21 Gilmore Girls Summer Episodes to Rewatch This Season

Quick List of All the Gilmore Girls Summer Episodes in Order

Note:

I personally tracked these episodes over the two years I spent creating my Unofficial Guide to the Books on Gilmore Girls. I took note of events, clothing, nature, and original air dates in categorizing them.

• Season 2
  • Episode 3: “Red Light on Wedding Night”
  • Episode 4: “Road Trip to Harvard”
  • Episode 5: “Nick & Nora/Sid & Nancy”
• Season 3
  • Episode 1: “Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days”
  • Episode 2: “Haunted Leg”
• Season 4
  • Episode 1: “Ballrooms and Biscotti”
  • Episode 2: “The Lorelais’ First Day at Yale”
  • Episode 3: “The Hobbit, the Sofa and Digger Stiles”
  • Episode 4: “Chicken or Beef?”
  • Episode 22: “Raincoats and Recipes”
• Season 5
  • Episode 1: “Say Goodbye to Daisy Miller”
  • Episode 2: “A Messenger, Nothing More”
  • Episode 3: “Written in the Stars”
  • Episode 22: “A House is Not a Home”
• Season 6
  • Episode 1: “The New and Improved Lorelai”
  • Episode 2: “Fight Face”
• Season 7
  • Episode 1: “The Long Morrow”
  • Episode 2: “That’s What You Get, Folks, for Makin’ Whoopee”
  • Episode 3: “Lorelai’s First Cotillion”
  • Episode 22: “Bon Voyage”
• A Year in the Life
  • Episode 3: “Summer”

10 Best Summer Episodes of Gilmore Girls That Highlight the Season

Season 2, Episode 4: “Road Trip to Harvard”

Lorelai and Rory take a road trip to Harvard–Rory’s dream school! Here, Rory truly shows up for her mother, proving their relationship goes deeper than mother and daughter. Memorable moments in this episode include the Cheshire Cat Inn and the library’s massive size. But the real kicker is how pleased Lorelai is to see Rory fitting in at an Ivy League school.

Season 2, Episode 5: “Nick & Nora/Sid & Nancy”

This list wouldn’t be complete without the arrival in Stars Hollow of everyone’s favorite bad boy, Jess Mariano. Staying with his uncle, Luke, Jess clashes with Lorelai, but Rory is intrigued to learn he’s a book lover who steals Howl from her. It’s the first sign of what’s to come between them.

Season 3, Episode 1: “Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days”

Lorelai’s romantic dream about Luke first gives fans of the pair exactly what we craved. Meanwhile, we also get a hint of Rory navigating summer in Washington, D.C., and what her future may look like as an adult. Upon her return home, the First Annual Stars Hollow End of Summer Madness Festival forces her to confront the whole Dean/Jess love triangle.

Season 4, Episode 1: “Ballrooms and Biscotti”

Lorelai and Rory return from travel adventures in Europe with an array of fun souvenirs for (almost) everyone. Taylor’s new soda shop brings a debate over whether Rory should be the Ice Cream Queen (arguably the perfect title for summer). And, as it turns out, the road to Yale is shorter than expected when Rory realizes she only has two days to pack while being forced to watch ballroom dancing videos with her grandmother. Finally, the bad news that Luke married Nicole is shortly followed by the good news that he’s getting divorced.

Season 4, Episode 2: “The Lorelais’ First Day at Yale”

Day One of college finally arrives for our beloved bookworm, Rory! She and Lorelai spend a chaotic day moving her and her books into Yale, with Luke’s help. Meanwhile, Paris shows up (with a life coach) as her surprise roommate. The best part, though? When Rory gets homesick, Lorelai returns to Yale and organizes a takeout food test, scoring her daughter new dorm friends.

Season 4, Episode 22: “Raincoats and Recipes”

The Dragonfly Inn hosts its shakedown weekend before opening, which is exciting in its own right, but what’s even better is that Luke finally confesses his feelings to Lorelai, and they share their first kiss. And while not exactly a fan favorite moment, this is a big one– Rory loses her virginity to Dean.

Season 5, Episode 2: “A Messenger, Nothing More”

Move over, Emily in Paris, because Emily and Rory Gilmore are summering in Europe! It makes up for all the Dean drama that comes when she returns home. Lorelai and Sookie also share a relaxing “girls’ day.” Meanwhile, romance is budding between Lane and Zack, giving fans hope for her future after Dave Rygalski’s departure.

Season 5, Episode 3: “Written in the Stars”

Cue the squeals: Luke and Lorelai go on their first official date and spend the night together! Rory also meets the wealthy Yale student Logan Huntzberger, who just may be a big part of her future.

Season 7, Episode 22: “Bon Voyage”

Just as Rory graduates from college, she lands a job covering a presidential campaign. Before she leaves town on short notice, Luke performs one of the most tearjerking acts of the entire series–organizing a last-minute town-wide farewell/graduation party for Rory, ending with a kiss from Lorelai and one final, emotional stop for our girls at Luke’s diner. I cry each and every time.

A Year in the Life, Episode 3: “Summer”

Taylor opens Stars Hollow: The Musical, featuring annoyingly catchy songs that remain in my head after every rewatch, as Lorelai and Rory read by the pool. Meanwhile, Rory volunteers as editor-in-chief for the Stars Hollow Gazette (where I think Rory would be today) and, after a meaningful visit from Jess, she finally decides to write a book about her life. Lastly, in the category of summer fun we couldn’t have predicted, Lorelai tells Luke she needs to take a Wild adventure (the book, not the movie).