Report). Towns and suburbs accounted for 34.8% and cities accounted for 25.8% (STAY Summary Report). That split suggests rural accommodation is not a fringe segment in Europe; it is the single largest location type in that dataset.
In 2022, inseparable non-agricultural activities represented nearly 8% of the total output of the agricultural industry in Europe, equal to EUR 19.8 billion (STAY Summary Report). That line matters because it frames tourism and hospitality as a measurable contributor to agricultural output, not just a sideline service.
Country-level comparison table
| Country or market | Statistic | Source label |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $1.26 billion in agritourism income in 2022 | USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart |
| United States | 12.4% inflation-adjusted growth from 2017 to 2022 | USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart |
| Italy | 26,129 active agritourism businesses in 2023 | ISTAT 2023 agriturismo release |
| Italy | 4.5 million agritourists in 2023 | ISTAT 2023 agriturismo release |
| Spain | 3.7% increase in annual rural tourism overnight stays in 2023 | INE EOAT Year 2023 |
| Germany | 1,500,000 overnight stays in the STAY agritourism dataset | STAY Summary Report |
| Austria | 73,174 accommodation establishments in the 2024/25 tourism year | Statistics Austria 2026 press release |
The table shows how differently farm stay statistics appear by market. The U.S. data emphasizes income and county spread. Italy emphasizes business counts and visitor volumes. Spain emphasizes occupancy and overnight stays. Germany, Austria, and the STAY report add a useful accommodation lens that shows how rural lodging fits into larger tourism systems.
What stands out in Europe
Italy is especially relevant for anyone studying farm stays because the category is visibly mature. Italy had 25,849 active agritourism businesses in 2022 and 26,129 in 2023 (ISTAT 2022 agriturismo release; ISTAT 2023 agriturismo release). That is a 1.1% increase in 2023 versus 2022 after a 1.8% increase in 2022 versus 2021 (ISTAT 2023 agriturismo release; ISTAT 2022 agriturismo release). The sector is growing, but not in a spiky way. It looks stable enough to support planning.
Demand is strong too. Italy hosted 4.5 million agritourists in 2023, and 51% of those agritourists were foreign visitors (ISTAT 2023 agriturismo release). That mix matters because it implies cross-border appeal, not just domestic leisure demand.
The geography inside Italy also matters. 72% of Italian agritourists chose the Centre and North-east of the country in 2023 (ISTAT 2023 agriturismo release). That concentration suggests that some regions are especially strong at translating farmland and rural hospitality into bookable demand.
Spain shows a more seasonal and occupancy-oriented story. In December 2023, Spain’s rural tourism accommodations occupied 19.3% of available places, while weekend occupancy reached 31.2% (INE EOAT December 2023). The year finished with 3.7% annual growth in rural tourism overnight stays (INE EOAT Year 2023), and rural tourism made up 9.1% of Spain’s extrahotel overnight stays in 2023 (INE EOAT Year 2023). That is a useful share for a segment that depends heavily on regional travel patterns.
Farm stay economics for operators
For operators, farm stay statistics are most useful when they translate into pricing and operating logic. The Farm Stay U.S. baseline survey gives a practical benchmark: average rental of $125 per night including breakfast (Farm Stay U.S. Farm Stay Basics). It also assumed 45% annual occupancy (Farm Stay U.S. Farm Stay Basics).
Those two figures are not a forecast for every property. They are a concrete starting point for thinking about income, especially when paired with cost data. The same source lists operating expenses at 20% to 30% of revenues on average (Farm Stay U.S. Farm Stay Basics). It also gives a wide range for startup costs from $1,000 to $180,000+ depending on the operation (Farm Stay U.S. Farm Stay Basics).
Basic operator benchmarks
- $125 average nightly rental including breakfast (Farm Stay U.S. Farm Stay Basics).
- 45% annual occupancy in the baseline example (Farm Stay U.S. Farm Stay Basics).
- 20% to 30% of revenues for operating expenses on average (Farm Stay U.S. Farm Stay Basics).
- $500 to $10,000 for permits and fees (Farm Stay U.S. Farm Stay Basics).
- $60 to $400 per site for travel-website listings (Farm Stay U.S. Farm Stay Basics).
