Thinking about summer vacation? We’ve compiled some of the best places to travel in June. These are the destinations you want to go to when you’re looking for some warmth without extreme heat, plenty of activity options without huge crowds, and summer-friendly events and festivals you don’t want to miss.
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada
- Dinosaur, Colorado
- Mackinac Island, Michigan
- Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Portland, Maine
- Machu Picchu, Peru
- Serengeti, Tanzania
- Dublin, Ireland
- Interlaken, Switzerland
- Amalfi Coast, Italy
- Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
- Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- Great Barrier Reef, Australia
1. Anchorage, Alaska
Get outdoors in the mild temperatures and plenty of daylight with a June vacation to Alaska. It’ll be late enough in the season that most things — parks and roads in particular — will be open after the winter, but the mosquitos won’t be in full force yet. That’s the perfect recipe for an Alaskan adventure.
- Seasonal Highlights: Alaska loves its Summer Solstice celebrations and with good reason. Anchorage sees only about four hours of “nighttime,” although even then, it never gets completely dark. To welcome these long days, both Anchorage and Fairbanks host Summer Solstice or Midnight Sun festivals as well as midnight baseball games. Other cities take advantage of long daylight hours to host musical festivals, beer fests, and more.
- Travel Tips & Requirements: As a U.S. citizen, you don’t need a passport or visa to visit Alaska. If you want to visit one of the state’s epic national parks like Denali or Kenai Fjords, though, you want to make bus or day cruise reservations. June is the start of the busy season for Alaska’s national parks, so don’t delay. You don’t want to miss the wildflower blooms or wildlife.
- Travel Insurance Tips: Alaska is a prime location for adventurous activities, especially in June. If you plan on kayaking, backcountry hiking, or taking other active excursions off the beaten path, make sure you add Adventure Activity coverage to your travel insurance. Some of these activities are excluded from typical coverage, but with the optional add-on benefit, you’ll still be protected in the event of an injury.
2. Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada
Straddling the border between California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is home to a little bit of everything. Whether you’re into nature, sporty activities, entertainment, or great food and drink, you’ll find what you’re looking for at Lake Tahoe in June.
- Seasonal Highlights: June is Tahoe Bike Month, but instead of pedaling, if you’d rather let someone else do the work to get around, check out the Highway 50 Wagon Train, held during the first week of the month. It’s a nostalgic experience of traveling by horse and wagon, just like they did during the Gold Rush (but with a lot less dysentery). At the end, you can dip your toes in the sand along the lake’s beach or stick around for the annual Heavenly Village Brewfest in South Lake Tahoe.
- Travel Tips & Requirements: The lake will still be pretty cold in June — the water comes from mountain snow melt — but that doesn’t stop the vacationers. June is one of the busiest months of the year at Lake Tahoe, so be sure to make reservations several months in advance. Other than that, you should be able to come and go as you please without having to worry about permits.
- Travel Insurance Tips: Because of its summer popularity, Lake Tahoe in June can get expensive. If you want to protect the money you spend for those pricey, nonrefundable reservations in case you have to cancel your trip, consider travel insurance with trip protection.
3. Dinosaur, Colorado
Population: 300, give or take. Dinosaur, Colorado, is hardly a major metropolis, even with street names like Brontosaurus Boulevard, Triceratops Terrace, and Stegosaurus Freeway. It is the perfect home base for visiting Dinosaur National Monument, though. There are few better places than these canyons for hiking, camping, and seeing millions of years’ worth of fossils and petroglyphs. It does get very hot here in the summer, which we think is about the only downside to exploring this area in June.
- Seasonal Highlights: Dinosaur National Monument recently earned its International Dark Sky Park designation. While the temperatures might be high during the day, take advantage of the cooler evening temps and lack of light pollution to do some world-class stargazing. Dawn and dusk are also prime times for catching a glimpse of wildlife like elk, antelope, and so many birds.
