labor day vacay

Coastal oasis near Houston makes 2025 list of best Labor Day getaways

Crystal Beach is a popular place for vacationers heading to Bolivar Peninsula.

Camp Margaritaville RV Resort Crystal Beach/Facebook

A new national list naming the 10 best Labor Day vacation destinations has ranked Bolivar Peninsula near Houston the 10th best vacation spot for 2025.

Vacation rental marketplace HomeToGo's "Labor Day Travel Report" analyzed "traveler search patterns" to determine the 10 best places to spend the Labor Day weekend in the U.S. and abroad.

Bolivar Peninsula was the only Texas destination to earn acclaim on the list. Edisto Island in South Carolina was named the No. 1 best destination for the holiday.

According to the report's findings, 63 percent of Americans are planning to travel domestically during Labor Day weekend. Search trends for Bolivar Peninsula vacation rentals have skyrocketed 309 percent since last year. The region is located less than 100 miles from central Houston, making it an easy getaway for locals that want to explore a blossoming coastal area that isn't Galveston or Port Aransas.

Bolivar Peninsula is home to stunning retreats like Camp Margaritaville that boast breathtaking views of the sunny Texas coastline. The RV resort also offers access to 27 miles of beaches, including popular Crystal Beach, which was ranked the seventh best destination for spring break earlier this year.

Overall, search volume for vacation rentals during Labor Day weekend has increased 26 percent since 2024, and HomeToGo spokesperson Eleanor Moody says interest in traveling to international destinations is also on the rise.

"Just over one-third of U.S. travelers are eyeing international destinations," Moody says. "With places including Italy’s L’Aquila, Lagos in Portugal, and Vourvourou in Greece seeing substantial spikes in interest for visits over the holiday weekend, it appears that Americans are looking to live out their ‘Euro Summer’ dreams while there is still time left this year."

In HomeToGo's separate ranking of the best budget-friendly domestic destinations for the holiday weekend, Tarpon Springs, Florida took the top spot with a median price of $170.20 per night for a vacation rental.

The top 10 best Labor Day vacation destinations in the U.S. are:

No. 1 – Edisto Island, South Carolina
No. 2 – Indianapolis, Indiana
No. 3 – Annapolis, Maryland
No. 4 – North Wildwood, New Jersey
No. 5 – Beaufort, South Carolina
No. 6 – Lake Keowee, South Carolina
No. 7 – Bellingham, Washington
No. 8 – Saint Augustine Beach, Florida
No. 9 – McCall, Idaho
No. 10 – Bolivar Peninsula, Texas

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2 enticing Texas towns named top travel destinations for Labor Day 2026

Photo by Paul Clark

Welcome to Wimberley.

Houston residents have one last opportunity to take a three-day weekend before the summer season ends, and two Texas towns — one each in the Hill Country and Gulf Coast — have soared onto a new list of the best destinations to visit over the Labor Day holiday.

To determine where travelers are heading for the holiday weekend, HomeToGo's latest travel trends report analyzed search patterns for the top 25 destinations in the U.S. that have seen "the strongest year-over-year growth in interest."

The Texas coastal oasis of Rockport and laid-back Hill Country town of Wimberley respectively appeared as the No. 19 and No. 23 most popular Labor Day travel hotspots this year. Last year, Bolivar Peninsula near Houston was the only Texas destination to make the list.

Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi; Red River Gorge, Kentucky; and Orcas Island, Washington, claimed the top three most popular Labor Day travel destinations in 2026.

According to the report's findings, searches for Labor Day trips have grown 23 percent since this time last year. Rural locations account for 90 percent of searches, and 65 percent of searches are for domestic destinations.

"This year, HomeToGo insights show that travelers are embracing the great outdoors while staying close to home," the report said. "The results point to a strong preference for nature-rich, waterfront, and under-the-radar escapes across the country."

Rockport was the only Texas beach town in the report. Properties.com

Rockport already holds acclaim as one of the most affordable and family-friendly beach destinations this summer, so it makes sense that the charming town would be top-of-mind for Houston travelers. It's about a three-hour drive from Houston, not accounting for any holiday traffic.

The sleepy town will also get a lot louder over Labor Day weekend with the arrival of Fiesta en la Playa, an annual Tejano festival taking place at Rockport Market Day Grounds from September 4-6. Featured headliners include Bobby Pulido, Gabriella Martinez (a Selena tribute act), Los Enmascarados, and The Meza Band.

Wimberley is also about a three-hour drive from Houston, and road trippers can take the scenic route to enjoy the numerous local restaurants and wineries that the Hill Country region has to offer. It's also home to a luxurious Onera resort, where guests can stay in modern treehouses that give panoramic views of the countryside.

hill country travel labor day holiday labor day destinations hometogo vacations