The best last-minute Labor Day weekend getaways for 2023

In the fall, busy Yosemite sees a drop in attendance—and a drop in water levels, which affects the waterfalls. But the best part is the drop in temperature, which makes hiking more enjoyable. In September, the average temperature is a decent last-vestige-of-summer 83 degrees, although parts of the park like Tuolumne Meadows can be significantly colder, even by 20 degrees!

The Pacific Northwest is stunning in late summer, and Olympia—the capital of Washington state—is no exception. Known for its eclectic arts and music scene, thriving maker community, and bustling waterfront, the town celebrates big over Labor Day weekend. The 50th annual Harbor Days festival runs September 1-3, boasting more than 300 things to see and do. These include a 75-drone maritime light show, vintage tugboats, live music, and plenty of food and drink. 

Things wind down on the coast after a busy summer, and you’re more likely to find cheap accommodations at places like Cannon Beach (and wait until October for even better deals). In Oregon, fall is the rainy season, which means you can see powerful surf and Instagrammable fog, feel exhilarating winds and enjoy beachcombing for treasures brought ashore by high tides.

From mid-August to the beginning of September, you have your best chance of seeing fields of sunflowers in bloom. At Grinter Farms just east of Lawrence, blooming is expected around Labor Day—check Facebook for updates on timing your free visit just right. Or check out the Sunflower Festival from August 19 to September 9 in Buhler, KS, with ticketed admission. 

The Atlantic might be too cold in September for all but the most hearty of swimmers, but Maine’s glorious beaches are still worth walking in a sweater! At Old Orchard Beach, dine on an extended pier or visit Palace Playland, New England’s only beachfront amusement park—the rides close right after Labor Day. Check out the waves from the Ferris wheel!

Although the quiet season doesn’t officially start until November, September is a great time to visit because Grand Canyon crowds have thinned out and the North Rim is still open (facilities and lodging close down in October). This year, why not stay in the first hotel that’s opened in the park for 50 years? That’s the Maswick South Lodge.

The warmest of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan is most likely to hold onto some late-season warmth for swimmers in September. Beaches are largely deserted as lifeguards have moved on, and even if the air is chilly, the water is warm. The artsy town of Saugatuck, Michigan has charm to spare and you can get an elevated view of the lake aboard the paddlewheeler Star of Saugatuck, which plies the Kalamazoo River.

Besides cooler temps, you can check out the sixth annual Riverfront Jazz Festival, September 1-3, which draws musical artists from all over the world playing jazz, blues, R&B, soul, pop and Neo-soul music. Then jump on the free McKinney Avenue Trolley that runs through the arts district to find some art to match the earworm. 

For Labor Day weekend, why not visit the birthplace of the labor movement where shoemakers first organized in 1794? A statue in Elmwood Park called The Labor Monument commemorates the city’s connection to labor. Plus, September marks festival season in the city, with a mushroom festival that’s been around for nearly 40 years September 9-10, and the Made in America music festival September 2-3.

By day, this resort town is still warm in September, but nights get chilly—basically, the perfect way to bid adieu to summer and transition to autumn. Snow here can sometimes arrive in mid-October! So, take advantage of these last weeks to float down the Snake River with a rafting guide, hit the trail on a horse, or try your hand at fly fishing.

Beat the Napa crowds and instead explore Amador County’s more than 50 wineries in various rustic Gold Rush towns. In recent years, wines from this region swept the best of class, double gold and gold categories at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. These wines generate $60 million in sales annually, including $10 million at the tasting rooms—shouldn’t you be tasting, too? 

Locals say mid-May to mid-September is the best time to drive this scenic parkway. And you’ll be forced to be leisurely; the speed limit is only 25-45 mph. Along the way, you’ll appreciate gorgeous mountain vistas, Civil War battlefields and more. Start in Washington, D.C., and cruise along through Tennessee and Virginia to the endpoint in Cherokee, North Carolina. 

The air is at a comfortable temperature and many visitors have returned home, leaving New York open for adventures. See a show on Broadway, wander Central Park, and then get funky at the Electric Zoo, a three-day electronic music festival that always takes place on Labor Day weekend at Randall’s Island Park. Don’t forget to enjoy the Hell Gate Wildflower Meadow there.

The city’s still wearing its greenery from the summer but those striking red, orange and yellow leaves are starting to assert themselves. Vermont’s famous foliage season starts in early to mid-September and lasts until late October. Stroll the brick-paved Church Street Marketplace, an award-winning outdoor pedestrian mall, and search for pumpkin whoopie pies! Temperatures are in the 50s and 60s, perfect for rambling.

The summer crowds are gone, but the beach temps are still balmy (mid-80s). Based on when kids return to school, you could either sneak in one last family ride aboard Dumbo or have an awesome kid-free trip to Disneyworld. On the other hand, September is the month most likely for a hurricane to touch down.