Last-Minute Memorial Day Weekend Getaways in Every State

Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer and one of the most popular three-day weekends of the year. If your holiday weekend schedule doesn't already involve a backyard cookout or other big plans, consider spontaneity — there is still time to finalize a travel plan. With input from Hipmunk as well as our own research, Cheapism identified destinations in every state where it's still possible to either fly or make hotel reservations (for the road trippers) without taking too big a chunk out of your summer-fun budget.

Note: All airfare prices are based on Hipmunk data for round-trip domestic airfare bookings made between April 24 and May 8 with a departure date of May 24 through May 27 and a return date of May 28 through May 30. All hotel prices were searched on Skyscanner during early May. Prices and availability are subject to change.

Often referred to as the Emerald Isle, Kodiak is legendary for its lush green landscape and abundant outdoor opportunities, all of which makes it a popular choice for nature enthusiasts. The median price for airfare to Kodiak over Memorial Day weekend is $382, according to Hipmunk. While you're there, don't miss the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, a 1.9 million-acre park that encompasses two-thirds of Kodiak Island and is home to diverse habitats ranging from rugged mountains to alpine meadows and wetlands.

Nicknamed "The Rocket City" for its ties to U.S. space missions, Huntsville's tourist attractions cover everything from the Civil War to the accomplishments of America's rocket scientists. The city played an integral role in helping develop space technology since the 1950s. The median Memorial Day weekend airfare to Huntsville is $365. Rooms at the three-star Comfort Inn Huntsville hover around $90.

An up-and-coming destination, Fayetteville is a place where artists and free spirits thrive. And craft brew fans take note — the city is also home to the Fayetteville Ale trail. Presidential history buffs meanwhile can explore the Clinton House Museum, the first home of Bill and Hillary Clinton. However, this is one city you may not want to fly to visit, as median prices are around $427. Depending on where you're traveling from, the best bet may be train or a good old-fashioned road trip. Two- and three-star lodging is available for less than $100 per night over the holiday weekend.

While temperatures are already well into the mid- to high-90s, if you can stand the heat, Phoenix is another option to consider for Memorial Day. The median holiday weekend airfare to the city is $363. Phoenix's top sights and activities include taking in the view from iconic Camelback Mountain, checking out the more than 7,000 musical instruments at the Musical Instrument Museum, and walking the winding paths of the 140-acre Desert Botanical Garden. Rooms at the four-star Hyatt Regency Phoenix can be found for around $130 per night over the holiday, with many two- and three-star properties listing rooms for well under $100.

A coastal city south of Los Angeles that offers a vibrant alternative to the L.A. crowds, Long Beach is home to a growing culinary scene, the 1930s ocean liner Queen Mary, a notable aquarium and a variety of artsy and eclectic neighborhoods. The median price of flights to the city are just $179 over the holiday weekend. For a truly memorable experience — and a bit of a splurge — plan to stay on the Queen Mary, where rooms over Memorial Day can be found starting at $209 per night.

Yet another destination where the airfare is shaping up to be a bargain over the holiday, the median price to fly to Denver for Memorial Day is $222. The Mile High City's many notable attractions include The Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, Denver Botanic Gardens, and don't miss the American Museum of Western Art, which depicts life in the west from the early 1800s through present day. Four-star hotels downtown, such as the Sheraton Denver, can be had for around $120 per night.

Calling all Mark Twain fans. Hartford is the location of the Mark Twain House & Museum, an American Gothic-style mansion dating back to 1874 filled with thousands of artifacts including the desk Twain sat at while writing many of his famed books. The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center can also be found here, as well as the notable Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. With a median airfare of $552, flying to Connecticut won't be your best bet, says Hipmunk, making this one place you may want to drive or visit by train. The Hilton Hartford, a three-star property with an indoor swimming pool, can be booked for about $120 per night.

What better place to honor those who served our nation than in the nation's capital, right? And the airfare is working in your favor. The median price is $318, says Hipmunk. What should you see while in the city? Don't miss taking in the capital's many legendary museums, as well as its monuments and memorials — Lincoln, Jefferson, you name it. Two-star hotels such as the Windsor Inn, can be found over the holiday weekend for $110 per night, while rooms at the three-star Hilton Garden Inn start at about $160.

