Are you planning a destination elopement in the U.S.? If so, you’ve come to the perfect place for tons of inspiration. As an adventure elopement photographer, I love exploring the country with my couples and helping you craft an elopement that you will never forget. From breathtaking mountain peaks to expansive deserts, tropical islands and stunning coastlines, this guide is the key to finding the perfect destination for an unforgettable adventure on your special day.
Sand Dunes | Destination Elopement Locations
Sand dunes provide absolutely gorgeous rolling hills of sand that make for a beautiful backdrop and tons of fun activities. Keep in mind it is for an adventurous spirit— if we get in high winds the sand will be coming out of your boots for days, and desert landscapes reach hot and dry temperatures most of the year! If you’re up for the adventure, the sand dunes could be a beautiful destination elopement location for you.
White Sands National Park is one of the first locations I would recommend checking out if you want sand dunes as your elopement destination because of how incredibly unique it is. The park is located in New Mexico and encompasses about 275 square miles of desert. The animals that inhabit the landscape have evolved to show a white skin that blends into in the sand color, which is so cool! You can drive on the dunes, go hiking, sledding and more. You are immersed in miles of pure white sand that looks like snow in the desert, and it is unreal! I have an entire detailed guide on How to Elope in White Sands that you can see here.
The Great Sand Dunes offer a bit more diversity in landscape compared to White Sands. Located in Southern Colorado (about 4 hours from Denver), these dunes have tons of trails that lead to forests, wetlands, and alpine lakes. One of the most impressive being Medano Lake, which would be a beautiful site to see after your destination elopement. Here, you could elope on the sand dunes reach up to 750 ft, with a stunning view of the Colorado mountains, and you definitely can’t get that just anywhere.
GREAT LAKES
If you’re wanting a midwest adventure for your elopement, I’ve got you covered. There are beautiful sand dunes and pretty beaches surrounding the Great Lakes; Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. All of these massive freshwater lakes would make for a beautiful destination for your elopement.
Deserts | Destination Elopement Locations
Not quite sand dunes, but definitely on the dry side. If having sand in your boots for weeks doesn’t quite fit your elopement vision, that’s okay! Here are my favorite desert elopement locations that might be a little more up your alley.
During the summertime, Death Valley is one of the hottest places on the earth (hence, the name). It’s located in eastern California in the northern Mojave Desert. One of the reasons why it’s one of my favorite destination elopement locations is because of how secluded it is. Chances are, you might even get total privacy if you elope here, but avoid doing it in the summer!
Saguaro National Park is honestly one of my favorite national parks that my couples choose to elope at. In fact, I have an entire guide on How to Elope in Saguaro National Park here! In short, this national park is located in southern Arizona, on either side of the city of Tucson. The eastern section of the park is larger and more mountainous, and the western section is a bit lower in elevation and has a denser saguaro forest. The eastern side also has a lot more hiking trails to choose from, and the only side where backpacking is allowed. In my opinion, this NP is a treasure of the Arizona desert.
Joshua Tree National Park has gained quite a bit of traction during the recent years, and for good reason. Joshua Tree is by one of the best adventure elopement locations in southern California, where the Mojave and Colorado Desertcome together. They have tons of incredible hiking trails in the California Desert, so you’ll have tons to choose from if you elope here. There are lots of secluded Airbnb’s both around and within the park for you and your guests to stay at for convenience. And if you didn’t know, Joshua Tree is right near Palm Springs, a beautiful california honeymoon destination.
If you want a unique and editorial feel to your destination elopement, the Bonneville Salt Flats might be the perfect elopement destination for you. They’re located in Northwestern Utah and are the largest of many salt flats west of the Great Salt Lake. When it’s completely dry (usually through the months of July – October) you can even drive on the Salt Flats for some pretty cool photos!
Mesa Verde National Park is home to thousands of amazing archaeological sites. Not only that, but it’s known for impressively well-preserved cliff dwellings that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. This national park is located in Southwest Colorado and would be a beautiful destination elopement location in the Centennial State. If you’re a bit of a history nerd like myself, this could be an epic destination to explore on your elopement day!
Red Rocks | Destination Elopement Locations
If you’ve ever seen red rocks in person, it might have been the one of the first locations that popped into your head for a destination elopement. There are fewer sites greater than red rocks, so here are a few of my favorite specific locations where you can experience them!
Sedona is known as Arizona’s desert town, making it one of the best destination elopement locations. This town is perfect if you want the best red rock views, but you still want the accessibility and convenience of a city. It’s also home to Red Rock State Park, which is an amazing park for elopements as well! I have a detailed guide on How to Elope in Sedona that you can view here.
In Moab, there are breathtaking red rock cliffs on both sides of the valley that would make for a perfect elopement backdrop. That paired with the rugged desert terrain, you’ve got the adventurous elopement location of your dreams! Arches and Canyonlands National Parks surround Moab, giving you plenty of options for an epic National Park elopement, or you can choose an Airbnb wedding in Moab, or a stunning local venue. If you’re looking for more Utah elopement destinations, you can check out this blog!
