Holiday travel · May 25, 2026
Top 20 Hotel Destinations for Memorial Day
Memorial Day honors those who died in military service and marks the unofficial start of summer. These picks combine remembrance with the best early-summer getaways.
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Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Why Memorial Day
The National Memorial Day Parade and wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery honor fallen service members.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~79°F (26°C); warm
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- city
- culture
- family
Where we'd stay: The Jefferson, Washington DC. Intimate Beaux-Arts hotel a few blocks from the White House.
Explore Washington, D.C. →
New York, New York, United States
Why Memorial Day
Fleet Week usually brings Navy ships and sailors to New York over Memorial Day week.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~72°F (22°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- High · Shoulder
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: The Mark. Upper East Side hotel steps from Central Park and the Met.
Explore New York City →Indiana, United States
Why Memorial Day
The Indianapolis 500 is held on Memorial Day weekend.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~75°F (24°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
Where we'd stay: Conrad Indianapolis. Downtown hotel near Monument Circle.
Hotels in Indianapolis →Massachusetts, United States
Why Memorial Day
Nantucket's summer season opens with the Figawi Race weekend.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~63°F (17°C); cool
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Shoulder
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- romance
- family
Where we'd stay: White Elephant Nantucket. Harborfront hotel steps from town.
Hotels in Nantucket →
Chatham, Massachusetts, United States
Why Memorial Day
The unofficial start of summer on Cape Cod.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~66°F (19°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Shoulder
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- family
Where we'd stay: Chatham Bars Inn. Waterfront inn with a private beach and its own farm.
Explore Cape Cod →Maine, United States
Why Memorial Day
Maine's coast reopens for the season.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~66°F (19°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Shoulder
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- romance
- family
Where we'd stay: White Barn Inn, Auberge Resorts Collection. Classic New England inn known for its candlelit restaurant.
Hotels in Kennebunkport →Rhode Island, United States
Why Memorial Day
Newport's mansions and Cliff Walk in early summer.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~68°F (20°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Shoulder
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- culture
Where we'd stay: The Chanler at Cliff Walk. Oceanfront mansion hotel at the start of the Cliff Walk.
Hotels in Newport →New York, United States
Why Memorial Day
The Hamptons and Montauk kick off the summer season.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~66°F (19°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Shoulder
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
Where we'd stay: Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa. Oceanfront resort with a seawater spa.
Hotels in Montauk →
Stateline, Nevada, United States
Why Memorial Day
Late-spring sunshine at Lake Tahoe.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~68°F (20°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Shoulder
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- adventure
- family
Where we'd stay: Edgewood Tahoe Resort. Lakefront lodge on a championship golf course.
Explore Lake Tahoe →
Michigan, United States
Why Memorial Day
The car-free island's summer season gets under way.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~63°F (17°C); cool
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Shoulder
- Price level
- $$$
- family
- culture
Where we'd stay: The Inn at Stonecliffe. A five-star stay in Mackinac Island, a strong base for Mackinac Island.
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11Chicago
Illinois, United States
Why Memorial Day
Chicago's lakefront and rooftop season begins.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~73°F (23°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- High · Shoulder
- Price level
- $$$
- city
- culture
- family
Where we'd stay: The Langham, Chicago. Riverfront hotel in a Mies van der Rohe-designed building.
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Coronado, California, United States
Why Memorial Day
Warm spring beaches in San Diego before summer crowds.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~68°F (20°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Shoulder
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- family
Where we'd stay: Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton. Victorian beachfront landmark from 1888.
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Montecito, California, United States
Why Memorial Day
Santa Barbara beaches and wine country in late spring.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~70°F (21°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Shoulder
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- romance
Where we'd stay: Rosewood Miramar Beach. Beachfront estate in Montecito.
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14Maui
Wailea, Hawaii, United States
Why Memorial Day
Quieter late-spring weeks on Maui's south shore.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~83°F (28°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Shoulder
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- romance
- family
Where we'd stay: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. Oceanfront Wailea resort with an adults-only pool and whale-watching views from many rooms.
Explore Maui →
15Kauai
Princeville, Hawaii, United States
Why Memorial Day
Kauai's north shore dries out in late spring.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~79°F (26°C); occasional showers
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Shoulder
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- nature
- adventure
Where we'd stay: 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. Sustainably designed resort overlooking Hanalei Bay.
Explore Kauai →
South Carolina, United States
Why Memorial Day
Charleston's Spoleto Festival USA usually begins over Memorial Day weekend.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~82°F (28°C); warm
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- city
- culture
- romance
Where we'd stay: Hotel Bennett. Grand hotel overlooking Marion Square with a rooftop pool.
Explore Charleston →Walland, Tennessee, United States
Why Memorial Day
Smoky Mountain hiking and fly fishing in late spring.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~79°F (26°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- nature
- romance
Where we'd stay: Blackberry Farm. Farm-to-table estate in the Smoky Mountain foothills.
Hotels in Tennessee →
Teton Village, Wyoming, United States
Why Memorial Day
Grand Teton and Yellowstone roads open for the season.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~66°F (19°C); cool
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Shoulder
- Price level
- $$$$
- nature
- adventure
- family
Where we'd stay: Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole. Teton Village resort at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
Explore Jackson Hole →Newberg, Oregon, United States
Why Memorial Day
Willamette Valley wineries hold their long-running Memorial Day weekend open houses.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~70°F (21°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- romance
Where we'd stay: The Allison Inn & Spa. Wine country inn surrounded by vineyards.
Hotels in Oregon →
Tennessee, United States
Why Memorial Day
Warm evenings for Nashville's honky-tonks and live music.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~81°F (27°C); warm
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: The Hermitage Hotel. Beaux-Arts landmark from 1910 near the State Capitol.
Explore Nashville →