Holiday guide. August, September.
Where to go for Labor Day Weekend
Summer's last long weekend, and the first week of the best travel season of the year. Just keep an eye on the tropics.
The straight answer
The best Labor Day weekend trips are Glacier National Park, Acadia, and the Pacific Northwest for the last great summer weather, or Paris, Croatia, and the Greek islands for a longer early September trip; avoid nonrefundable Caribbean and Gulf beach trips at hurricane peak.
The best Labor Day weekend trips go north and up: Glacier National Park and the northern Rockies in their last clear weeks, the Maine coast and Acadia as the summer crowds thin, the Pacific Northwest in its driest stretch, and Chicago or Seattle for their big Labor Day festivals. For a longer trip abroad, early September is prime time in Europe: Paris after the August exodus, Croatia and the Greek islands with warm seas and shrinking crowds.
The big caution is the calendar. Labor Day sits right on the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, which statistically tops out around September 10. That does not make every Caribbean or Gulf trip a bad bet, but it does make this the wrong weekend to book a nonrefundable beach vacation in the Bahamas, the Florida Keys, or the Gulf Coast without insurance.
If you have flexibility, the weeks right after Labor Day are among the best-value travel weeks of the year. Schools are back, national parks empty out almost overnight, and hotel rates on the Maine coast, the Outer Banks, and the Italian coast begin to fall. Homeschool families should treat mid September as their summer vacation.
The world, ranked for Labor Day Weekend
Each pick opens its August page, with weather, crowds and what is on.
Book Paris for Labor Day Weekend.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for August
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in ParisOpens a hotel search for Paris in August, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in ParisWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in ParisTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Paris for August. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Closer to home
The US picks for this week, from a long weekend drive to a national park.
Glacier National Park
Montana
Going-to-the-Sun Road is fully open, wildfire smoke permitting, and the first fall color starts to show in the high country. One of the last great weekends before the season winds down.
Acadia and the Maine coast
Maine
Highs near 72F (22C), warm afternoons, cool nights, and lobster at its peak. The summer crowds begin to thin the week after.
Seattle
Washington
Bumbershoot, Seattle's big music and arts festival, is held at Seattle Center over Labor Day weekend. Early September is still inside the city's dry season.
Chicago
Illinois
The Chicago Jazz Festival fills Millennium Park with free concerts over Labor Day weekend. Warm, highs near 78F (26C), and the lakefront at its best.
Black Rock Desert (Burning Man)
Nevada
Burning Man runs for the week before Labor Day and ends on Labor Day Monday. It requires a ticket, full self-sufficiency, and a tolerance for dust storms and hot days in the 90s F (32C to 37C).
Mackinac Island and northern Michigan
Michigan
Warm lake water, the car-free island in late summer, and the Mackinac Bridge Walk on Labor Day morning, when the bridge opens to pedestrians.
Colorado Rockies
Colorado
Late summer wildflowers in the high basins and cool days. The aspens start turning in the second half of September, so the weekend is a preview.
San Francisco
California
September is one of San Francisco's warmest, clearest months, when the summer fog finally lifts. Highs near 72F (22C).
Skip this week
- The Caribbean, Bahamas, and Florida Keys with a nonrefundable booking. Labor Day is at the statistical peak of Atlantic hurricane season. If you go, buy travel insurance, book refundable, and watch the National Hurricane Center forecasts. Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao sit mostly outside the storm track.
- The Gulf Coast beaches. Hot, humid, and exposed to peak-season hurricanes, with heat indices over 100F (38C).
- The Outer Banks and Jersey Shore on the holiday weekend itself. The last big summer weekend brings full-price rentals and heavy traffic. The week after is often warmer water, emptier beaches, and lower rates.
- Southern Europe's big cities in the first days of September. Rome, Athens, and Seville can still run into the 90s F (32C to 37C). Wait until the second half of September for comfortable walking weather.
The booking playbook
- 01Fly Saturday and come back Tuesday if you can; the Monday afternoon of Labor Day is one of the busiest travel afternoons of the year.
- 02For any Caribbean, Gulf, or Florida booking, buy travel insurance with hurricane coverage and book refundable rates. Many resorts offer hurricane guarantees; read the fine print.
- 03Book national park lodging for Labor Day as early as for July. It is the last summer weekend and books out just as fast.
- 04The week after Labor Day is the value play of the year. Rates fall, crowds vanish, and the weather is often better than August.
- 05Check wildfire and smoke conditions in the West before you go; late summer is peak fire season in the Rockies and Pacific Northwest.
With kids in tow
- For school-age kids, Labor Day is the last chance at summer. Pick a short drive and one base so the weekend is not spent in the car.
- Homeschool families: the two weeks after Labor Day are the best time of the year to travel. The parks and beaches are nearly empty and still warm.
- The Mackinac Bridge Walk on Labor Day morning is a memorable family tradition, and a good one for kids who can walk five miles.
Labor Day Weekend, quick answers
When is Labor Day?
Labor Day is the first Monday in September, so the weekend falls between August 30 and September 7.
Where should I go for Labor Day weekend?
Glacier National Park, Acadia, the Pacific Northwest, and northern Michigan for the last of summer. Chicago and Seattle both host big Labor Day festivals. For a longer trip, Paris and Croatia are excellent in early September.
Is it safe to go to the Caribbean on Labor Day weekend?
It is the peak of hurricane season. Many trips go ahead without trouble, but you should book refundable, buy insurance, and watch forecasts. Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao sit mostly outside the hurricane belt.
Is Labor Day weekend expensive for travel?
The holiday weekend itself is busy and pricey, especially for beach houses and national park lodging. The week after Labor Day is one of the cheapest good-weather weeks of the year.
What is the best week to travel after summer?
The two weeks after Labor Day. Kids are back in school, crowds drop sharply, and September weather is excellent across much of the US and Europe.
Other holiday weeks
Summer Vacation
June, July, August
Ten weeks, one country on vacation, and half the world too hot or too rainy. Go north, go high, or go south of the equator.
Fall Break
October
The best-weather week of the school year, if you pick the right place. Leaf peepers, desert hikers, and the smart European shoulder season.
Fourth of July
July
The biggest fireworks night of the year and the busiest summer travel week. Go to the celebration, or go somewhere cool enough to enjoy it.
Honeymoon Seasons
May, June, September, October
The right honeymoon depends less on where you want to go than on when your wedding is. Match the place to the week.
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