Memorial Day

Name: Memorial Day (United States)
Start: 2027-05-31
End: 2027-05-31
Location: United States

Nationwide public holiday in United States

Next Memorial Day

Monday, 31 May 2027

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Dates

Year	Date	Weekday	Notes
2026	25 May	Monday	Nationwide
2027	31 May	Monday	Nationwide

Where it applies

Everywhere in United States.

Is it a day off?

Yes. It is an official public holiday, so most employees have the day off. Government offices, schools and many businesses are usually closed; shops, restaurants and public transport may keep reduced hours. Check local announcements for opening times.

Make it longer

Sat 29 May – Mon 31 May is a 3-day weekend with no leave needed.

Plan more breaks with the leave planner.

Typical weather in Washington, D.C. around 31 May: high 26°C (79°F), low 16°C (61°F), rain on 46% of days.

Averages for 2015–2024, 3 days either side of the date, for the area around Washington, D.C.. Past averages, not a forecast.

Where to go for Memorial Day

Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May, creating a three-day weekend that many Americans treat as the unofficial start of summer and a time for a first warm-weather trip.

Budget-friendly

Moab · Utah
A base for Arches and Canyonlands national parks, with sandstone arches, canyon viewpoints, mountain biking and river trips. Late May comes before the hottest midsummer weeks, and campgrounds suit a lower-cost trip.
Typically around 31 May: high 27°C (81°F), low 11°C (51°F), rain on 4% of days.
natureoutdoorsattractions

Mid-range

Washington, D.C. · District of Columbia
A fitting place to mark the holiday: the war memorials on the National Mall and Arlington National Cemetery across the river, plus the Smithsonian museums and a varied restaurant scene for the rest of the weekend.
Typically around 31 May: high 26°C (79°F), low 16°C (61°F), rain on 46% of days.
historyattractionsculturecityfood
Charleston · South Carolina
Lowcountry cooking such as shrimp and grits, a walkable historic district of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century houses, boat trips to Fort Sumter and nearby barrier-island beaches make for a well-rounded late-spring weekend.
Typically around 31 May: high 31°C (87°F), low 21°C (70°F), rain on 39% of days.
foodhistoryattractionsbeachcity
Asheville · North Carolina
A mountain town in western North Carolina with hiking in the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, the Biltmore Estate, a large number of craft breweries and a farm-to-table restaurant culture.
Typically around 31 May: high 25°C (77°F), low 14°C (58°F), rain on 49% of days.
mountainsoutdoorsfoodattractions
Traverse City · Michigan
On Grand Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan, close to the sand bluffs of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the wineries of the Old Mission Peninsula, with cherry-orchard country all around.
Typically around 31 May: high 17°C (62°F), low 10°C (49°F), rain on 27% of days.
naturewinefoodbeachoutdoors

Trip ideas chosen by Public Holidays World, not sponsored. “Typically” lines are past averages, not forecasts; when the date is within about 9 days, a forecast is shown too.

About Memorial Day

Memorial Day, on the last Monday of May, honors members of the US armed forces who died in military service. It grew out of the practice of decorating soldiers' graves after the Civil War and was long known as Decoration Day. It is distinct from Veterans Day, which honors all who have served.

Traditions

People visit cemeteries and war memorials and place flags and flowers on graves. Towns hold parades and ceremonies, and the national flag is traditionally flown at half-staff until noon. The long weekend is also commonly seen as the unofficial start of summer, with barbecues and outings.

Editorial summary by Public Holidays World. Dates on this page come from the data source; customs vary by region and family.

Coming up next in United States

Juneteenth National Independence Day

Saturday, 19 June 2027