Long a major tourist destination, Fort Myers is a good base for exploring Sanibel and Captiva Islands, both known for their stunning, soft beaches perfect for finding sea shells. In Fort Myers, there's the IMAG History and Science Center, which features more than 60 interactive exhibits. Touring Thomas Edison and Henry Ford's winter estates is yet another possibility. Airfare to this hotspot is just $243 for the holiday weekend, while hotels range in price from under $100 per night at two-star properties to under $200 per night for three-star accommodations.

Airfare to Atlanta over the holiday will set you back just $243, while hotel rooms at the four-star Hilton Atlanta are around $125. A city that played a pivotal role in the Civil War, there's plenty of history on display here for visitors. The Atlanta History Center covers the city's past, while the fascinating Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park focuses on one of our nation's most important and charismatic civil rights leaders. Still other attractions include Centennial Olympic Park (built for the 1996 Olympics) and the Georgia Aquarium.

Who wouldn't want to spend the holiday weekend in Hawaii? Jet off to Kailua Kona (on the western portion of the Big Island) for $360. Here you'll find Hulihe'e Palace, a formal royal vacation home that dates back to 1838, and the Mokuaikaua Church, which is Hawaii's oldest Christian church. And, of course, there are the beaches, which are not to be missed in Hawaii (check out Hapuna Beach, north of Kona, for its long stretches of sand). Surprising as it may seem, hotels here over the holiday can be booked for under $100 per night.

While it may not be the first place that springs to mind, Cedar Rapids is home to many notable attractions, including the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art and also Brucemore, an estate featuring acres of gardens and an 1880s mansion. The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library showcases the history and culture of 19th-century immigrants. Flights to Cedar Rapids are $348, while three-star hotels can be found for about $122.

Often a flyover state, holiday flights to Boise are a median of $292. The state's capital city offers a variety of attractions to fill the weekend, including an active arts community and a downtown filled with shops, restaurants, and night spots. Yet another option — explore the Boise River Greenbelt, a series of tree-lined trails and parks along the water's edge. The Boise Art Museum meanwhile showcases contemporary works, and there's an outdoor sculpture garden. Three-star hotels start around $70 per night.

While Chicago may be Illinois' most famous city, it's not the only place worth visiting. Moline is part of an area known as the Quad Cities, a community of cities around the Mississippi River in both Iowa and Illinois, including Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa to Moline and Rock Island in Illinois. With so many cities within reach, the attractions are enormously varied and include riverboat cruises, live music, historic sites, and plenty of outdoor recreation including biking trails and golf. Flights to Moline for Memorial Day are about $291, while three-star hotels are as cheap as around $100 per night.

An increasingly popular place to visit, Indy, as it's often called, is worth visiting for its burgeoning culinary and craft brew scene alone. Some of its top family attractions include The Children's Museum of Indianapolis and also White River State Park, America's only cultural urban state park with more than 250 acres of green space and an array of cultural attractions, public art, and entertainment. With median flights here around $596, your best bet is to skip flying and instead go the road trip route. Hotel prices are much more budget friendly, starting around $100 for a two-star room.

Located along the Kansas and Big Blue rivers, Manhattan may not be a well-known destination but it has plenty of attractions to fill a weekend. The Flint Hills Discovery Center, a municipal heritage and science center, features multimedia exhibits about the prairie ecosystem. Just outside the city, Tuttle Creek State Park offers everything from disc golf, horse trails, and archery to swimming, fishing, and camping. Median flights here are $393 while three-star hotels such as the Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan can be found for around $85 per night over the holiday weekend.

The heart of horse country, there are of course plenty of horse-related attractions in Lexington, including the Kentucky Horse Park and horse farm tours. There's also a number of historic homes in the area that once belonged to the likes of Mary Todd Lincoln, Henry Clay, and John Hunt Morgan. Downtown Lexington features an African-American Heritage Interpretive Sign program featuring people and places that played a significant role in the advancement of equality. Median airfare to Lexington is just $187, while four-star hotels such as the 21C Museum Hotel Lexington and the Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa can be booked for less than $200 per night.

A city requiring little introduction, New Orleans offers a number of ways to honor Memorial Day and celebrate the beginning of summer — while also saving some money. The city is home to the National World War II Museum (named the No. 2 museum in the U.S. by TripAdvisor), a great place to pay tribute to those who lost their lives fighting for this country. There will also be a handful of festivals taking place including the Tremé/7th Ward Arts and Culture Festival and the Greek Festival. Median airfare to the city is about $426 while some four-star hotels are available for under $200 including B on Canal. The charming three-star Maison St. Charles, in the city's garden district, is around $100 per night.

