Best Places to Elope in the US
The U.S. is the 4th biggest country on earth and has a great variety of landscapes and ecosystems on its (approximately) 9 million square kilometers. There’s a great chance that you won’t have to go far to elope or get married at an amazing location, but you have to know what to look for. We’ve made choosing a location a bit easier for you by making a list of our favorite places to elope in the US!
Table of Content
Best places to elope in California
Eloping in Death Valley National Park
Always wanted to visit a different planet? Death Valley National park comes pretty close. The park has a diverse environment of salt flats, endless sand dunes, badlands, valleys, canyons, and mountains. It’s perfect for couples who want to hike, offroad, bike, or star gaze on their wedding day. But keep in mind that it is the hottest National Park in the United states. For cooler temperatures it is best to visit from late fall to early spring.
Eloping in Redwoods National Park
Redwood National Park is home to the tallest trees on earth and is perfect for couples who are looking for that fairytale ambience. But old forest growth and ferns are not the only things the park has to offer; the Redwoods also offer a rugged coastline, rivers, and prairies. On top of that, it’s located near the Oregon border, so you could even hop onto the Oregon coast on your wedding day.
Eloping in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is one of the more popular parks in California, and for a good reason! It’s famous for its massive cliffs. El Captain and Half Dome are very popular among the climbing community. Besides climbing, there are plenty of other things to do in Yosemite! Hike towards one of the cliff sides and enjoy the incredible view of el Captain, explore the old growth forest where you’ll find sequoia trees, or check out the waterfalls.
These are some of our favorite places in California, but seriously, the golden state has so many more epic places to explore! Interested in seeing more locations? Click the button below and ready our “How to elope in California” blog!
Best places to elope in Washington State
Eloping in Olympic National Park
Looking for a location where you can literally have it all? From coast, rainforest, raging waterfalls, to mountain layers, Olympic National Park had one of Washington’s most diverse landscapes. Plan a 2-day wedding and explore every corner of this beautiful temperate rainforest!
Check out: Kate & Williams Intimate Fall Wedding in Olympic National Park
Eloping in the North Cascades/Mount baker wilderness
North Cascade National Park and the Mount Baker Wilderness is one of our favorite areas here in the PNW. They are also called the American Alps! And for a good reason! In this area you will find endless mountain layers and rugged mountain peaks as far the eyes can see! On top of that, the fall colors are absolutely breathtaking!
Learn more: How to elope in the North Cascades
Eloping at Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier is one of the most iconic and famous volcanoes in Washington. All year round it has many outdoor activities and beautiful views to offer. Summer and early fall is the best time to visit Mount Rainier because of its lush wildflower fields and beautiful fall foliage. Interested in less crowds? Visit the park in late fall, winter, or early spring. Looking for more variety? Spring and summer are the best times to visit.
Want to know more about planning your elopement at Mount Rainier National park? We wrote the perfect blog to help you start planning your adventurous wedding day at this beautiful park. Click here to read the full blog.
Need more Washington location inspiration?
Best places to elope in Oregon
eloping at The Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Do you love waterfalls as much as we do? If you are looking for some waterfall magic, with over more than 90 waterfalls, the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon is the place to be!
eloping at Painted Hill State Park
One of the seven wonders of Oregon. These painted hills reveal millions of years of history in its colored mountain layers.
Eloping at The Oregon Coast
Isolated beaches, rugged cliffs with breathtaking views, and cute little fishing towns, the Oregon coast is one of our favorite areas to plan an elopement during anytime of the year!
Check out: Leidy & Mario's Oregon Coast Elopement
Best places to elope in Utah
Eloping on Utah Public Lands (BLM)
Utah has one of the most unreal landscapes we have ever witnessed and lots of it is on BLM land. BLM(Bureau of Land management) land is not part of a national park or state park and is less structured and is perfect location for overloading, camping, and other fun activities!
If you are looking for less traveled locations and hidden gems in Utah, BLM land is definitely the way to go. It is perfect for adventurous couples who like to add offroading into their day.
Eloping at Dead horse Point state park
Dead horse Point State Park is one of our favorite state parks in Utah. It’s easily accessible and the canyon views are just INSANE, especially during sunrise and sunset. During these times the canyon walls are colored in red, purple, pink and orange tones. A real treat for the eyes.
Bryce Canyon National Park
This is my (Sanne’s) all time favorite National Park in Utah. Don’t get me wrong, Utah has insanely beautiful locations, but if you are looking for a landscape that looks like its on another planet, Bryce Canyon NP is the place. This park has the largest concentration of Hoodos (irregular columns of rock) found anywhere on earth!
Photo by pexels.com
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef is located in the heart of Red Rock country and is a hidden treasure filled with canyons, cliffs, domes, and bridges. One of our favorite areas in the park is Cathedral Valley. And yes, it’s just as majestic as it sounds!
Best places to elope in Colorado
Eloping in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado
San Juan Mountains are home to some spectacular scenery in Colorado! There are mountain slopes covered in wildflowers, turquoise alpine lakes, and don’t forget the famous Aspen trees which will color the landscape yellow during fall. Besides sweeping views and hiking trails, there is plenty to do in the surrounding mountain towns, Telluride or Silverton. Also, if you own a 4x4 vehicle, this is the place to go!
Best places to elope in Montana
Eloping in Glacier National Park
We have visited many national parks over the years, but Glacier NP has by far been our favorite. Glacier is a paradise for the adventurous who love the view of high mountain peaks, glaciers, alpine lakes, and tons of wildlife. In just 3 days, we came across moose, grizzlies, black bears, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and marmots. Of course, all at a safe distance ;)
Best places to elope in arizona
Eloping in Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National park is one of the oldest and best known national parks in the US. The ravine, created through erosion by the Colorado River, is a staggering 1,500 meters deep. The landscape can be enjoyed at four general locations: the North rim, Grand canyon West, Grand Canyon East, and the South rim. The latter is the most easily accessible and offers plenty of activities and visitor services. The East Rim is located towards Lake Powell and offers fun attractions like Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon.
Photo by pexels.com
Eloping at Lake Powell
I (Sanne) accidentally came across Lake Powell on one of my roadtrips through Arizona and south Utah and I was instantly blown away when I arrived! This reservoir has stunning rock formations along its edge and looks like a cotton candy painting during sunset and sunrise. Besides water activities you can also explore slot canyons and visit the famous Horseshoe Bend.
Photo by pexels.com
Best places to elope in Nevada
Eloping in Valley of Fire State Park
This Nevada State Park got its name from its beautiful red sandstone rock formations. The red color brightens the valley as if it is on fire. A stunning sight, especially at sunset and sunrise. Are you into history? Then you should certainly check out the ancient petroglyphs that were carved into the sandstone. Because it’s located only 1 hour away from Las Vegas, it’s the perfect park for couples who want to combine the city and nature on their wedding day!
Feeling overwhelmed by all the options?
Let us help you find the perfect location for your adventure wedding!
We are adventure junkies who LOVE to help couples like you to get married in a unique and authentic way. 30% of the time we are running wild with outdoorsy couples like yourself and the other 70% is us in the studio crafting fun, adventurous, and intentional elopement experiences. Whether this is somewhere in the rugged Pacific Northwest mountains or in the Utah deserts, we are here to guide you to the most epic spots and help you plan your dream day because we truly believe that you deserve a stress-free, in the moment, “just us” wedding experience, which reflects 100% who you are as a couple!
