10 last-minute Labor Day weekend getaways for 2026

Though it may feel like the first fresh days of spring are a recent memory, the end of the summer season is now fast approaching. And what better way to make the most of the sunshine than planning a blowout break that marks the close of summer 2026?

From chic and charming city breaks to coastal retreats, these are our 10 favorite last-minute Labor Day weekend destinations.

1. Guadalajara, Mexico

Best for food and mariachi
Recommended by Sarah Stocking, Digital Editor

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Already visited Mexico City? Then try Guadalajara. It's more relaxed than its cosmopolitan sister, but just as engaging, with chefs pushing the already legendary cuisine beyond expectations, and an embarrassment of museums and theaters that are moving cultural life forward. Guadalajara is also the birthplace of mariachi, so go see live music while you’re there. 

2. The Oregon Coast

Best for coastal hiking and camping
Recommended by Brekke Fletcher , Senior Director of Content

The Oregon Coast is the epitome of IYKYK in US travel. This stretch of rugged rocky beauty has many points of entry, each with its own unique attributes, from sand dunes to arched rock formations. I'll be going to Pacific City, a family favorite camping spot and a top choice for surfers or watchers of surfers (it me). I can't wait to sip coffee (or a canned cocktail) while ogling 327ft Haystack Rock. Also on the agenda: hiking and dune climbing in Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area; drinks and a bite on the beach at Pelican Brewing Company; a mini road-trip along Three Capes Scenic Drive; morning sustenance from Grateful Bread, followed by kayaking on the Nestucca River. If I can figure it out, I'm also dreaming of a bonfire on the beach.

3. Bermuda

Best for a quick island getaway
Recommended by Deepa Lakshmin , Social Media Director

I can’t stop telling my fellow New York City-based friends how easy it is to get to Bermuda. No joke, I left my apartment in downtown Manhattan at 9am and was in turquoise waters by dinnertime. There’s a common misconception that it’s a Caribbean island, but the tiny country – less than one mile wide! – sits in the North Atlantic Ocean at roughly the same latitude as the Carolinas. Its manageable size, coupled with generous flight options, makes it a perfect long-weekend getaway from the USA’s eastern coast. For ultimate ease, stay at the all-inclusive Grotto Bay Beach Resort, which is only a 5-minute drive from the airport. It's got a gorgeous on-site cave you can swim in and get a spa treatment in. Spend Saturday in St George's learning about local history on land, and on Sunday, grab a snorkel and check out the countless shipwrecks dotting the coastline. Don’t forget to try the wahoo fish nuggets!

4. Charleston, South Carolina

Best for a laid-back, easy weekend
Recommended by Ann Douglas Lott, Digital Editor

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Charleston in mid-summer is not for the weak, but by September, the mugginess has begun to subside, with still-fantastic temps for the beach and walking the city’s historic streets. Start the day with coffee at Sightsee and browse its chic sunhats, cool apparel, pottery and more, then cross the street to Hampton Park to admire its beautiful floral displays. You could stick around for brunch at Park and Grove (I adore their huevos rancheros with braised beef), or head into the French Quarter for a little stroll past elegant homes and meander onto King St for some top-tier shopping. Grab a sandwich for the road at Queen Street Grocery and drive out to Folly Beach to set up on a spot of sand for the afternoon. On your way back into town, grab dinner at Bowens Island, a classic seafood spot on the marsh with the best oysters in town. Also on Labor Day weekend, check out the Low Country Jazz Festival at the Gaillard Center, the city’s performing arts center.

5. Toronto, Canada

Best for cooling off
Recommended by Caroline Trefler, Destination Editor for Eastern USA and Canada

Breezes coming off Lake Ontario help to moderate the temperatures in this major Canadian city, especially down by the water. Summer-specific activities include taking the short ferry ride over to the Toronto Islands for beaches, biking and beer, as well as the Centreville Amusement Park for kids. End of summer also means the Canadian National Exhibition, locally known as The Ex, for carnival rides, live music, air shows and lots of food vendors. Speaking of food, Toronto is well-known to be one of the best food cities in North America at any time of year, not just in summer. And the diverse, multicultural population means that the culinary melting pot is constantly evolving.

