17 last-minute vacation rentals across the US still available for end of summer and Labor Day weekend

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• Summer is winding down, but there's still time to plan a final getaway before the warm weather fades.
• With worries of a second COVID-19 wave and possible lockdown on the horizon, many are seeking one last chance to enjoy a vacation in 2020 — but safely.
• Private vacation rentals make it easy to travel while still practicing social distancing.
• We rounded up top-rated vacation rentals across the US on sites such as Airbnb, TurnKey, and Vrbo that are still available on weekends in late August and early September.
• Read more: Are Airbnbs safe? We spoke to experts, a company representative, and an Airbnb host to share everything you should know before booking someone's home

With the novel coronavirus leaving a wake of dashed travel plans, travelers are learning to be more flexible. Figuring out how to make the most of a summer break amid a landscape of closed borders and emerging hotspots takes a little bit of creativity and some compromising.

However, vacation rentals, national parks, and road trips are surfacing as some of the safest ways to travel, making a well-deserved summer vacation still doable.

And when it comes to booking socially-distanced getaways, vacation rentals are considered by experts to be one of the safer ways to travel. Vacation home-booking platforms have also rolled out new policies to ensure hosts are keeping homes safe for guests. So, if you're hoping to make use of your vacation days before the summer is officially over, there are still plenty of vacation rentals with dates available for the end of August through September, including Labor Day Weekend.

Below, we rounded up some of the most highly-rated vacation rentals across platforms like Airbnb, Turnkey, and Vrbo throughout the United States in areas that avoid hotspots where COVID-19 cases are rising.

However, be aware that without a vaccine, there's no guarantee of safety. We always recommend following state guidelines and regulations from organizations like the CDC and WHO, and practice safety measures including wearing a mask, washing your hands, and maintaining social distancing. Additionally, consider your own level of risk, and whether you're traveling from or to a hotspot, so as not to increase the rate of infection.

We selected the best vacation rentals based on the following criteria:

1. Listings are for the entire home or apartment to avoid interaction with owners or other guests, in line with recommended COVID-19 precautions.
2. Each property is priced between $82 to $325 per night to start.
3. All are top-rated listings and have an average rating of 4 or higher.
4. Each property has a variety of exceptional amenities, outstanding scenery, or both.
5. The listings have open availability from late August into September, including weekends, as of the time of publishing.

It's worth noting that cleaning and service fees vary widely from one vacation rental to another, especially post-pandemic, and many homes are also enacting minimum night stays, strict cancellation policies, and some amenities or services may be impacted.

Properties are found across the country, organized by the type of vacation they offer, however, they may be booked soon, so act fast if something catches your eye.

• Mountain rentals
• Beach rentals
• Remote rentals
• Lake rentals