Top 25 U.S. Locations for Wedding Elopement Ideas

Not everyone dreams of planning a big wedding in a traditional wedding venue. Instead, some brides and grooms dream of getting away from it all, of getting married alone or with just a few close friends, or making the day all about them instead of worrying about seating, the cake, and bridesmaid dresses.

If this describes you and your partner, look no further than our top 25 contiguous U.S. locations for a wedding elopement. Whether you’re willing to travel halfway across the country or you’re looking for a spot closer to home, we’ve outlined a few of our favorite destinations by region so you can find the perfect place to say “I do”.

Couple Posing in Front of Ice Sheets at Glacier National Park: Ash Bilo Photography

North West

1. Mount Rainier in Washington offers hikes for all skill levels. You will find beautiful mountain views and abundant wildflowers.
2. The Oregon Coast features waterfalls, rugged cliffs, and beaches that are worlds away from tropical beach weddings—but no less gorgeous.
3. Glacier National Park in Montana has remote areas, but it also has easy access to woodlands, lakes, dry grasslands, and more. Just don't be surprised if you see some wildlife!

Couple Sitting in Glamis Sand Dunes, California: Sarah Linda Photography

West

4. Sequoia National Park in California is a favorite elopement spot thanks to its larger-than-life redwood trees.

5. Lake Tahoe in California is a favorite vacation spot, but it's also a great spot to elope thanks to its status as a gorgeous alpine lake.

6. Glamis Sand Dunes in California will make you look and feel like you're in Morocco, or even on another planet, thanks to sand dunes that stretch as far as the eye can see.

7. Nelson Ghost Town in Nevada is perfect for quirky brides and grooms who want to get married among the rubble and decay of an abandoned gold mine.   

Couple Standing Among Rock Formations at Horseshoe Bend: Aimée Flynn Photo

South West 

8. Guadalupe Mountains in Texas is the perfect location if you want to stray from civilization and get married among majestic peaks and secluded scenery.

9. Horseshoe Bend in Arizona is perfect for photos among craggy rock formations that will remind you of the Grand Canyon, as long as you’re strategic enough to avoid the crowds.

10. White Sands National Park in New Mexico will provide you with jaw-dropping photos you won't find anywhere else thanks to a carpet of gypsum sand dunes.

11. Breckenridge, Colorado is a fun, relaxed ski town, providing brides and grooms with opportunities to get married in the snow, in the forest, or even among quaint village shops.

Couple Standing on Rocks at Palisade Head, Minnesota: Daniela Buvat Wedding Photography

Midwest

12. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore can give you a beachy feel at your elopement without having to drive hundreds of miles to the east or west coast.

13. Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio contains dramatic gorges, breathtaking cliffs, scenic waterfalls, and caves, providing you with plenty of places to exchange vows.

14. Mackinac Island, Michigan enables you to step back in time and get married among cute bed and breakfasts, fudge shops, and horse drawn carriages.

15. Palisade Head in Minnesota has the look and feel of a cliff side in Scotland, especially when the fog rolls in and the sun rises. 

Bride and Groom Kissing Next to a Wild Horse on Cumberland Island: A Low Country Wedding

South East 

16. Augustine, Florida has beautiful beaches, but it’s also the oldest continuously inhabited city in the U.S., enabling you to get up-close and personal with history on your wedding day.

17. Cumberland Island, Georgia can give you a unique island experience punctuated by wild horse sightings, mossy trees, and nearly 20 miles of sandy beaches.

18. Great Smokey Mountains National Park in Tennessee contains over 500,000 acres among breathtaking mountain views, ensuring you find the perfect spot to exchange vows.

19. Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina is a great option for adventurous couples because it requires you to explore hundreds of miles of trails to find the perfect overlook, waterfall, or majestic tree to host your I do's.

Bride and Groom Kissing Among Rocks and Trees on Sugarloaf Mountain: Wander and Whimsy

Mid-Atlantic

20. Sugarloaf Mountain in Maryland can't host your ceremony, but you can find local event packages that include treks up into the mountains after you exchange vows.

21. Race Street Pier in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a fun and unexpected choice for city lovers who want their wedding day to be part of the hustle and bustle of city life.

22. The Catskills in New York enable you to immerse yourselves in nature with waterfalls, rivers, and streams all just a few hours outside the city.

Bride and Groom Standing in Front of a Lake in Acadia National Park: Rebecca Richards Photography

North East

23. Acadia National Park in Maine has a little bit of everything with mountains, rock cliffs, the ocean, and quaint towns and villages nearby.

24. Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont is perfect for couples who love the idea of a wooded wedding with hikes that take you to mountain views, waterfalls, and lakes.

25. Block Island in Rhode Island enables you to have a beach wedding on a secluded island without the crowds that are common at popular vacation beaches.