The Best Beach Towns to Visit Memorial Day Weekend — Without the Crowds

Beach towns tend to draw countless visitors over Memorial Day weekend to enjoy the unofficial start of summer. While few if any will be totally void of tourists, there are less-busy options that provide a more tranquil experience without the big crowds. 

Finding a quiet stretch of sand over a holiday weekend is all about thinking beyond the obvious. Skip the most famous beaches and consider lesser-known spots instead, including stretches that require a short hike, keeping the hordes away. To help you find the right spot, we’ve scoped out many beach towns across the country to provide you with a guide to the best possibilities for a more serene Memorial Day weekend. 

If you want to extend that three-day weekend with a trip to Hawaii, consider Molokai. It’s just nine miles from the popular resorts on West Maui, but it feels as if it’s worlds away from the crowds. While Kaunakakai is likely to be a bit busier over Memorial Day weekend, especially at popular spots like Murphy’s Beach, the beaches typically draw more locals than tourists. Molokai is one of the lesser-visited islands in Hawaii, ideal for those seeking a slower-paced getaway.

Papohaku is one of the best beaches in Hawaii, with wide, white sands that stretch for three miles at the western end of Molokai, providing plenty of space, so much so that you might feel like you’re on your own private island. While it’s not safe for swimming, it’s ideal for long strolls, seashell hunting, and sunset viewing. On a clear day, you can even see Oahu across the Kaiwi Channel.

Often referred to as “Florida’s Best Kept Secret,” Navarre Beach is a laid-back beach town that offers a much more tranquil alternative to busier spots like Pensacola and Destin. One of the best beaches in the Panhandle, it boasts a 12-mile stretch of sugary white sands lapped by brilliant emerald green waters, and the state’s longest fishing pier, stretching over 1,500 feet into the Gulf. Plus, Navarre Beach Marine Park lies adjacent to the sand, providing an adventure zone with artificial reefs popular for diving and snorkeling among colorful marine life. 

When you aren’t spending time in the water or relaxing on the beach, browse the shops that sell handcrafted jewelry, unique works of art, and more. There are also waterfront restaurants serving fresh, local seafood that can be enjoyed with a spectacular view. 

Most visitors to the San Juan Islands in Washington State head to Orcas Island or San Juan Island, with Lopez providing a much quieter experience. Lopez Village is the main town, adjacent to Fisherman Bay. It’s where you’ll find places to shop, art galleries, various dining and drinking venues, including coffee shops, cafes, waterfront bars, a bakery, and a grocery store.

There are many picturesque beaches to enjoy, including the sandy shoreline in Spencer Spit State Park. The 138-acre marine park has a large sand spit popular for swimming. Agate Beach and Jackson Beach are also great spots for paddleboarding, beachcombing (including sea glass on Agate), picnicking, relaxing, and sunset watching. 

The tiny beach town of Yachats on the Central Oregon Coast is often referred to as a “best-kept secret,” with few outside of the region familiar with it. There is a natural wonder nearby that’s more well-known thanks to Instagram: Thor’s Well, a seemingly bottomless sinkhole. Water rushes in and out with the tides, creating a stunning visual and an outstanding photo op. 

Yachats River divides beach access between the dramatic rock formations near Yachats State Park and open beach areas that are good for strolling on the river’s south side. While there are beaches in either direction from town, the stretches to the south along Highway 101 are the best. In town, you’ll find a variety of unique shops, art galleries, and local eateries, including cafes and venues for oceanfront dining on fresh seafood.

Nearly everyone simply passes through Elk, or just stops at the general store to pick up supplies before heading to more popular beach towns further north, like Mendocino and Fort Bragg. But this tiny community with fewer than 300 residents is a true hidden gem. It’s not only home to The Elk Store (with a great deli) but also to Harbor House Inn with a two-Michelin-starred ocean-view restaurant. Plus, you’ll find local works of art to check out at the Artists’ Collective, while Anderson Valley wineries are within easy reach. 

Of course, this stretch of coastline is home to many beautiful beaches, including Greenwood State Beach just across from The Elk Store. It’s hard to see from the road, but it can be easily reached via a short trail that opens up to a wide stretch of sand strewn with driftwood, seashells, and tide pools. It’s the perfect place for serene beachcombing, picnicking, kayaking, and fishing. 