Valley of Fire is a 46,000 acre park located in Nevada, about an hour away from Las Vegas. One of the main highlights of this park is the Aztec Sandstone formed from shifting sand dunes over 150 million years ago. You can experience trails, vistas, hikes, and of course red & pink rock formation.
Last on the list of red rock destination elopement locations is the infamous Lake Powell. Also located in Utah, it’s home to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which would be a great elopement location in itself! You can even rent a houseboat for you and your elopement guests if you want. How cool would that be?!
Mountains | Destination Elopement Locations
Stunning views of snow capped mountains and endless glacial lakes. Keep in mind that these are very seasonal locations and a lot of closures happen between the end of September – May. So you’ll want to plan for a spring or summer elopement!
If you want to elope in the Colorado Mountains, RMNP is probably where you’ll want to go. There are so many beautiful sites to see in this national park, it would almost be a crime not to elope here. It’s located in Northern Colorado, about 55 miles northwest of Denver. RMNP is also home to Colorado’s highest mountain peak, Mount Elbert. If you want more info on how to elope here, you can check out this blog post!
CENTRAL/WESTERN COLORADO
Western Colorado has some pretty impressive mountain ranges as well, so this region is a great alternative to Rocky Mountain. Some of the locations worth checking out are Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Aspen, and Vail for your destination elopement!
I couldn’t do a section on mountainous elopement locations without mentioning Yosemite National Park. Located in Northern California’s Sierra Nevadas, Yosemite is a perfect destination elopement location. The land includes towering sequoia trees, stunning waterfalls, and mountain views and valley overlooks.
If 1,583 square miles of wilderness in Montana’s Rocky Mountains sounds like a dream to you, then I recommend eloping at Glacier National Park. There are endless glacier-carves peaks and valleys running right along the Canadian border that are sure to blow your socks off. Not only that, but there are over 700 miles of hiking trails, with few of them leading to the infamous Hidden Lake.
Grand Tetons is a national park location in Northwest Wyoming and is home to the breathtaking Teton mountain range. This is a very popular summer destination for tourists, so you may want to consider eloping in the offseason if privacy is one of your top concerns. It’s nearby Jackson Hole, WY, which is such a fun town to explore in the days surrounding your elopement! Yellowstone is also pretty close to the Grand Tetons, so that would be a super fun post-elopement site to see!
If you’re looking for a bigger trip and want to explore a more remote location, Denali is one of the least visited, but most loved National Parks. Mt. Denali, North America’s highest peak, resides in Denali National Park and encompasses 6 million acres of Alaska’s interior wilderness. There’s tons of wildlife located in this NP, as well as glaciers, forests, and sites you’ll never forget.
Beaches | Destination Elopement Locations
Who wouldn’t love a romantic, sunset or sunrise beach elopement? For Big Sur and Hawaii, weather can be beautiful year-round for an off-season elopement, giving you a higher chance for less busting tourists and better travel deals. If you want a moodier feel, consider the Oregon Coast for a gorgeous elopement with higher chance of fog, sprinkles of rain and dramatic effect.
Big Sur is in my opinion, one of California’s top destination elopement locations. This state park is in Monterey County and goes a little ways up and down the central coast. One of the best things about Big Sur is the versatility in landscape. You can have a beautiful sunset beach ceremony, and the next day explore the state park’s forests, rivers, and trails. There are lots of elopement venues near and inside the park, or you can get married at a pre-approved ceremony location.
Do I even need to give a reason to elope in Hawaii? There are so many beautiful, tropical locations and islands near Hawaii, which is why it’s on the list of my favorite destination elopement locations.
I spent some time in Oregon last fall, and it was gorgeous with the changing leaves! Keep in mind though, that the rain will be unavoidable no matter what. If you’re looking for the classic moody PNW vibes for your elopement, then I definitely recommend checking out the Oregon Coast. Locations like Natural Bridges Cove, Oswald W. State Park, and Ecola State Park are some of my favorite elopement spots on the coast!
How to Choose Where to Elope
That’s the overview list of my favorite destination elopement locations! … Phew, okay that was a lot. If this list is overwhelming, no worries! I have a guide on How to Choose an Elopement Location that might help you narrow down all of your ideas here. And even better, each of my destination elopement packages includes custom elopement location suggestions and research, as well as planning assistance! That means, I will help you pick the right location (down to the specific trail!) based on the elopement experience you envision.
Starting to plan your own epic destination elopement?
If you’re still looking for the perfect photographer for your elopement, I would love to chat with you! I’m McKenna, and along with photography, I also help you find the perfect location to match the wedding of your dreams and plan it with you.
To get in touch with me, you can fill out my contact form and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!