6. Burlington, Vermont

Best for cute small-town vibes
Recommended by Rachel Lewis, Senior Social Media Manager

I've yet to visit in the warmer weather – it's hard to beat in the fall – and would love to. It's an easy flight if you're coming from the East Coast with an easy airport (in general, the travel portion of the trip is, well, easy), and I have a big heart for Church Street Marketplace, with its incredible bagel shop and queer bookstores like Crow Bookshop. If I were to visit for LDW, I'd consider booking a boat tour out on gorgeous Lake Champlain.

7. Central Coast, California

Best for a beach escape
Recommended by Sarah Stocking, Digital Editor

If there is a place I enjoy recommending more than the Central Coast of California, I certainly don’t know what it is. You have two choices here. You could book a gorgeous hotel in San Luis Obispo, take in live music on Friday night, then soak at Avila Springs on Saturday, followed by wine tasting in Paso Robles in the evening. Then, on Sunday, take a spectacular hike or hang out on Pismo Beach. The other option is to head to Monterey Bay, spend Saturday morning kayaking, Saturday evening wine tasting in Carmel-by-the-Sea, then take a leisurely Sunday drive towards Big Sur, stopping in Garrapata State Park for a hike, cruising to Nepenthe for lunch and then heading back to Monterey to fly out. Either way, it's a perfect weekend. 

8. New York City, New York

Best for fewer crowds – no, really
Recommended by Ann Douglas Lott, Digital Editor

I will die on this hill: as a local resident, New York City on a holiday weekend is the best. You can actually score a table at the most popular restaurants, and everything feels just a little less crowded than the rest of the summer. If it’s sweltering out (and it likely will be), you can duck into iconic temperature-controlled museums like the Museum of Modern Art, the Transit Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the American Museum of Natural History. Broadway shows are air-conditioned, too. Or catch cool breezes on the ferry, the greatest gift NYC has to offer, whether you’re off to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island, or just taking in the skyline from the water. I’ve been dreaming of sipping cocktails on the dock of the new Brooklyn Heights bar, Concrete Shoals, so maybe I’ll stay in town this LDW and try to secure a table.

9. Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Best for a wellness retreat
Recommended by Sarah Stocking, Digital Editor

Pagosa Springs is one of those out-of-the-way spots that every local knows about. For many people in Colorado, it's a yearly ritual to soak in the Mother Spring. Book the whole weekend at the Springs Resort, a wellness resort centered around the healing natural spring waters. The spa and wellness services at Pagosa Springs include hydrothermal pathway therapy, guided breathwork and mobility work, among others. There are also specially designed menus to align your nutrition with whatever wellness journey you’re on. It's a magical place to immerse yourself in a wellness weekend.

10. Highlands, North Carolina

Best for a mountain town escape
Recommended by Ann Douglas Lott, Digital Editor

I grew up visiting the Highlands area with my family, mainly to cool off in the summer (average highs are much cooler than the rest of the South due to the elevation). Around Labor Day, it’s perfect mountain weather, with daily highs typically in the 70°Fs (21°C) and nightly lows in the 50°Fs (10°C). We’d rent a cabin or stay with family nearby and hike to waterfalls, glide down natural rock slides, sit on porches and walk through town with ice cream cones from Kilwins, popping in and out of antique shops and boutiques. 

Book a room at Skyline Lodge, a gorgeous property originally designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, and renovated in 2021 while preserving its retro details. The on-property restaurant, Oak Steakhouse, is a fabulous dinner option, or at least pre-dinner drinks at the bar. In town, Highlands Smokehouse serves up excellent BBQ, and the Ugly Dog is always a solid choice for lunch or dinner. Whiteside Mountain is the classic hike in the area; it’s an easy 2.5-mile loop with spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I also recommend Chinquapin for lookouts and Whitewater Falls in nearby Cashiers for a quick jaunt to a seriously impressive waterfall.