Top 10 U.S. Towns for Year-End Bargain Hunters

Woodbury, Minnesota, is my secret weapon for tackling year-end shopping like a pro (when out visiting family). Between Woodbury Lakes Shopping Center and the nearby Twin Cities Premium Outlets, it’s a jackpot of deals that fits perfectly into my schedule. A few years back, I snagged a Coach tote for $130 (down from $350), and a friend raved about scoring Nike running shoes for $70—half off! The best part? It’s all in one spot, so you can race from high-end steals to practical finds without skipping a beat.

The variety here is unbeatable, and the deals are often too good to pass up. A friend once cleaned up at the Michael Kors outlet, walking away with a sleek wallet for $50—almost 70% off. Meanwhile, the Bath & Body Works semi-annual sale is legendary for candles and lotions under $10. Even Old Navy pulls through with winter coats and accessories for under $20. For a working mom, it’s a dream.

Wrentham, Massachusetts, is legendary among my friends for its unbeatable post-Christmas deals. The Wrentham Village Premium Outlets boast over 170 stores, making it a must-visit for serious bargain hunters. One friend scored a Calvin Klein winter coat for $80—originally priced at $300—and another grabbed a pair of Polo Ralph Lauren chinos for $40, marked down from $120. It’s the kind of place where you go in looking for one thing and leave with bags full of incredible finds you didn’t know you needed.

The variety at Wrentham makes it a shopping paradise. A friend who’s a Gap fanatic once walked out with a pile of kids’ clothes for under $100 during their clearance blowout, with some items as low as $5. The energy is electric during these sales, but even with the buzz, the layout makes it easy to zip from store to store. If you’re in Massachusetts, Wrentham’s the place to turn post-holiday shopping into an all-out treasure hunt.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, kept popping up on my social media feeds during one holiday season, and the sales I saw were incredible. The posts from shoppers at the Tanger Outlets were full of amazing finds, like Columbia Sportswear jackets for as low as $50—marked down from $150—and Tommy Hilfiger sweaters for under $30. The Fossil store was another standout, with shoppers sharing photos of watches and handbags discounted by up to 70%.

The sheer variety of deals caught my eye. One video showed a shopper walking out of Tanger with bags full of clearance finds from Under Armour and Nike, boasting prices that seemed too good to be true. Another reel featured someone loading up on holiday décor at an unbeatable price from one of the local home goods stores. Myrtle Beach’s outlets and malls know how to do end-of-year sales right, making it a spot I’ve bookmarked for a future shopping trip.

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One Christmas, I found myself in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and discovered it was a dream for year-end shopping. Between the Tanger Outlets and Rockvale Outlets, it felt like every store I could want was at my fingertips. I remember walking into the Adidas outlet and grabbing sneakers for $40—originally $100—and finding a cozy sweater at J.Crew for just $25. The deals were everywhere, and the festive atmosphere only made it more exciting.

Lancaster’s outlets had something for everyone on my list. The markdowns were so good, I ended up treating myself to a pair of jeans at Levi’s for $30, down from $80. The convenience of having so many stores in one place made it easy to spend more time shopping than traveling, while still finding time to explore Lancaster’s charm. If you’re in Pennsylvania during the holidays, make room in your schedule (and your trunk) for a stop here.

Sevierville, Tennessee, has become a Smoky Mountains must-visit for a couple of my friends, thanks to the incredible bargains they’ve found at the Tanger Outlets. One friend couldn’t stop talking about the time they hit an Old Navy clearance sale and walked away with enough kids’ clothes for the entire winter—two coats, three pairs of jeans, and a stack of sweaters—for under $100. Another friend managed to snag a Levi’s BOGO deal on jeans, getting two pairs for just $60.

The outlet’s variety is a big draw, with something for everyone in their family. One friend who’s a bit of a shoe enthusiast scored a pair of Timberlands for $75—half off the usual price—and still had enough left in the budget to grab a handbag at Kate Spade during a 70%-off holiday sale. The Smoky Mountains may be the main attraction, but if you know someone heading to Sevierville, tell them to save room in their suitcase for all the deals they’re bound to bring back.