- Travel Tips & Requirements: Dinosaur and the national monument are on the Colorado-Utah border, so if you’re flying into the area, Salt Lake City is the closest major airport, about 200 miles away. There are smaller airports that are closer, but finding a flight and then a rental car once you land will be more difficult. The route from Salt Lake will take you through the mountains, including the skiers’ paradise Park City. Be sure to enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
- Travel Insurance Tips: Travel insurance is just as important for road trips as other kinds of travel. Check out Seven Corners Trip Protection USA, which is designed for U.S. residents traveling within the United States. You can customize the plan by adding rental car damage coverage, which includes RV protection.
4. Mackinac Island, Michigan
The best of Mackinac Island happens outdoors, so with daytime temperatures reaching the 70s in June and the hordes of tourists not yet arrived, you’re in for a treat. Other treats come in fudge form, which may or may not be why we also named Mackinac Island one of our favorite girls’ weekend destinations.
- Seasonal Highlights: Whether you’re actively hiking through Mackinac Island State Park or taking the more leisurely route by hiring a horse-drawn carriage, you’ll love being out in the June sunshine. Hiking to Arch Rock earns you an incredible view of Lake Huron. Visit Mackinac Island in early/mid-June for the Lilac Festival. Celebrate everything floral by way of lilac-planting seminars, walking tours, a cornhole tournament, music, and more.
- Travel Tips & Requirements: Mackinac Island is a car-free island. While you can fly or take your own boat to the island, most people take the short ferry from Mackinac City or St. Ignace.
- Travel Insurance Tips: If you do decide to take the girls to Mackinac Island in June, look into travel insurance for groups. Seven Corners makes it a streamlined process, so it’s easy to cover everyone in your crew while also making sure each individual gets the protection she needs.
5. Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
We’ll forgive you if your first thought of Wisconsin involves cheese, but there’s so much more to this Upper Midwest state than dairy. Apostle Island National Lakeshore lies in northwest Wisconsin, not far from the Minnesota border. Its location makes it a great place to visit in June if you’re looking for milder temperatures. And because the area flies under the tourism radar, you won’t be competing with large crowds for space.
- Seasonal Highlights: The Apostle Islands are popular for scuba diving, kayaking, and sailing, especially among the many sea caves on Lake Superior. Book a guided tour to take you out on the water if you’re less experienced. On land, you’ll find old-growth forests full of hiking trails, plenty of campsites, and what’s considered the country’s most complete collection of historic lighthouses.
- Travel Tips & Requirements: The Apostle Islands are made up of 22 islands. If there’s one in particular you want to see, you can take a daily shuttle to your desired destination. Cruise operators also offer full sightseeing outings through the heart of the islands, lasting a few hours. If you aren’t camping on one of the islands, we recommend booking a cabin on the mainland.
- Travel Insurance Tips: If you plan to scuba dive, look into Adventure Activities coverage, which is typically an add-on benefit to traditional travel insurance plans. Pay special attention to exclusions, as this extra coverage will sometimes have restrictions about types of scuba diving (can you go through shipwrecks?) and depth.
6. Charleston, South Carolina
You can eat, visit the beach, or immerse yourself in history to your heart’s content in Charleston. June brings some extra special moments, though. Enjoy slightly cooler temperatures — July and August get HOT — as you explore, whether that’s along the coast or past the iconic, colorful homes of Rainbow Row.
- Seasonal Highlights: The last week of May and into the beginning of June is when you’ll find the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. It’s a music and arts fest, featuring a wide range of genres with performances from youth groups up to the pros. Don’t miss the sand Sculpting Competition on Front Beach at the Isle of Palms. Keep your eyes peeled for farmers markets throughout the month, too. The Mt. Pleasant Famers Market is open every Tuesday, stocked full of local produce and prepared foods, making it a great place to grab a flavorful lunch.
- Travel Tips & Requirements: To avoid the worst of the heat, many tourists will be heading toward the isles or farther north starting in June. While that can mean fewer crowds, don’t delay making reservations during festival times. It will be tougher to find hotels and other accommodations during the Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto festivals, which run at the same time.
- Travel Insurance Tips: June marks the beginning of hurricane season in South Carolina. Brush up on how travel insurance can protect you when inclement weather strikes, covering situations from trip cancellation to emergency evacuations and more.
