Memorial Day Weekend 2026: Where to Go and How to Save

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer — and one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. That means prices spike, especially for popular beach destinations. But it also means hotels and rental car companies are competing hard for your booking.

Here's our guide to making the most of the long weekend without overpaying.

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When to Book

We're writing this in early April, which means you're in the sweet spot right now:

• Hotels: Book now through mid-April for the best rates. Prices typically jump 15-25% in the two weeks before Memorial Day.
• Flights: If you're flying, book by late April. Weekend flights to beach destinations get expensive fast.
• Rental cars: Book now and take advantage of free cancellation. Car rental rates can double in the final week before a holiday weekend.

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Best Destinations by Budget

Budget: Under $150/Night

Gulf Coast Beaches — Pensacola, Gulf Shores (AL), Galveston (TX)

The Gulf Coast is consistently underpriced compared to Atlantic and Pacific beaches. The water is warm by late May, the sand is white, and hotel rates are 30-50% lower than equivalent East Coast beach towns. Through our Expedia and Hotels.com partners, we're tracking beachfront hotels starting around $100-130/night.

Mountain Getaways — Gatlinburg (TN), Asheville (NC), Sedona (AZ)

If you'd rather hike than swim, mountain towns are great Memorial Day destinations. Temperatures are warm but not hot, trails aren't yet at summer capacity, and hotel rates are reasonable.

Mid-Range: $150–$250/Night

Florida Atlantic Coast — Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, St. Augustine

A step up from Gulf Coast in terms of dining and nightlife options. Fort Lauderdale in particular has been investing heavily in its beach areas and has more hotel inventory than Miami, which keeps rates competitive.

California Coast — Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach, Monterey

Southern and Central California coastal towns are warm enough for beach days by Memorial Day but haven't hit peak summer pricing yet. Monterey and Pismo Beach in particular offer great value compared to San Diego or LA.

Splurge: $250+/Night

Caribbean — Cancun, Aruba, Puerto Rico

Memorial Day falls in Caribbean shoulder season, which means you can find resort deals that would be impossible in January. All-inclusive resorts in Cancun start around $200-300/night all-in (food, drinks, activities included).

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Road Trip Strategy

Memorial Day is the #1 road trip weekend. If you're driving:

Car Rental Tips

• Book from off-airport locations — 15-20% savings vs. airport pickup
• Enterprise and Hertz typically have the best rates through our partner network
• Full-size cars sometimes price close to compact cars on holiday weekends due to oversupply — always check

Timing

• Leave Thursday evening or Friday morning to beat the Saturday departure crush
• Come back Monday evening instead of Monday morning — the return traffic peaks before noon
• Gas up before you leave — prices near popular destinations and along highways spike on holiday weekends

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Activities Worth Pre-Booking

For popular tourist areas, pre-booking activities saves money and guarantees availability:

• Boat tours and water activities sell out early for Memorial Day weekend
• National park entry — some parks require timed entry reservations
• Restaurant reservations — make them now, especially for waterfront dining

Through Viator and GetYourGuide, you can often save 10-15% on activities by booking online in advance vs. walking up on the day.

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Our Current Travel Deals

We update travel deals every Friday. Here's what's available now — many of these will work for Memorial Day weekend.

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Plan Early, Save More

The single biggest factor in Memorial Day travel costs is timing. The deals available today will not be available in three weeks. Book now, choose refundable when possible, and enjoy the long weekend.