Even in a destination as popular and pricey as Boston there are still a few hotel deals to be had, with rooms at YOTEL Boston available for around $200 per night, and accommodations at the Westin Boston Waterfront for less than $200 per night. Airfare meanwhile is about $319. Beantown is a grand place to be for the holiday weekend with everything from Red Sox games taking place to the Boston Calling Music Festival at Harvard Stadium.

Top sights in Baltimore include its Inner Harbor, which is surrounded by notable attractions such as Fort McHenry, the birthplace of the U.S. national anthem and the National Aquarium. There's also numerous award-winning restaurants in the city and historic neighborhoods to explore. Fly to Baltimore for just $271. Hotel rooms at the four-star Lord Baltimore Hotel, known for its outstanding service, are less than $200 per night.

A stunning destination for nature lovers, Bar Harbor is a popular base for exploring nearby Acadia National Park (one of the top 10 most-visited parks in the country.) The 47,000-acre park is known for its woodlands, rocky beaches, and granite peaks, including Cadillac Mountain, which is the highest point on the North Atlantic seaboard. Median airfare to this destination for the holiday is about $184. Stay at the four-star Bar Harbor Hotel — Bluenose Inn for around $170 per night.

Detroit will host the Movement Music Festival, one of the most well-regarded music festivals in the country, starting on Memorial Day. There will also be a Civil War Remembrance May 27-29 at The Henry Ford's Greenfield Village, featuring reenacted events, music, and historic presentations. Holiday flights to the city are about $321. Three-star hotels such as the Best Western Plus Waterfront Hotel start at about $140 per night.

From its vibrant craft-brewery scene to the popular Minnehaha Falls and Park and the Minnesota Air National Guard Museum, there are plenty of reasons to spend Memorial Day weekend in Minneapolis. Flights to the city are about $314 while rooms at the four-star Hilton Minneapolis are around $100 per night.

Spend Memorial Day weekend relaxing at an elegant hotel in St. Louis for less than $100 per night. Rooms at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac, which has an outdoor pool and fitness center, are available for around $100 per night. The median flight price to the city is $174. When not relaxing at the hotel, venture out and explore the city's iconic Gateway Arch, which was built to honor Lewis and Clark. The city's Soulard district is known for its barbecue restaurants and blues clubs.

While budget-friendly airfare to Montana is not easy to come by, that doesn't mean you can't spend Memorial Day exploring this picturesque state. Pack up the car and explore some of the state's famed open spaces, which include 10 National Park Service areas. While the most iconic, Glacier and Yellowstone national parks, are likely to be crowded over the holiday, there are plenty of lesser known options such as Nez Perce National Historic Park, Big Hole National Battlefield, and Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. With its arts scene, as well as hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing in the area, Bozeman is a good base to explore from. Three-star hotels are still available for less than $100 per night.

Spend Memorial Day week exploring our country's civil rights movement in Jackson, where the famed Freedom Trail features several historic sites including the Medgar Evers Home Museum, the Mississippi Capitol building, and the site of the 1963 sit-in at Woolworth's. Another notable attraction here, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, includes an aquarium and nature trails. Median flights to the city are $326. Three- and four-star hotels start around $90.

The Queen City comes alive in the summer with plenty of entertainment and outdoor activities to keep all ages busy. Carowinds is a sprawling theme park with water slides, while the U.S. National Whitewater Center offers whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, rappelling and more. Additional attractions include the hands-on Discovery Place Science museum and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The median flight price to this destination is $292. Four-star hotels are available for less than $100 per night.

Located on the Minnesota border, Grand Forks is home to the North Dakota Museum of Art, which features contemporary art from around the globe. The city's Greenway offers an opportunity to spend time outdoors exploring its system of waterfront parks and trails. Fishing, cycling, and canoeing are other popular outdoor activities here. The median flight price to Grand Forks over the holiday is $246. Rooms at the three-star Springhill Suites Grand Forks start at around $90 per night.

Top attractions in Nebraska's capital include the Lincoln Children's Zoo, which includes a popular train ride, and the 668-acre Pioneers Park Nature Center, which features tallgrass prairie, woodlands, wetlands, and a stream. The center also includes eight miles of hiking trails that wind through various habitats and take visitors past non-releasable raptor exhibits, as well as bison, elk, and white-tailed deer. The median flight to Lincoln is $249. Three-star hotels such as the Hyatt Place Lincoln Downtown Haymarket are around $100 a night.