7. Portland, Maine
June is the month when the Maine temperatures are heating up and rain has yet to move in. And that’s why June is the state's prime festival season. When you aren’t celebrating — food, flowers, music — there's plenty of everyday fun to be had. So grab a lobster roll, enjoy the sunset over Casco Bay, and explore the Victoria Mansion museum and other Victorian-era homes for a taste of history.
- Seasonal Highlights: Portland Wine Week was put on hold for 2025, but if a nice glass of vino is what you’re after, you can still book a spot on a wine sailing cruise. Take a sunsuit outing with a nice pinot, maybe pair a tasting with some fresh oysters out on the bay. There’s plenty of choice. The Bowdoin International Music Festival also starts in late June. There are ticketed shows as well as free student performances and community events.
- Travel Tips & Requirements: Even though it has only 11 gates, Portland International Jetport is Maine’s largest airport. Despite its relatively small size, it’s serviced by most major airlines and makes the city a great jumping off point for exploring the rest of the Maine coast or for making your way to Acadia National Park. Alternatively, you could fly to Boston Logan International Airport and then drive the 100 miles north to Portland.
- Travel Insurance Tips: Sailing adventures can get expensive. If the outfitter doesn’t offer refunds in the event of a trip cancellation, be sure to include your prepaid deposit in your insurable trip cost when you purchase trip protection. By insuring the cost of your sailing (and other prepaid, nonrefundable excursions) you could be reimbursed if you have to cancel your trip for a covered reason.
8. Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu in late June might not be the best place for introverts trying to avoid crowds. However, visiting the Temple of the Sun for the Winter Solstice on June 21 (it’s the southern hemisphere, hence “winter”), is certainly a YOLO moment. Even if you don’t make it for the big day, though, June is a great time to visit this bucket list-worthy destination. It’s the dry season, so you’ll avoid the muddy trails and the worst of the heat and humidity.
- Seasonal Highlights: Get to Machu Picchu by sunrise on June 21. You’ll see the day's first rays shine directly through one of the Temple of the Sun’s windows, perfectly illuminating its sacred stone inside. This only happens once a year, at this exact moment.
- Travel Tips & Requirements: U.S. residents can get a tourist visa for Peru at their port of entry. As is the case with most international travel, you will need a passport with at least six months of validity remaining. Peru highly regulates the number of visitors to Machu Picchu now. You will need to purchase tickets — and get permits for the Inca Trail if you plan to hike — at least six months in advance.
- Travel Insurance Tips: A lot can happen in life between booking a trip and actually taking that trip, especially when you’re making reservations six months to a year in advance. That’s why Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage can be especially helpful. This optional benefit (may not be available in all states) provides additional flexibility to be reimbursed for prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses if you have to cancel your trip.
9. Serengeti, Tanzania
Serengeti National Park is a favorite for safari-goers. It’s one of the best places to see Africa’s Big Five: elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo. See the animals and the incredible savannah landscapes by jeep or hot air balloon. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area just outside the national park is also worth the visit. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world and home to even more wildlife.
- Seasonal Highlights: If you love animals and adventure, you want to visit the Serengeti in June. The Great Migration of wildebeest typically peaks between June and October. Daytime high temperatures are in typically in the 80s and the dry season is just beginning, making this a relatively comfortable season for travel in Tanzania.
- Travel Tips & Requirements: A tourist visa and a passport with at least six months remaining until expiration are required to visit Tanzania. If you are coming from a country where yellow fever is endemic — there are more than 30 countries in Africa designated as such — you will need a yellow fever vaccine for entry, too.
- Travel Insurance Tips: Before departure, know how your travel insurance can help you if you get sick or hurt during your trip. Check out our article about quarantine coverage and what to do when you get sick abroad.
10. Dublin, Ireland
Think of Ireland and most of us think of beer, music, and fantastic people. That’s true year-round. June offers some extra treats, though. Chow down at the Taste of Dublin, take advantage of the city’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature, and although the weather isn’t super warm, you do get long hours of daylight. The sun rises about 5 a.m. and doesn’t set again until almost 10 p.m.
