Where to Go for Memorial Day Weekend 2026

We’ve got excellent news: We’re only three months away from Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer. Rather than scatter for last-minute plans and the dregs of open bookings, the editors at Condé Nast Traveler are planning ahead. Wherever you are in North America, there are a bounty of diverse destinations, both domestic and abroad, that merely require a fairly quick plane ride or short road trip—from Iceland’s Golden Circle and the red rocks of Sedona to the crystal clear waters of Lake Tahoe. To help us compile a list of places that make the most of that three-day weekend getaway, I reached out to one of our dedicated travel specialists, Addie Bell, founder and CEO of Jetset & Travel, for a few of her holiday picks. Whether you’d rather languidly sip a cocktail in a balmy tropical destination or feel the surge of adrenaline on a whitewater rafting trip, there are tons of destinations that are a cinch to get to and easy to explore. Here’s where to go for Memorial Day weekend 2026.