Another good road trip destination (airfare is steep at $462), Manchester is known for its arts, culture, and entertainment offerings. The historic Palace Theatre puts on live performances, while the Currier Museum of Art is an internationally renowned facility featuring European and American paintings, decorative arts, photographs, sculpture, and more. The SEE Science Center is a good choice for those with young travelers in tow. Three-star hotels can be found between $100-$150 per night.

With attractions such as the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and The Mills at Jersey Gardens, the largest premium retail outlet in the state, Newark attracts more than 18 million visitors annually. Another notable attraction, the Newark Museum, showcases a broad art collection featuring American paintings and sculptures. Median flights to Newark are about $284, and three-star hotels such as the Hampton Inn & Suites Newark-Harrison-Riverwalk can be found for around $180 per night over the long weekend.

This quirky destination, perhaps most famous for its connection to UFO lore dating back to an incident in 1947, Roswell offers everything from fine art museums like the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, to facilities dedicated to close encounters from outer space, including the International UFO Museum & Research Center. Hiking, golfing, and camping are still other popular attractions here. Median flights to Roswell are just $238. Rooms at the three-star Holiday Inn Roswell are around $200.

A city that never sleeps, median flights to Las Vegas are just $248 for Memorial Day weekend. Stays at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and the Luxor Hotel and Casino for about $180 per night. The entertainment options here are of course endless, from casinos to shopping to a long list of shows ranging from David Copperfield to Blue Man Group and O by Cirque du Soleil. And don't forget to explore some of the exciting — and sometimes less expensive — options that are off the Strip.

Want to visit the Big Apple for Memorial Day weekend? Consider flying into White Plains, just 25 miles from midtown Manhattan, and taking one of the regularly scheduled trains and buses between the two cities. Median flights to this hub are about $318 over the holiday. Hotels in New York City can still be found for less than $200, including the notable four-star Hudson New York, Central Park, a boutique hotel featuring a private park and a sky terrace.

Cincinnati is gearing up for an action-packed Memorial Day weekend with everything from foodie offerings to musical events. The Cincinnati May Festival, the oldest continuous choral festival in the Western Hemisphere, will take place over the weekend. There will also be a Furry Friends Festival featuring bluegrass music at Washington Park, and don't miss Taste of Cincinnati, a free culinary event Saturday through Monday. With a medium flight ticket price of $456, Cincinnati may be best visited by car, train, or bus. But once there, budget-friendly accommodations abound. Three-star hotels start well under $100 per night. The four-star Hyatt Regency Cincinnati, less than one-mile from the city center, can be booked for about $130 per night.

A slightly under-the-radar destination, Stillwater likes to think of itself as America's friendliest college town. In addition to being home to the picturesque Oklahoma State University campus, this north-central Oklahoma city features a historic downtown and a thriving Red Dirt music scene, a genre rooted and cultivated in Stillwater that's named after the color of soil found in the state. There are numerous Red Dirt music events scheduled for the holiday weekend. Median holiday flight prices to Stillwater are $352; three-star hotels start around $79.

Located along the Willamette River, Eugene is a hotbed for craft breweries and a popular destination for foodies, cyclists, and counter-culture. It's also located in a region known for its scenic byways and with summer just around the corner, wildflowers are in full bloom and farm stands are opening. There are also numerous museums to explore, such as the Adventure! Children's Museum and the Eugene Science Center, and a variety of Memorial Day events taking place. Flights to Eugene are about $332. Three-star hotels, such as the Campbell House A City Inn, can be found for around $140 per night.

Among the most notable attractions in Harrisburg is the National Civil War Museum, a non-profit institution showcasing both sides of the conflict using interactive exhibits and reenactments. Each Memorial Day weekend the city also hosts an annual Artsfest, which brings together artists and community members from around the region and the country. And just outside Harrisburg, the chocolate-themed Hersheypark offers plenty of family fun for the holiday weekend. The median flight here is just $158, while three-star accommodations range from $85 to about $150 per night.

A state capital with a small-town feel, Providence offers a thriving arts community and a world-class restaurant scene. Popular attractions include the RISD Museum, which is affiliated with the famed design school and showcases masterworks of fine art. Also notable is Waterplace Park, which is along the Woonasquatucket River in downtown and connected to a three-quarter mile long cobblestone-paved pedestrian walkway known as Riverwalk. For family travelers there's also Roger Williams Park Zoo. Three-star hotels for the holiday can be found for between $95 and $137 per night. Flights to the city are about $386.

