Top 10 Labor Day Weekend Getaways for 2026
Lonely Planet recommends 10 destinations for the 2026 Labor Day weekend, ranging from city breaks to coastal retreats. Highlights include Guadalajara, Mexico, known for its cuisine and mariachi; the Oregon Coast with Haystack Rock and whale-watching; Bermuda's pink-sand beaches and shipwreck snorkeling; Charleston, South Carolina, featuring the Low Country Jazz Festival; Toronto, Canada, with the Canadian National Exhibition; Burlington, Vermont, offering Lake Champlain boat tours; California's Central Coast with wine tasting in Paso Robles or Monterey Bay; New York City with museums and Broadway shows; Pagosa Springs, Colorado, for hot springs and wellness; and Highlands, North Carolina, with cooler mountain temperatures and waterfalls. Travelers are advised to book early due to high demand.
Key facts
- The 10 destinations appear in Lonely Planet and are recommended for 2026 Labor Day weekend getaways.
- Guadalajara is the birthplace of mariachi and has a renowned dining scene.
- The Oregon Coast features Pacific City, Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, and Depoe Bay for whale-watching.
- Bermuda is less than one mile wide and sits in the North Atlantic Ocean at the same latitude as the Carolinas.
- Charleston hosts the Low Country Jazz Festival at the city's performing arts center during Labor Day weekend.
- Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition (The Ex) features carnival rides, live music, and air shows.
- Burlington's Church Street Marketplace has an incredible bagel shop and independent bookstores.
- California's Central Coast offers two itinerary options: San Luis Obispo/Paso Robles or Monterey Bay/Big Sur.
- New York City museums include MoMA, the Transit Museum, the Met, and the American Museum of Natural History.
- Pagosa Springs' Mother Spring is a yearly ritual for many Colorado residents.
- Highlands has cooler weather with daily highs in the 70s Fahrenheit and nightly lows in the 50s.
- Whiteside Mountain in Highlands is an easy two-and-a-half-mile loop with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Entities
Institutions
- Lonely Planet
- Canadian National Exhibition
- Museum of Modern Art
- Transit Museum
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- American Museum of Natural History
- Low Country Jazz Festival
- Centreville Amusement Park
- San Juan National Forest
Locations
- Guadalajara
- Mexico
- Oregon Coast
- Pacific City
- Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area
- Depoe Bay
- Haystack Rock
- Nestucca River
- Cannon Beach
- Bermuda
- North Atlantic Ocean
- Carolinas
- St. George's
- Charleston
- South Carolina
- Folly Beach
- French Quarter
- King Street
- Toronto
- Canada
- Lake Ontario
- Toronto Islands
- Kensington Market
- Burlington
- Vermont
- Church Street Marketplace
- Lake Champlain
- California Central Coast
- San Luis Obispo
- Paso Robles
- Pismo Beach
- Monterey Bay
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Big Sur
- Garrapata State Park
- San Simeon
- New York City
- Statue of Liberty
- Ellis Island
- Brooklyn Heights
- Central Park
- Pagosa Springs
- Colorado
- Mother Spring
- San Juan National Forest
- Highlands
- North Carolina
- Whiteside Mountain
- Blue Ridge Mountains
- Chinquapin
- Whitewater Falls
- Cashiers
- Dry Falls
- Tlaquepaque
- Three Capes Scenic Drive
- Low Country Jazz Festival
- Centreville Amusement Park
Sources
- Quartz —