Curious about where everyone is headed for spring break this year? Or perhaps you’re looking for a little inspiration for your own vacation planning?
Last week, Google released a list of U.S. vacation spots seeing an uptick in searches on Google Flights for March and April 2026 (compared to last year). Since I use Google Flights myself, I was intrigued by this year’s most-searched destinations within the United States for potential spring break vacations.
As one would expect, especially with all the winter storms we are experiencing this year, many searches are for warm-weather destinations in Florida and California. However, one cold-weather spot in Colorado certainly caught my attention. All in all, the list has beaches, mountains, relaxed, and night-life heavy spring break spots to choose from.
#1 Hilo, Hawaii
When we think about spring break in Hawaii, the small town of Hilo isn’t the first place to come to mind. In fact, some of you are probably wondering where the heck it is and why it’s suddenly at the top of everyone’s radar.
Hilo, the largest city and, informally, the “capital” of the Big Island, is located on the lesser-visited eastern part of the island. While you’re likely to land in Honolulu first (from the continental U.S.), Hilo International Airport (ITO) puts you minutes from downtown without the cross-island drives or transfers.
So what’s the draw? Travelers choose Hilo to experience a different side of Hawaii. It’s not about the classic island resort experience, but instead about the beauty of the land.
It’s close to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Since it’s on the rainier side of the island, it’s incredibly green, with botanical gardens, bamboo forests, and powerful waterfalls, making it feel wild and untamed.
In town, you’ll find a community-centric destination with farmers’ markets, cultural festivals like the Merrie Monarch hula competition, and a more unhurried pace of life. Hilo is not for travelers looking for a luxury beach vacation, but instead for those interested in dramatic landscapes and authentic Polynesian culture.
#2 Asheville, North Carolina
If you’re as surprised as I am that Asheville beat popular Florida and California destinations, you’re not alone. Especially since temperatures still feel winter-like in March and don’t hit the 70s until late April. But perhaps, being a mountain town (part of the Blue Ridge Mountains), it makes perfect sense.
While Asheville is known for arts, music, food, and breweries, it’s less about any individual attraction and more about the town’s colorful personality. Art spills into the streets with colorful murals and street performers, complemented by museums, galleries, and working studios.
Music has deep roots here with bluegrass bands, folk singers, indie and jam bands, and plenty of outdoor concerts (mostly in summer). Needless to say, you don’t have to hunt for music here. It finds you.
Per capita, Asheville has more breweries than almost anywhere else in the nation, but it’s not about partying; it’s about craft and community. You might see hikers fresh off the trails, couples with their dogs, and friends catching up after work. When it comes to food, it’s not about fine dining, but more about farm-to-table, southern staples, local coffee shops, and food trucks.
Asheville feels relaxed yet lively, outdoorsy, artistic, and eclectically creative.
#3 Sarasota, Florida
This year’s most-searched-for spring break beach vacation is Sarasota, Florida. Sarasota is a bit more refined than your typical Florida hotspots, offering beautiful beaches with a strong arts and culture scene.
Siesta Key Beach, perhaps its most popular beach, is relaxed, family-friendly, and sunset-filled. It’s known for that powdery white sand that stays cool even in the heat of summer, and calm water perfect for kayaking and paddleboarding. Instead of high-energy nightlife, you’re going to find waterfront relaxation.
Downtown runs along Sarasota Bay, where you’ll find marinas and sailboats, walking paths, state parks, and waterfront dining. When it comes to food and drink in Sarasota, think fresh Gulf seafood, casual tiki bars, and upscale waterfront restaurants.
Largely influenced by John Ringling (yes, the famous circus), Sarasota is deeply connected to the arts. The Ringling complex has a European art museum, the historic Ca’ d’Zan mansion, circus history, and beautiful waterfront gardens. Beyond Ringling, there are professional theatre companies (ballet and opera), modern cinemas, outdoor art festivals, and galleries throughout downtown.
In Sarasota, you’re trading in spring break chaos for culture, sophistication, and relaxation.
#4 Long Beach, California
On the West Coast, Long Beach is urban, creative, and waterfront-centric, minus the Hollywood flash. Waterfront lifestyle means biking, rollerblading, and sunset walks. And unlike other Southern California beaches, the water is much calmer and ideal for kayaking and paddleboarding.
You’ve got one of the most visited aquariums in the U.S., whale watching, harbor cruises, and day trips to the upscale Mediterranean-like Catalina Island. It’s got a more “gritty” creative scene with murals, public art, music venues, and night markets.
As for neighborhoods, you’ve got Belmont Shore with casual restaurants and boutique shopping, Naples Island, which feels like a mini Venice, and downtown, where most of the breweries and nightlife can be found.
The food and drink scene in Long Beach is lively but not overly touristy, with taco trucks, food festivals, craft breweries, rooftop bars, and waterfront seafood restaurants.
For spring break, Long Beach is not about mega-resorts or beach parties, but instead Southern California culture without the intensity of Los Angeles.
#5 Panama City/Panama City Beach, Florida
Now, for those of you looking for a high-energy, beach-first, nightlife-heavy spring break, Panama City Beach, Florida, should be right up your alley. While Google’s list names Panama City, much of the spring break action happens across the bay in Panama City Beach, known for its Emerald Coast and spring break rowdiness. Confusing? Yes, but they are within 15 minutes of each other.
With 27 miles of sugar-white shoreline, emerald-green Gulf waters, and wide, flat beaches, volleyball and long beach days with friends are to be expected in Panama City Beach. It’s definitely louder and more party-focused, attracting college-age spring breakers more than families.
