The Best Places to Elope in the United States
Tali January 25, 2022
There are so many perks to eloping. One of my personal favorites is the opportunity to pick somewhere meaningful, beautiful, or just straight-up epic to elope. You might have absolutely no clue where you want to elope or you might have an idea of the type of scenery you want; either way, narrowing down the exact place you want to have your elopement can be tricky! Over the years, we have visited so many stunning places in the United States. Here are 15 of the best places to elope in the US.
BEAUTIFUL PLACES YOU COULD ELOPE IN THE UNITED STATES
1. A Fire Tower with Incredible Mountain Views
The thing about fire towers is that they are built specifically to have an incredible view of the surrounding landscape. This makes them the prime spot for someone looking for 360 degree mountain views for their elopement. Plus, there are even fire towers that you can spend the night in so you can enjoy the mountain views in a totally different light. Some of our favorite fire towers are in Washington State, but there are also beautiful options in Colorado, Montana, and other states too!
Best Time of Year: Summer and Early Fall
2. The North Shore of Lake Superior
People are often shocked when I show them pictures of the north shore and say that I took them in Minnesota. Waterfalls at every turn, huge cliffs overlooking Lake Superior, impressive rock formations, enchanting forests, rushing rivers, and of course, SO many lakes… I could go on and on about all the beauty this special place has to offer. Plus, it is accessible all year round making it a great place to elope in any season.
Best Time of Year: Spring through Fall… and Winter too!
Considering Minnesota for your wedding? Check out our How to Elope in Minnesota Guide!
3. Bighorn National Forest
This often-overlooked location is at the top of our list for epic places to elope. (We even wrote a whole guide to eloping here!) It’s dog-friendly, packed with adventure, and even on a holiday weekend, you can find solitude. It’s great for backpacking, day hiking, ATVing, and even horseback riding. Plus, we even know some parking lots with great views if a long hike isn’t on your to-do list.
Best Time of Year: Late Spring through Fall
4. Big Sur, California
If you are looking for epic cliffs overlooking the ocean, sandy beaches, forests with towering trees, look no further than Big Sur, California! Easily one of the top 15 best places to elope in the United States, this stunning area of Coastline in northern California really has it all. Drive up the coast, picnic on the beach, hike the numerous parks… there is no shortage of things to do or see in Big Sur!
Looking for more inspiration? Check out this blog!
Best Time of Year: April to October (but beautiful year round!)
5. Mount Rainier National Park
I might be a bit biased since I got engaged at Mount Rainier, but I think it is a pretty stunning place to elope. It looks like something out of a fairytale. A huge majestic mountain surrounded by wildflowers and picturesque pines. Plus, Mount Rainier National Park is an easy drive from Seattle… making it a very accessible location. If you are looking for adventure, wildflowers, mountains, and forests with easy access, you just found your elopement destination!
Best Time of Year: Summer through Early Fall
6. The Thick Forests of Washington State
What’s not to love about a beautiful forest elopement?! The forests of Washington State are absolutely packed with hidden gems. From mountain views to beautiful forest walks right on the side of the road, there is no shortage of breathtaking places to say your vows… and some of the most beautiful spots to elope require hardly any hiking at all! Add this one to your elopement locations list cause you are going to want to check it out.
Best Time of Year: Late Spring through Early Fall
7. Southeastern Utah
If desert landscapes are your vibes, it’s hard to think of a more epic place to elope in the United States than Southeastern Utah. This corner of Utah is full of incredible landscapes. The red and orange sandstone that makes up the majority of the landscape in this area is covered with slot canyons, cliffs, caves, hoo-doos, and towers. The mild off-season temperatures make it a perfect choice if you are looking for a place to elope outside of the busy summer window.
Best Time of Year: Spring and Fall
3. The Black Hills of South Dakota
When most people hear the Black Hills, they think of Mount Rushmore, but this beautiful area is SO much more than that. It is packed with rugged granite spires, towering pines, jagged mountains, and glassy lakes. Plus, much of the area is dog-friendly! If you are planning on bringing your furry friend to your wedding, this should definitely be on your list of potential places to elope.
Best Time of Year: Late Spring through Early Fall
8. Glacier National Park
Possibly one of the most beautiful places in the United States, Glacier National Park has something for everyone. When we first arrived at the park, the towering mountains took our breath away. Meadows of wildflowers are abundant and the hypnotic blue of a glacier-fed lake has to be seen in person to be believed. It’s not hard to see why this made our list of the best places to elope in the United States!
Fun fact, Glacier is Dom’s favorite park!
Best Time of Year: Mid-July through September
9. Death Valley National Park
California is known for its beautiful backdrops and this otherworldly location is no different. If you are looking for the perfect warm winter or off-season location, look no further. From epic rock formations to salt flats and sand dunes, this park is far from lacking in variety.
Best Time of Year: Late Fall through Early Spring
10. Grand Teton National Park
One of the most iconic mountain backdrops in the United States combined with beautiful lakes, massive pine trees, and grassy meadows that make you feel like you stepped into an old western movie. Whether you are looking for an epic hike, a great view from the parking lot, or even a spot reached on horseback, you can find it at Grand Teton National Park. We also love that Yellowstone is right next door… a perfect start to a honeymoon road trip!
Best Time of Year: Summer to Early Fall
11. Rocky Mountain National Park
An absolute wonderland of mountains, waterfalls, and wildlife, there is little more you could ask for in a perfect elopement destination. It doesn’t hurt that Colorado is one of the sunniest places in the United States either!
Best Time of Year: Summer to Early Fall
12. Zion National Park
This park is crazy popular for a reason. Massive sandstone cliffs of red, orange, cream, and pink make this incredible landscape a perfect backdrop for an elopement. The word “Zion” loosely translates to “heaven” and honestly it isn’t hard to see why this place got its name. A tip from the pros, plan your elopement here in the late fall, just past peak season. The days are still comfortably warm and you won’t be fighting the crowds for beautiful views.
Best Time of Year: Year-Round (We like late fall the best best!)
14. Great Sand Dunes National Park
If you want minimalist views without sacrificing “the epic factor” Great Sand Dunes National Park might be just the place. Dunes of rolling sand go on as far as the eye can see and meet up with a perfect mountain backdrop. If you want to be dancing in the dunes for your first dance, this is the place to elope.
Best Time of Year: Late Spring and Early Fall (Summer days can be hot, but the evenings and mornings are perfect!)
15. Alabama Hills
This place is one of Hollywood’s favorite filming locations for a reason. The rock formations and rolling hills look like they could be from another planet and the stunning backdrop of the Sierra Nevada Mountains gives this elopement location some serious bonus points. This spot gets additional bonus points for being dog-friendly and having incredible places for your elopement ceremony with no hiking required!
Best Time of Year: Fall through Spring
Whether you are looking for mountains, forests, or deserts, we have a perfect place to elope for you! Narrowing down our list of favorite spots was a tough job and this list doesn’t cover all of our favorites, but it is a solid start!
If you are dreaming up the perfect elopement and need some help picking the perfect place to elope, we would love to help find your dream location (and tag along to capture the biggest day of your love story). Get in touch and let’s get rolling!
Thanks for your blog, nice to read. Do not stop.