The Best Places to Elope in the U.S. This Summer

Breathtaking views, intimate vows, and stunning pictures are just a few of the reasons why couples decide to ditch the mayhem of wedding planning in lieu of eloping. From mountaintop “I do”s to beachside vows, eloping can be the best choice for couples who want to keep it all about their love on their wedding day.

There are lots of reasons to elope — from saving money to avoiding family politics — but once you decide on eloping, one big question remains: Where should you elope?

To find the best places to elope in the U.S., we analyzed 80 vacation cities and rated them on elopement factors like how much sunshine they get, the cost of an officiant, the number of close nearby national parks, and much more. Keep reading to find the best elopement locations in the U.S.

The 10 Best U.S. Cities to Elope In

While you may think eloping means you have to pack your bags and fly out of the country, the U.S. is home to some of the most beautiful places to elope.

Durango, Colorado, is the best elopement location in the U.S. with a score of 84.58 out of 100. Durango features 72 photographers, 36 flower shops, and 13 fine dining restaurants per 100K people — all of the elements you need to create the perfect elopement!

Primus Restaurant, a fine dining restaurant in Durango, features wild game dishes like kangaroo, elk, and bison. Why not add a touch of adventure to your honeymoon?

Napa, California, places second on our list as the best place to elope this summer with a score of 80.32 out of 100. Napa features plenty of photographers (29), flower shops (50), and fine dining restaurants (10) per 100K people.

California is home to 29 state parks, and Napa features 260 days of sunshine, so your chances of a rainy elopement are minimal. With so many beautiful places to elope, Napa Valley Weddings can help plan your elopement and offers unique packages where you can elope in a vineyard, winery garden cave, or another stunning location!

Las Vegas, Nevada, captures the third spot on our list with a score of 77.81 out of 100. Thankfully, Las Vegas has no shortage of chapels for eloping. Plus, it boasts an impressive 294 sunny days per year and experiences minimal rainfall, with only five inches annually. Las Vegas also has reasonable prices for bridal hair ($90) and makeup ($100), as well as officiants ($150). 

Monica Ram Beauty offers both professional hair and makeup artistry in the Las Vegas area and offers the Essential Bridal Package, which includes a mini-facial, makeup application, hairstyle, veil placement, and more.

Boulder, Colorado, places fourth on our list as the best place to elope this summer with a score of 75.88 out of 100. Boulder earns top marks for a relatively inexpensive nightly Airbnb cost of $184 per night. Who wouldn’t want to stay in a cabin, tiny home, or even a treehouse on their wedding night?

Sedona, Arizona, places fifth on our list with a score of 75.25 out of 100. Sedona has plenty of sunshine (278 days per year) and enough photographers (28 per 100K people) for you to find someone to capture the exact moment you say, “I do.”

Where Does Your City Stack Up for Eloping?

Curious if your city has what it takes to be a premier elopement destination? Browse through our table to discover how each city compares so you can start compiling your list of perfect places to elope this summer.

Closing Thoughts

With so many beautiful places to elope across the U.S., it’s no wonder why some couples are ditching the traditional route and eloping in gorgeous state parks or intimate city chapels. According to our results, Durango, Colorado, is the best elopement location in the U.S.; however, there are plenty of other stunning options for a successful elopement.

Are you envisioning an elopement as the next chapter in your love story? Shop our selection of engagement rings and take your relationship to new heights.

Methodology

To determine the best places to elope in the U.S. this summer, we rated 80 popular vacation cities on 10 ranking factors that would be important for a couple who decides to elope.

The factors were weighted based on their importance when it comes to eloping, scaled, and totaled to give each city we researched a score of 0 to 100, with 100 representing perfect conditions. A full list of the ranking factors we used can be found below.