Holiday guide. May.
Where to go for Memorial Day Weekend
The unofficial start of summer, and the first weekend the national parks and beach towns fill up. Pick a place that is fully open but not yet full.
The straight answer
The best Memorial Day weekend trips are Yosemite for peak waterfalls, Acadia and the Maine coast as the season opens, Washington DC for the national ceremonies, or a longer trip to Portugal, Greece, or Croatia in their ideal late May window.
The best Memorial Day weekend trips are the places where late May is peak season in quality but not yet in crowds: Yosemite with its waterfalls at full roar, the Maine coast and Acadia as the season opens, Washington DC for the holiday's own ceremonies, and Indianapolis for the 500. Abroad, late May is one of the best weeks of the year in Portugal, Greece, Croatia, and the Amalfi Coast, before the July heat and the August crowds.
The catch is that Memorial Day is the first big road trip weekend of the year. Beach towns from the Jersey Shore to the Outer Banks hit summer rates, the headline national parks see their first real crowds, and gas and rental cars spike. And late May is not quite summer everywhere: high mountain roads in Glacier and much of the Rockies are still snowbound, and the Pacific Northwest coast is often still gray.
If you can move the trip, the week before Memorial Day or the first two weeks of June give you the same long days and open roads at lower prices. Homeschool families have the best card of all: mid to late May, before public schools let out, is one of the calmest windows of the year in the big parks.
The world, ranked for Memorial Day Weekend
Each pick opens its May page, with weather, crowds and what is on.
Book Lisbon for Memorial Day Weekend.
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- Hotels for May
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in LisbonOpens a hotel search for Lisbon in May, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in LisbonWhole 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 LisbonTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Lisbon for May. 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.
Yosemite National Park
California
Snowmelt puts Yosemite Falls, Vernal, and Nevada Falls at or near their peak flow in late May. Check the park's current reservation rules before you go, and know that Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road may not be open yet in a big snow year.
Acadia National Park
Maine
The season is just opening, the Park Loop Road is running, and Cadillac Summit Road vehicle reservations usually start around this time. Cool, highs near 65F (18C), and far quieter than July.
Washington, DC
The National Memorial Day Parade runs down Constitution Avenue, the National Memorial Day Concert is broadcast from the Capitol's West Lawn on Sunday evening, and Arlington National Cemetery holds its wreath-laying ceremony on Monday.
Indianapolis 500
Indiana
The race runs on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the largest single-day sporting event in the world by attendance. Hotels across the region sell out months ahead.
Great Smoky Mountains
Tennessee
Lush, green, and warm, with rhododendron and mountain laurel starting to bloom. It is the country's most visited national park, so hike early and skip Cades Cove Loop at midday.
The Outer Banks
North Carolina
Ocean water is warming into the low 70s F (21C to 23C) and the lighthouses are open for climbing. Book early; this is the weekend the beach houses start renting at summer rates.
Charleston
South Carolina
Spoleto Festival USA usually opens in late May and runs about 17 days of opera, theater, and music across the city. Hot, highs near 85F (29C).
Chicago
Illinois
The architecture river cruises are running, the lakefront trail is alive, and late May is warm without July's humidity. A great city weekend by train or short flight from much of the Midwest.
Skip this week
- Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road. The full road over Logan Pass is almost never open by Memorial Day. Plowing usually finishes between late June and mid July, so you would see only the lower valleys.
- The Desert Southwest floors. Death Valley, Phoenix, and the canyon bottoms are already over 100F (38C) in late May. Stick to the rims and higher elevations.
- Yellowstone's high passes and the Beartooth Highway. Most Yellowstone roads are open by late May, but snow can still close passes, and the Beartooth Highway's opening depends entirely on the plow crews and weather. Plan with flexibility.
- Closest beach town to a major city. The shore towns within a three-hour drive of New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta, and Dallas are gridlocked on Friday afternoon and Monday. Drive Thursday night or pick somewhere one tier farther away.
The booking playbook
- 01Book national park lodging and campsites as soon as the reservation windows open, often six months or more ahead for in-park lodges and campgrounds.
- 02Leave Thursday night or before 7am on Friday, and come back Tuesday if you can. The Friday afternoon and Monday afternoon traffic are the worst of the weekend.
- 03Fly on Saturday and return on Tuesday to avoid the highest fares. Airfare on the Friday before Memorial Day is consistently one of the most expensive days of the spring.
- 04For Europe, pair Memorial Day with a few vacation days. Late May airfare to Lisbon, Athens, or Dubrovnik is still well below the June to August peak.
- 05Check each park's current vehicle reservation or timed entry rules the month before you go. Several of the busiest parks use them in summer and the details change from year to year.
With kids in tow
- Memorial Day weekend is a natural moment to talk with kids about what the holiday honors. Arlington National Cemetery and the National Mall memorials make it real.
- For young kids, pick one base and day-trip from it. Holiday traffic turns multi-stop road trips into car-seat marathons.
- Homeschool families: go the week before. Parks and beaches are nearly as warm and noticeably emptier while public schools are still in session.
- Waterfall hikes in Yosemite are powerful in late May. Keep kids well back from the river banks; the snowmelt current is dangerous and cold.
Memorial Day Weekend, quick answers
When is Memorial Day?
Memorial Day is the last Monday in May, so the three-day weekend falls somewhere between May 23 and May 31.
Where should I go for Memorial Day weekend?
Yosemite for peak waterfalls, Acadia as the season opens, Washington DC for the national ceremonies, or Indianapolis for the 500. For a longer trip abroad, Lisbon, Santorini, and Croatia are in their ideal late May window.
Are national parks crowded on Memorial Day weekend?
Yes. It is the first big weekend of the summer season. Arrive before 8am, use park shuttles, and check reservation and permit rules ahead of time.
Is Memorial Day weekend expensive for travel?
It is one of the most expensive weekends of the spring for domestic flights, rental cars, and beach houses. Travel on Saturday and return Tuesday to save, or go the week before.
Is Glacier National Park open on Memorial Day?
The park is open, but the full Going-to-the-Sun Road over Logan Pass usually is not. Plowing typically finishes between late June and mid July, so plan for lower-elevation sections only.
What is happening in Washington DC on Memorial Day weekend?
The National Memorial Day Parade on Constitution Avenue, the National Memorial Day Concert on the Capitol's West Lawn on Sunday evening, and ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday.
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.
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.
Labor Day Weekend
August, September
Summer's last long weekend, and the first week of the best travel season of the year. Just keep an eye on the tropics.
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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