This benchmark set is helpful because it breaks the category into simple business inputs. If a property is thinking about becoming a farm stay, the data says the real question is not only demand. It is also how much fixed setup cost, permitting friction, and listing expense sit between the farm and its first guests.
The Washington agritourism report adds a clean functional definition: farm stays are short-term vacation rentals on working farms or ranches (Washington Agritourism Report 2025). That definition clarifies why the category behaves differently from a standard rural hotel. A farm stay is anchored to working land, and that changes both the guest promise and the operating model.
What the agritourism numbers say about farm stays
The supplied statistics point to three broad realities.
First, farm stays sit inside a market that is already economically material. The U.S. reaches $1.26 billion in agritourism income (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart), and Italy reaches 4.5 million agritourists (ISTAT 2023 agriturismo release). Those are different kinds of metrics, but they both show scale.
Second, demand is geographically spread out but still clustered. In the U.S., 57% of counties reported agritourism income, yet the top 50 counties still generated $352 million (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart). In Italy, 72% of agritourists chose the Centre and North-east (ISTAT 2023 agriturismo release). In Spain, rural tourism held 9.1% of extrahotel overnight stays in 2023 (INE EOAT Year 2023). The pattern is consistent: broad participation, concentrated leaders, and identifiable regional anchors.
Third, the economics look plausible but not automatic. A $125 average nightly rental, 45% occupancy, and 20% to 30% operating expenses can support a farm stay model, but the startup range of $1,000 to $180,000+ means entry costs vary dramatically by the property and service level (Farm Stay U.S. Farm Stay Basics). That spread matters because farm stays can range from simple room rentals to more substantial hospitality conversions.
Fast facts
- 57% of U.S. counties reported agritourism income in 2022 (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart).
- Median county agritourism income: $161,000 in 2022 (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart).
- Top 50 counties: $352 million in agritourism income (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart).
- Italy: 26,129 active agritourism businesses in 2023 (ISTAT 2023 agriturismo release).
- Italy: 51% foreign agritourists in 2023 (ISTAT 2023 agriturismo release).
- Spain: 3.7% annual increase in rural tourism overnight stays in 2023 (INE EOAT Year 2023).
- Germany: 1,500,000 overnight stays in the STAY agritourism dataset (STAY Summary Report).
- Austria: 73,174 accommodation establishments in the 2024/25 tourism year (Statistics Austria 2026 press release).
Why these statistics matter
For readers comparing destinations, the numbers help separate impression from structure. A place can feel rural without having a strong farm stay economy. The statistics here show where the category is actually generating income, where it is scaling, and where it is already embedded in the tourism mix.
For operators, the data points to practical questions. How much of the business will come from overnight stays versus broader agritourism activities? How much regional demand is already present in the local county or municipality? How much can a property charge relative to the $125 nightly benchmark (Farm Stay U.S. Farm Stay Basics)? And how much of the market is already supported by the kind of regional concentration seen in Italy, Spain, and the U.S. data?
For analysts, the takeaway is simpler. Farm stay statistics are strongest when they are read as a combination of tourism, agriculture, and local business formation. The supplied numbers show all three layers at once.
Fast facts from the statistics
- U.S. agritourism income was $1.26 billion in 2022 (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart).
- U.S. agritourism income rose 12.4% from 2017 to 2022 after inflation adjustment (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart).
- 57% of U.S. counties reported agritourism income in 2022 (USDA ERS 2022 Census of Agriculture chart).
- Italy had 26,129 active agritourism businesses in 2023 (ISTAT 2023 agriturismo release).
- Italy hosted 4.5 million agritourists in 2023 (ISTAT 2023 agriturismo release).
- Spain’s rural tourism overnight stays increased 3.7% in 2023 (INE EOAT Year 2023).
- The U.S. farm-stay baseline rental was $125 per night including breakfast (Farm Stay U.S. Farm Stay Basics).
- The baseline occupancy assumption was 45% annually (Farm Stay U.S. Farm Stay Basics).
- Permits and fees ranged from $500 to $10,000 (Farm Stay U.S. Farm Stay Basics).
- Travel-website listings ran $60 to $400 per site (Farm Stay U.S. Farm Stay Basics).