- Seasonal Highlights: The Taste of Dublin takes over Merrion Square for a long weekend in the middle of June. Top restaurants featuring a variety of flavors offer up signature dishes to sample your way through. If a book lover vacation is on your wish list, schedule your trip to coincide with the Dalkey Book Festival or Bloomsday Festival. And don’t forget the Chester Beatty Library.
- Travel Tips & Requirements: No visa is required for U.S. citizens to visit Ireland, as long as you keep your stay under 90 days. Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Ireland.
- Travel Insurance Tips: Ireland has free public healthcare for Medical Card holders, but only residents of Ireland are eligible for a Medical Card. That means that as a tourist or visitor, you will have to pay for medical care if you get sick or hurt during your trip. Instead of paying for treatment out of your own pocket, protect your health and your wallet with a travel medical plan.
11. Interlaken, Switzerland
Tucked between two lakes and at the foot of the mountains, Interlaken is an outdoorsperson’s paradise. Temperatures range from the 50s to the 70s. It’s hard to find better weather for hiking or a bit of water fun. Take the scenic Jungfrau Railway up to Jungfraujoch, while you’re there. Whether you’re in it for the Sphinx Observatory at the top or simply for the panoramic vistas along the way, you’ll be glad you made the trip.
- Seasonal Highlights: Take advantage of the weather and the landscape by planning plenty of hiking and cycling. Earlier in the month and if there’s still enough snow remaining, you might be able to squeeze in some late-season skiing as well. In contrast to Interlaken’s serene outdoors is the Greenfield Festival held every June. It’s a three-day rock festival with headliners like Slipknot.
- Travel Tips & Requirements: Switzerland is part of the Schengen Zone. If you plan to stay in Switzerland and/or another Schengen country for more than 90 days, you will need a visa. Visits of shorter than 90 days, however, require a passport only. To get to Interlaken, we recommend flying into Zurich and then taking the train the rest of the way. Swiss rail journeys rarely disappoint.
- Travel Insurance Tips: If you do need a Schengen Visa, you’re going to need travel insurance too. International medical coverage is a visa requirement. Check out our Schengen guide to learn more about the requirements and costs of obtaining a visa.
12. Amalfi Coast, Italy
There’s a fine line between warm beach weather and “oh my gosh why is it sooooo hot” weather. The Amalfi Coast in June strikes that balance. And even if the water temperature isn’t exactly to your liking, there are plenty of incredible cities to explore, from Sorento to Positano to Pompeii.
- Seasonal Highlights: Make the most of those hot-but-not-too-hot temperatures by giving yourself some beach time. You’ll be on Italy’s west coast (at the ankle of the “boot”), so it’s a prime location for sunbathing on the rocks or booking a boat tour. About an hour from Amalfi is Pompeii, the Roman city buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Normally a highly popular destination for vacationers, this region is still a bit quiet in early June. The earlier you get here, the fewer crowds you’ll encounter.
- Travel Tips & Requirements: Italy is part of the Schengen Area. You will only need a visa if you plan to stay for more than 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least three months after your planned departure from the Schengen Area.
- Travel Insurance Tips: Italy has been one of the most popular international destinations for Seven Corners customers over the last few years. Be sure to get all the info you need when it comes to travel insurance for Italy.
13. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Croatia, with its long stretches of coastline along the Adriatic Sea, has developed a bit of a reputation among sailing and yacht aficionados. If you’re going to be in the country in June, the temperatures and ample sunshine absolutely mean you should get on board. But don’t snooze on the inland Plitvice Lakes National Park, which is the largest and oldest national park in the country.
Don’t forget to check out our guide to other national parks outside the U.S., too.
- Seasonal Highlights: Plitvice Lakes National Park is primarily forest, but it’s the 16 lakes that draw the most attention and visitors. And where there are mountains and lakes, you also get waterfalls. Lots of them. Visiting in June means you get warmer temperatures (55-75 degrees generally) with relatively low rainfall. Conditions for hiking amongst the lakes and cascades should be ideal. Be aware, though, that entrance to the parks can be more expensive in June than in the offseason.
