- SAMANTHA BROWN – PLACES TO LOVE
If you love to travel, but dislike crowds, I have good news for you: Shoulder season is here. No, that doesn’t mean it’s time for tank tops—I’m talking about the in-between travel season.
Summer vacation marks the start of travel’s busy season. If you have the flexibility, zero in on time between spring break and Memorial Day weekend; and the time after Labor Day, but before peak fall colors. With fewer tourists to compete with, you’ll find great deals, shorter lines, fewer crowds, all paired with spectacular weather.
Here’s a few trips to consider during shoulder season.
Disney World
Let’s be honest: Disney and Budget Vacation rarely find themselves in the same sentence. However, the weeks following back-to-school tend to be some of the least busy at this iconic vacation spot. You’ll find great hotel deals, score better pricing at the parks, and not want to gouge out your eyes waiting in line for rides. If you can go on a Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday, you’ll save even more time and money. It’s worth noting that if you stay on property, you get complimentary parking, transportation to the parks, and access to Magic Hours—meaning you may arrive at the park an hour before it opens, or on some evenings, up to three hours after close. Off-peak travel also means great deals on dining packages. Time to dust off your mouse ears, friends!
Favorite places to stay: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (wake up to giraffes and zebras outside your balcony… need I say more?); Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (nice and more moderately priced rooms. However, there’s a convention center here, so you may want to double-check their event calendar before booking).
Busy National Parks
TIPS
Shoulder Season: My Favorite Time of Year to Travel
- September 5, 2025
If you love to travel, but dislike crowds, I have good news for you: Shoulder season is here. No, that doesn’t mean it’s time for tank tops—I’m talking about the in-between travel season.
Summer vacation marks the start of travel’s busy season. If you have the flexibility, zero in on time between spring break and Memorial Day weekend; and the time after Labor Day, but before peak fall colors. With fewer tourists to compete with, you’ll find great deals, shorter lines, fewer crowds, all paired with spectacular weather.
Here’s a few trips to consider during shoulder season.
Disney World
Let’s be honest: Disney and Budget Vacation rarely find themselves in the same sentence. However, the weeks following back-to-school tend to be some of the least busy at this iconic vacation spot. You’ll find great hotel deals, score better pricing at the parks, and not want to gouge out your eyes waiting in line for rides. If you can go on a Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday, you’ll save even more time and money. It’s worth noting that if you stay on property, you get complimentary parking, transportation to the parks, and access to Magic Hours—meaning you may arrive at the park an hour before it opens, or on some evenings, up to three hours after close. Off-peak travel also means great deals on dining packages. Time to dust off your mouse ears, friends!
Favorite places to stay: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (wake up to giraffes and zebras outside your balcony… need I say more?); Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (nice and more moderately priced rooms. However, there’s a convention center here, so you may want to double-check their event calendar before booking).
Busy National Parks
If you like to explore nature with thousands of people, go to the national parks between Memorial Day and Labor Day. If you crave a little more solitude, book your trip in September. You’ll slip in after kids go back to school, but before the fall colors tourists hit. In most parks, weather tends to still be warm, but not oppressively so, and everything from rental cars to accommodations tend to put less pressure on the pocketbook.
A few parks to consider: Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, Glacier, Zion, and Acadia.
Beach Vacations