Outside of the beach parties in Panama City Beach, vacationers enjoy snorkeling and hiking at St. Andrews State Park, dolphin-watching boat tours, jet skiing, along with pier and deep-sea fishing. The main entertainment and shopping district, Pier Park, offers restaurants and bars, live music, and shopping.
In Pamana City proper, you’ll find a more local and laid back vibe with local boutiques, coffee shops, casual dining, and farmers markets. You can walk along the bay and enjoy sunset views. There are also tons of “trails” like the Oyster Trail, Mural Trail, and Ale Trail.
Overall, Panama City is a more relaxed pace, while Panama City Beach is where you’ll find spring breakers enjoy letting loose with large friend groups in tow.
#6 Punta Gorda, Florida
The third, but not final, Florida spring break destination is the small waterfront community of Punta Gorda in Southwest Florida. This potential spring break spot comes as a surprise due to its quieter, more residential feel.
Punta Gorda sits on one of the state’s largest natural harbors, Charlotte Harbor. The city was built around marinas, waterfront walking paths, and harborfront parks, complemented by sunset views and calm bay waters.
Due to its location along the Gulf Coast, Punta Gorda is a popular spot for fishing, whether it’s deep-sea, inshore, or along the Peace River. Fisherman’s Village is the town’s social spot where you’ll find waterfront restaurants, boutique shopping, live music, and boat rentals.
Outdoor activities favor biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, birdwatching, and ecotours. Punta Gorda is peaceful, nautical, unpretentious, and a low-key getaway that families and couples would likely enjoy.
#7 Santa Ana, California
Bouncing back to the West Coast, Santa Ana, California, is less beach resort and more community-driven. It’s about 10 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, but what it lacks in location, it makes up for in culture.
Santa Ana has a strong reputation for its creative community with art walks, galleries, live music, murals, independent studios, and pop-up art events. The Bowers Museum is a popular attraction featuring an expansive collection of international art, with an inclusion of California art.
It’s also known for its large collection of historic buildings, brick storefronts, Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, and old theatres turned event spaces.
When it comes to food and drink, downtown Santa Ana has become somewhat of a foodie destination. Especially around its 4th Street Market, where you’ll find Latin-inspired cuisine, Asian fusion eateries, a craft cocktail scene, and casual food halls.
While not directly on the beach, if you’re itching to be by the ocean, Newport Beach is only 20 minutes away. You’ll also be in close proximity to Anaheim and Disneyland, making for an easy family day trip, without the high theme park hotel prices.
#8 Fort Myers, Florida
Yet another destination along Florida’s Gulf Coast, Fort Myers, Florida, is another relaxed waterfront community. Am I sensing a theme here?
Popular with families and couples, this calmer coastal escape has island access and military history as it was a U.S. Army post in the 1850s. Outside its military roots, history is showcased in attractions such as the winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, as well as historic buildings and theaters.
Downtown Fort Myers, also known as the River District, is walkable and “lively,” with outdoor cafes, boutique shops, and art galleries. There is a strong boating community, with marinas, yacht clubs, fishing charters, dolphin tours, and even mangrove kayaking.
Fort Myers is also a gateway to the Sanibel and Captiva Islands, known for quieter Gulf beaches, plentiful shelling, and wildlife refuges. In fact, many vacationers stay in Fort Myers but spend their days on the islands.
Fort Myers is relaxed, but not sleepy, and definitely not party-centric like other Florida spring break destinations.
#9 Tampa, Florida
With Tampa coming in ninth, this year’s Florida spring break theme clearly belongs to the Gulf Coast. Tampa is by far the largest and most metropolitan of the previous Gulf beach towns, making it a great option for those who enjoy city life with access to the coast. Where to start…
Tampa’s Riverwalk goes through most of the downtown waterfront with parks, green spaces, museums, restaurants, rooftop bars, and waterfront hotels. If you’re looking for a lively nightlife, this is where you want to be.
While Tampa itself isn’t a traditional beach town, you can easily hit the sand in Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach, both a little over 30 minutes away by car. Bayshore Boulevard, home to one of the longest continuous sidewalks in the country, is great for biking, sunset strolls, and views across the Bay.
Sports fans will appreciate games, spring training sessions, and sports-themed events in the Tampa Bay area, which is home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Tampa Bay Rays.
And finally, Ybor City is one of Tampa’s most unique neighborhoods, known for its Cuban influence with historic cigar factories, Latin restaurants, salsa clubs, and nightlife.
Tampa, Florida, has a lot to do, so tailoring your vacation to be couple-centric or family-oriented shouldn’t be hard to do.
#10 Vail, Colorado
The inclusion of Vail, Colorado, as a highly searched spring break destination proves that not all travelers want hot weather and beach days. In March, Vail is primarily snowy, while April can reach the 50s.
A luxury mountain resort town, Vail has some of the best skiing and alpine scenery in the country. Vail Mountain is the second-largest single mountain ski resort in North America. With its expansive back bowls, groomed front-side runs, snowboarding terrain parks, and a long ski season, it’s a winter sports lover’s delight.
Its European-Inspired villages have cobblestone streets, alpine-style architecture, boutique shopping, and plenty of fire pits. The Après-Ski culture means mountain-view cocktails, wine bars, craft brews, outdoor heated patios, and live music.
Outside of skiing, spring breakers can partake in snowshoeing, scenic gondola rides, take backcountry tours, or enjoy luxury spas.
Vail is polished, adventure-filled, scenic, and perfect for couples, families, and friend groups, so just about everyone!
Alexandrea Sumuel Groves is a Travel Journalist, Yahoo! Creator, MSN Partner, a member of both the Society of Professional Journalists and North American Travel Journalists Association, and the founder of Wander Worthy. She covers vacation destinations, travel news, and tourism trends.