- Travel Tips & Requirements: U.S. citizens do not need a visa to visit Croatia as a tourist. You must have a passport with at least three months of validity remaining from your planned date of departure from Croatia. To visit Plitvice Lakes National Park, you’ll need to purchase entrance tickets online at least one day before visiting.
- Travel Insurance Tips: Hiking near waterfalls is generally safe. Just watch for slick ground. If you do slip and get injured while walking in the park, you’ll want travel medical insurance to cover the cost of care. National healthcare in Croatia is not free.
14. Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Half of Indonesia’s tourists go to Bali, but Indonesia has more than 13,000 islands. So this June, be a little different and try Yogyakarta in Java instead. June is on the shoulder of the wet and dry seasons, and the dry season is when you want to visit most. Temperatures will generally be in the 80s and humid, no matter the rainfall. But visiting in June means you beat the worst of the heat, all the better to explore places like the Borobudur Temple.
- Seasonal Highlights: Lonely Planet compares Borobudur Temple to Machu Picchu or Cambodia’s Angkor Wat in terms of cultural significance. The temple, just 45 minutes from Yogyakarta, is the world’s largest Buddhist structure. It features hundreds of Buddha statues and relief panels telling religious and cultural stories. The relatively dry weather and blue skies of June makes it even easier to see them in all their glory. If you aren’t catching the sunrise at Borobudur Temple, make a morning visit to the Kraton, which doubles as the Sultan of Yogyakarta’s palace and a living museum of Javanese culture.
- Travel Tips & Requirements: U.S. citizens must get a visa or Visa on Arrival for Indonesia. Your passport must also have at least six months of validity beyond your arrival date in the country and a minimum of two blank pages (unlike many countries that only require one blank page). Learn more about the visa requirements for Southeast Asia, including Indonesia.
- Travel Insurance Tips: At the time of writing (March 2025), the U.S. State Department had issued a Level 2 travel warning for Indonesia, in part because of volcanic eruptions. Many travel insurance plans cover trip cancellation and emergency evacuations for natural disasters. When considering which plan to buy, look at the covered reasons listed in the plan document or talk to a licensed agent so you understand how natural disasters are covered.
15. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Yes, you want to see this ocean paradise in the dry season. And that means visiting the Great Barrier Reef in June, when the water is calm and clear, and the skies are ideal for a sightseeing tour, which is an incredible alternative to snorkeling. Because it is the beginning of peak season, make reservations early and be prepared to pay premium prices for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
- Seasonal Highlights: Diving is the only way to get up close and personal with the thousands of coral reefs and aquatic wildlife inhabiting the living ecosystem. In June, you’ll find high visibility underwater and avoid the worst of the box jellyfish, which are more common in the wet — also known as stinger — season. On land, check out Cairns Ecofiesta at the end of the month. Celebrate sustainability with music and other performances, local food and drink, and markets featuring eco-friendly products.
- Travel Tips & Requirements: U.S. citizens must have a visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) to enter Australia. Your passport must also be valid at the time of entry. Although the Queensland government regulates activities to protect the Great Barrier Reef, you do not need a permit to visit as long as you’re sticking to typical tourist and low-impact activities.
- Travel Insurance Tips: Especially for U.S. residents, trips to Australia tend to be lengthy. Like we told USA TODAY, if you’re going to spend all that time on an airplane to get there, you’re probably not going to make a return trip the next weekend. And the longer you’re away from home, the higher the odds something could go wrong. That’s where travel insurance can help; choose coverage that protects you against loss in a variety of situations, no matter how or when trip happens.
Make the Most of Your June Getaway with Travel Insurance
Incredible weather and seasonal events are just two ways that make travel to these destinations perfect in June. That doesn’t mean that everything will always be sunshine and rainbows (sad, but true). You still need to plan thoughtfully and prepare for the unexpected.
Research weather conditions, especially if you’ll be traveling from lake valleys to mountain elevations on the same trip, book reservations well in advance, and make sure you have a good packing list. And of course, find the best travel insurance for your June adventure. Seven Corners offers a range of coverage for every trip and every budget. Get a quick quote today or talk to a licensed agent to find the right fit.
