Where to travel in August in the US

August is the time to squeeze every last drop out of summer before the temperatures start to drop and kids go back to school. From sun-soaked beaches to cool mountain peaks, these destinations are ideal for an end-of-summer getaway in the US—no passport required.

Looking to head overseas? Visit our guide to the best places to travel in August around the world.

It may be billed as a winter destination, but this mountain community about a two-hour drive west of Denver is much more than a ski town. While the weather heats up at lower elevations, Breckenridge—located at 9,600 feet above sea level—stays nice and cool, with temps hovering in the 50s and 60s. And humidity is nearly non-existent.

Come August, make a romantic couples weekend out of a trip to Breck, whether on a guided nature hike or stand-up paddle board yoga excursion, or with couples’ massage at Soothe Spa. No matter your day’s adrenaline levels, finish with glasses of tasty craft spirits on the patio of Breckenridge Distillery.

Be sure to book a room at The Carlin, a brand new “restaurant with rooms” located right downtown that’s opening this summer with just four Swiss chalet–inspired guest rooms. If it’s available, book the Lomax suite, which has a cozy window seat, a daybed for afternoon naps, and a Main Street-facing balcony that’s ideal for people-watching. And at the on-site restaurant, sharing is the name of the game: Start with a piled-high seafood tower for the table then order a few dishes to split under the dim lights.

Think surfing is only for Hawaii and California? Think again. Each August, Virginia Beach hosts the East Coast Surfing Championship, which is the longest-running continuous surf competition in the world. Even if you’re not much of a surfer yourself, this eight-day event is worth planning a trip around alone to watch these pro athletes at their best. Lay out your towel or plop down your beach chair on the sand near the Rudee Inlet jetty anywhere between 1st and 9th Streets to watch the action. If the festivities inspire you to “hang 10” yourself, book a lesson with Seth Broudy’s School of Surf, VB Surf Sessions, or Surf & Adventure Co.

On the water, you also have a good chance of spotting bottlenose dolphins at this time of year—they hang off the coast year-round, but tend to be most visible from April to October. Stroll along Sandbridge Beach or book a top-rated tour, like a Rudee Rocket boat ride or a sunset kayak excursion with Chesapean Outdoors.

Venture down to the Gulf Coast for a vacation that’s steeped in solemn, critically important history. This summer, Mobile’s Africatown Heritage House is opening a new exhibit about the Clotilda, the last slave ship to arrive in the United States.

Though Congress banned the international slave trade in 1808, white smugglers continued to illegally bring enslaved individuals from Africa into the country. That’s exactly what happened in July 1860 as the Clotilda sailed into Mobile Bay with more than 110 captive Africans on board. After offloading the men, women, and children, the ship’s captain deliberately sank the ship to cover up his crime. Archaeologists officially confirmed the vessel’s location in the Mobile River in 2019 and have been studying it ever since. Now, 163 years later, the exhibition will help ensure that no one forgets the Clotilda’s survivors and their descendants.

Continue your history lesson with visits to the Mobile Carnival Museum, which explores the colorful legacy of Mardi Gras in Mobile dating back to 1704, and the Condé-Charlotte Museum, located inside the building that served as Mobile’s first jail and courthouse. If you have time, check out the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park to see the retired battleship, a submarine, and dozens of aircraft, as well as the History Museum of Mobile for a broad overview of the region’s past.

The King may be long gone, but his memory lives on—especially in Memphis, which hosts its annual “Elvis Week” each August. During nine days of festivities at Graceland, travelers can celebrate the life and legacy of rock-and-roll legend Elvis Presley, who died in August 1977. If you’re at all interested, start booking tickets and hotels ASAP, as a handful of the events have already sold out—and about 35,000 people attended Elvis Week last year.

Separate from Elvis Week, Graceland also has new exhibits and will be hosting concerts throughout the month of August, including performances by Clint Black and the Black Jack Symphony. For a quieter experience, head off-property and pay tribute to The King at the Elvis statue on Beale Street or book a private Elvis walking tour of downtown.

Though Memphis will be hot, you can stay cool during the rest of your trip by sticking to air-conditioned attractions like the National Civil Rights Museum, the Blues Hall of Fame Museum, and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

If you missed California’s colorful superbloom this spring, don’t fret: You can view thousands of cheery sunflowers blooming on a trip to North Dakota each August. You’ll find fields of sunflowers all over the state, including some near Fargo, the state’s largest city. Drive west from Fargo for about 15 minutes until you reach the Mapleton area, where you’ll find gorgeous blooms in nearly every direction. One of the best ways to experience the sunflowers is to hit the links at Mapleton River Golf Club, where you’ll be able to ogle the flowers as you golf. Or, time your visit to align with “golden hour,” which occurs just after sunrise or before sunset and is prime time for photo ops. As for souvenirs, keep an eye out in local grocery stores for jars of SunButter, an earthy sunflower seed butter made locally from the state’s bounty.

When you’re done with sunflower-spotting, don’t miss the flight simulator lab at the Fargo Air Museum, where guests of all ages can try their hand at “flying” more than 30 different types of aircraft while grappling with real-time weather and air traffic conditions.

With tons of live entertainment options and easy access to nature, Branson is a Midwest hotspot that’s worth visiting (or re-visiting), no matter where you live. Plus, the brand new Ozarker Lodge makes for an ideal basecamp this August. With 102 rooms (some which have lofted, bunk-bed-style rooms), a coffee and wine bar, fire pits, cedar hot tubs, and a heated outdoor pool, it’s ideal for families traveling together for an end-of-summer hurrah. You can also book the spacious Ozarker Suite—complete with a kitchenette and dining area—and an adjoining room for even more space to spread out. In addition to being the first boutique hotel in Branson, it’s also centrally located within driving distance of all the city’s biggest attractions, from the Titanic Museum to the Little Opry Theatre to Table Rock State Park.

While you’re visiting the Ozarks, also check out the Branson Landing Summer Concert Series—in August, Super Jam and the New Waves will be performing. Toward the end of the month, you can also catch the outdoor Southern Gospel Picnic concert series at Silver Dollar City—no blanket or lawn chair required. The “picnic” is actually a decadent, fried chicken buffet inside Molly’s Mill, complete with sweet corn, macaroni and cheese, and other fixings.