Remote Ocracoke Island is moderately busy over Memorial Day weekend, but much less so than July or August. Plus, with 16 miles of undeveloped beaches that remain spacious enough to find seclusion, it’s an ideal pick for a more serene beach getaway. Its location at the southern tip of the Outer Banks, with access only by ferry, boat, or plane, also helps to keep the thick crowds away. 

There is just one village, historic Ocracoke Village, with local shops, restaurants, and a lighthouse, making up only about 10 percent of the island. The rest is undeveloped, protected by the National Park Service, providing plenty of opportunities to slow down, savor the scenery, and enjoy activities ranging from 4X4 beach drives to paddling and sunset sailing. 

For a slower coastal vibe with pleasant weather before summer officially hits, Bluffton is well worth considering. It’s a gateway to the much busier neighboring island of Hilton Head, which means traffic congestion is likely when traveling there on Friday afternoon, so try to leave early if you can. Once there, you’ll find freshwater river beaches with opportunities for paddleboarding, kayaking, and boating on the May River. Sunset sailing and charter boat excursions also bring the opportunity to see dolphins in the estuary. Or take a boat tour to Daufuskie Island, where you can enjoy secluded beachcombing, crabbing, and fishing in an even more peaceful atmosphere with crowds generally limited to golf cart traffic. 

Cape Elizabeth may be close to Portland, but it’s home to beaches that are much quieter compared to busy stretches near the city, like Old Orchard Beach with its amusement park. That includes the crescent-shaped cove at Kettle Cove State Park with a small sandy beach, lots of tidal pools filled with marine creatures, and sweeping views of the Atlantic. The water is relatively calm, making it ideal for swimming, and on land, there are scenic walking trails for exploring nature. 

The park also has picnic tables and grills that make it easy to spend the whole day, but be sure to arrive early on Memorial Day weekend. While it may not be as busy as Portland beaches, nearly every beach will be more crowded than usual. As Cape Elizabeth is home to the historic Portland Head Light, you might want to visit it too. Located in Fort Williams Park, it was first lit in 1791. Today it’s automated, but you’ll find a museum and gift shop in the lightkeeper’s house. When it’s time to dine, the town itself is home to multiple restaurants serving the state’s famously delicious lobster.

If Cape Elizabeth isn’t quiet enough for you, you can exchange the traffic noise for the sounds of gulls and the waves by heading to Monhegan Island. This tiny, one-square-mile island can only be accessed with your own boat or ferry (year-round from Port Clyde and mid-May through mid-October from New Harbor), helping to keep the big crowds away. It’s an artsy place for an immersion in nature, with many art galleries, more than 17 miles of hiking trails, an iconic lighthouse, and a variety of beaches. Fish Beach is known for its sea glass, while Lobster Cove contains the remnants of a shipwreck, and Swim Beach is aptly named as a sandy cove popular for swimming.

Nantucket famously draws the rich and famous as a luxury travel destination on the East Coast, but it’s far less busy than Martha’s Vineyard, its neighbor closer to the mainland. The strict historic preservation rules help to keep it from getting too crowded, while the size of the island means there is plenty of space for finding solitude. While the harbor area can get busy, you’ll find the quietest beaches in the Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge. Remote and undeveloped, these barrier beaches are ideal for spotting seals, birdwatching, surf fishing, and long, scenic strolls with miles of untouched shoreline, high dunes, and sweeping views where Nantucket meets the Atlantic. 

Glen Arbor is a charming village that makes an ideal base for enjoying beaches along the freshwater coast of Lake Michigan, which are typically much less crowded than seaside towns. Part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, you’ll have easy access to hiking trails, beaches, and the famous Dune Climb, a trek that will bring you to the top of a towering, 284-foot-high sand dune for a panoramic view. When you’re not enjoying outdoor activities, you can explore the village shops, dining venues, and impressive art scene. There are many galleries showcasing regional and national artists, while the Glen Arbor Arts Center hosts a music series and year-round exhibits.