A classic sun-and-sand Memorial Day weekend option, two- and three-star oceanfront hotels can be found in Myrtle Beach for about $153. Flights to the popular destination are about $337. The beach is the star of the show in this vacation destination. There's also a plethora of celebrity-designed golf courses and for the kids, the Boardwalk, lined with arcades and the Family Kingdom Amusement Park, provides endless entertainment.

Sioux Falls is an unexpected charmer, with its 123-acre Falls Park located within walking distance of downtown, and an urban center that includes a SculptureWalk. There's also a number of local shops, restaurants, and bars to explore along the city's Main and Phillips avenues. The Shoto-Teien Japanese Gardens, with flowers and pagodas, offer another area for a lovely walk. Flights to the city are about $304. Three-star hotels start around $113.

The music scene, the food scene, oh my. There's so much going on in Nashville these days it can be hard to know where to start. Spend Memorial Day weekend exploring all that this vibrant destination has to offer. The city is made up of a variety of neighborhoods, each with a unique vibe, dining, nightlife, and more. Flights to Music City U.S.A. are about $390, while accommodations in this popular destination range from about $150 for a three-star property to over $200 per night for a four-star hotel.

With four-star hotels available for as little as $70 per night and median flights just $280, Houston is a Memorial Day weekend bargain. America's fourth largest city, Houston offers a variety of attractions, including a Museum District, where there's everything from the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston to the Holocaust Museum. For budding astronauts, don't miss Space Center Houston. There will also be a number of Memorial Day events including a remembrance at George Ranch Historical Park.

A city with a growing brewery scene, get yourself a Brewery Tour Pass and spend Memorial Day weekend sampling Salt Lake's award-winning craft ales, lagers, porters, and ciders. Some of the city's other top attractions include Red Butte Garden, a botanical garden, arboretum, and amphitheater, and the Discovery Gateway Children's Museum. Flights to the city are about $460, while three-star hotels can be found for as little as $60 to $80 per night.

Perhaps best known for being home to Naval Station Norfolk, this waterfront city in southeastern Virginia also features notable attractions such as the Nauticus, a maritime museum that includes the World War II Battleship Wisconsin. And don't miss exploring downtown and the city's NEON Arts District where there are galleries, studios, and urban art installations. Flights to Norfolk are about $278. Three-star hotels, such as the Residence Inn Downtown Norfolk, are available for about $142.

Located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain just south of Canada, Burlington is Vermont's biggest city. The most popular attraction is perhaps Church Street Marketplace, an open-air mall filled with shops and restaurants. Just outside downtown, visit the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, which is the former home of a Revolutionary War hero. The Shelburne Museum showcases over 150,000 works of American folk and decorative art. Not exactly the cheapest place to fly to, unfortunately — median flights are about $420 — this may be a destination best visited by ground transportation. Three-star hotels can be found for as little as around $100 per night.

Seattle offers an urban escape surrounded by stunning natural beauty. The city will also host the Northwest FolkLife Festival over the holiday weekend, which features music ranging from bluegrass to reggae. Flights to the city are about $357, while rooms at a four-star hotel such as the notable Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle are available for about $170 per night.

With 200 miles of biking and hiking trails and boasting more bikes than cars, Madison is the bike capital of the Midwest, making it an ideal Memorial Day getaway for active travelers. Also of note, the Dane County Farmers' Market is the country's largest producer-only market. It's held every Saturday on the tree-lined grounds surrounding the Wisconsin State Capitol building. Four-star hotels are available for around $152. Flights to the city are about $247.

The capital of West Virginia, Charleston features historic neighborhoods, a vibrant downtown riverfront, hip art galleries, and a variety of independent restaurants. The Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences is a 240,000-square-foot facility dedicated to promoting performing arts, visual arts, and the sciences. Flying to Charleston however, is best avoided. Median prices are about $585, making this a road-trip worthy destination. Three-star hotels can be found for less than $100 per night over the holiday weekend.

Breathtaking scenery and abundant wildlife. If these two reasons alone aren't enough to pack your bags for Casper, there's also plenty of outdoor recreation, including hiking, mountain biking, and boating to be done in the area. In other words, Casper is an adventure and outdoor enthusiast's dream. Honor the nation's veterans with a visit to the Wyoming Veterans Memorial Museum. Just a few miles west of town, it's housed on the former site of the World War II Casper Army Air Corps Base, where B-17 and B-24 bomber crews trained. You'll want to drive or take the train here though, as flights are pricey, but three-star hotels can be found for as little as $68 to $95 per night.