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I never made it to Grove City, Pennsylvania, during my trip one holiday season (mentioned earlier on this list), but it’s been hard to ignore the glowing posts about the Grove City Premium Outlets on social media. The tax-free shopping on clothes and shoes is already a huge draw, but what stood out were the end-of-year deals people were sharing on social media. One feed showed a shopper grabbing a pair of Nike Air Max sneakers for just $60, marked down from $150, while another showed off a Guess leather jacket they scored for $80—less than half its original price.

The variety of stores seems to be a big hit, too. Ann Taylor clearance racks were a recurring theme, with multiple posts showcasing work-ready blouses for under $20. Another video highlighted the Levi’s store, where someone stocked up on jeans during a buy-one-get-one-50%-off sale. From the posts, it looks like Grove City is a hotspot for serious savings, and the tax-free perks only sweeten the deals. It’s officially on my radar for the next time I’m in Pennsylvania—if only to see what all the buzz is about firsthand.

Kittery, Maine, has always been one of my favorite spots for post-holiday shopping. Known as the “Gateway to Maine,” it’s packed with outlet stores that make it impossible to leave empty-handed. I still remember the time I scored a classic L.L. Bean flannel for just $30—down from $70. The Kittery Trading Post was buzzing with deals, and I even managed to grab a pair of L.L. Bean boots at a discount, something that rarely happens.

The variety of outlets in Kittery is what keeps me coming back. One year, I walked into Calvin Klein and found a winter coat for $80 that had been originally priced at $250. The post-holiday markdowns across the board make it the perfect place to stock up on essentials and snag gifts for next year—all while enjoying the charm of coastal Maine.

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Gilroy, California, may be famous for garlic, but my friends swear by its outlet shopping. The Gilroy Premium Outlets are massive, offering some of the best year-end deals I’ve heard about. One friend came back raving about the Kate Spade store, where they picked up a handbag for $90, down from $300—a total steal. Another couldn’t believe their luck at North Face, grabbing a high-performance jacket for just $100, originally priced at $250.

The variety and discounts make Gilroy a magnet for serious shoppers. In that same shopping extravaganza, they saw Coach wallets for under $50 and a buy-one-get-one deal at Adidas. Between the deals and the expansive selection, Gilroy is a shopper’s dream. If you’re in California, it’s worth the trip—not just for the garlic, but for the savings you’ll take home.

Destin, Florida, is a shopping paradise I’ll never forget, thanks to the Silver Sands Premium Outlets, one of the largest outlet malls in the country. I still remember the thrill of walking into Saks OFF 5th and spotting a designer dress marked down to $80 from $300—an absolute steal. Tory Burch was another highlight, where I picked up a pair of sandals for $100 that were originally priced at $250.

The variety of deals at Silver Sands is astounding. One stop at Banana Republic had me stocking up on work essentials during their clearance event. Even stores like Under Armour had unbeatable markdowns—$20 for athletic shirts that would normally cost twice as much. With its incredible selection and deep discounts, Destin makes it easy to shop for everyone (and still leave room for a little something for yourself). The sunshine and beautiful beaches are just a bonus to a day of snagging amazing deals.

San Marcos, Texas, caught my attention on social media as one of the ultimate destinations for luxury outlet shopping. I’ve seen countless posts about the incredible deals people snag at the San Marcos Premium Outlets and the nearby Tanger Outlets, which together make up a shopping mecca. One reel showed someone walking out of Prada with a handbag they scored for $400—down from $1,200. Another shopper posted about finding Gucci sneakers for $250, which usually retail for over $700.

The sales at Tory Burch also seem to draw crowds, with markdowns of up to 70% on everything from handbags to sandals. I’ve spotted photos of friends-of-friends bragging about their haul, including a pair of heels they picked up for $100, originally $300. It’s not just luxury, either—another post highlighted everyday steals from stores like Nike and Gap, where clearance events had items going for under $20. San Marcos feels like the kind of place where you could revamp your entire wardrobe while still staying under budget, and it’s no wonder it’s a hotspot for shoppers from all over Texas.

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