Holiday guide. June, July, August.
Where to go for Summer Vacation
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.
The straight answer
The best summer vacation destinations are Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, Iceland, Norway, and the northern US national parks for cool long days, plus Bali and Hawaii for a dry-season beach; skip southern Europe in August if you can.
The best summer vacation destinations are the places whose one great season is summer: Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, Iceland, Norway's fjords, the Scottish Highlands, and the high national parks like Glacier and Yellowstone. For a beach, go where summer is the dry season: Bali and Hawaii are excellent, while the Mediterranean is gorgeous but hot and crowded in July and August.
Summer is the most expensive and most crowded time of the year to travel for most of the Northern Hemisphere. Europe's south swelters through heat waves over 100F (38C) and fills with both American and European vacationers; August in Italy and France brings the local holiday exodus and closures around Ferragosto (August 15). The Caribbean enters hurricane season, and much of mainland Southeast Asia is in monsoon.
If you have flexibility, the edges of summer are the smart money. Early to mid June and the last two weeks of August (in the West and Midwest, where schools are back) give you the long days without the July peak. Homeschool families can do even better: late May and September are the best weeks of the year in most summer destinations, at shoulder-season prices.
The world, ranked for Summer Vacation
Each pick opens its June page, with weather, crowds and what is on.
Book Alaska for Summer Vacation.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for June
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in AlaskaOpens a hotel search for Alaska in June, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in AlaskaWhole 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 AlaskaTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Alaska for June. 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 usually fully open from early to mid July through September, with alpine wildflowers peaking in July and August. Check current vehicle reservation rules.
Yellowstone
Wyoming
All roads open, bison calves in Lamar and Hayden Valleys, and highs near 75F (24C). It is the busiest season; book in-park lodging a year ahead.
Acadia and the Maine coast
Maine
Highs near 75F (24C), lobster and blueberries in season, and ocean swimming for the hardy. Cadillac Summit Road needs a vehicle reservation.
Olympic National Park and the Pacific Northwest
Washington
July and August are the dry months in the Pacific Northwest. The Hoh Rain Forest, the wild beaches of the coast, and the high-country trails are at their most accessible.
Hawaii
Hawaii
Summer is dry season on the leeward coasts, and the North Shore of Oahu and north Kauai calm down for swimming and snorkeling. Busy and pricey in July; better in early June.
Colorado Rockies
Colorado
Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is open, wildflowers peak in July, and mountain towns run noticeably cooler than Denver and the plains. Afternoon thunderstorms are near daily, so hike early.
Great Lakes: Michigan
Michigan
Sleeping Bear Dunes, Mackinac Island, and the Upper Peninsula's waterfalls in their only easy season. Lake Michigan warms to swimmable by late July.
San Diego
California
The coast stays near 75F (24C) while the rest of the country bakes. Early summer can bring gray mornings (June Gloom); August and September are sunnier.
Skip this week
- Southern Europe in late July and August. Heat waves regularly push Rome, Athens, and Seville past 100F (38C), crowds hit their peak, and many family-run businesses close around Ferragosto (August 15) in Italy and for the August holidays in France.
- The Caribbean in August. It is hurricane season, and activity picks up sharply from mid August into October. Travel insurance and flexible bookings are essential if you go.
- Mainland Southeast Asia. Monsoon season in Thailand, Vietnam's north and south, and Cambodia brings heavy rain and humidity. Bali and central Vietnam's coast around Da Nang and Hoi An, which is dry in summer, are better picks.
- Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Death Valley. Highs well over 105F (41C). Only go if the trip is entirely indoors.
- Dubai and the Gulf. Summer highs over 105F (41C) with punishing humidity. The outdoor life shuts down until October.
The booking playbook
- 01Book summer trips to Europe and Alaska by January or February. Fares and hotel availability get worse every month after that.
- 02Target the first two weeks of June or the last two weeks of August. Rates for the same trip can drop meaningfully compared with mid July.
- 03Book national park lodging and campsites the day reservation windows open, often 6 to 13 months ahead.
- 04In Europe, choose cities with air conditioning in mind. Many older hotels do not have it; filter for it in July and August.
- 05Travel insurance with hurricane coverage is worth it for any Caribbean, Gulf, or Florida trip from August onward.
With kids in tow
- Summer is the one time all school kids are free, so summer vacation is when families compete with every other family. Book early and plan a few quiet days between big days.
- Homeschool families: go in late May or September. The weather in Alaska, the Rockies, Iceland, and the Mediterranean is still excellent and the prices drop sharply.
- The northern national parks offer free Junior Ranger programs, with activity books that turn a hike into a lesson.
- In hot destinations, plan outdoor time before 11am and after 5pm, and build a pool, museum, or nap into the middle of the day.
Summer Vacation, quick answers
Where is the best place to go on summer vacation?
Places whose best season is summer: Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, Iceland, Norway, Scotland, and the northern US national parks. For beaches, Bali and Hawaii are in their dry season.
Where should I travel in the summer to avoid crowds?
Early June or late August almost anywhere, or less-famous places in peak season: Michigan's Upper Peninsula instead of Yellowstone, Copenhagen instead of Paris, or the Norwegian fjords instead of the Amalfi Coast.
Is Europe too hot in the summer?
Southern Europe can be. Rome, Athens, Seville, and much of Spain and Italy see heat waves over 100F (38C) in July and August. Northern Europe, the Alps, and coastal areas are much more comfortable.
Is it safe to go to the Caribbean in summer?
June and July are generally lower risk than peak hurricane season, which runs from mid August through mid October. Aruba and the southern Caribbean sit mostly outside the hurricane belt. Always buy travel insurance.
What is the cheapest time to take a summer vacation?
The first two weeks of June and the last two weeks of August are usually the cheapest summer weeks. Mid July is the most expensive.
Other holiday weeks
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.
Memorial Day Weekend
May
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.
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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