11 fresh ideas for spring break in 2026

While there's still a chill in the air, February is here, and spring feels close enough to start thinking seriously about spring break. But if you've reached a stage where you're done with partying at Panama City Beach, and over going crazy in Cancún, where should you go to celebrate spring break in 2026? 

After the long nights and gray days of mid-winter, the wonderful tradition of escaping the grind to somewhere warm, sunny and fun is a great way to shake off those winter blues. But spring break can mean so much more than taking the classic trip to Florida – a place I adore, but it can feel a little too popular in spring.

Instead, read on for a range of destinations that you might not have thought of for your annual March/April getaway. The following list of the best spring break destinations for 2026 is big on fun – but without the crowds of raucous college party-goers.

What do I need to plan for spring break?

Whether you're a college student, a busy parent or a solo traveler looking for adventure, you'll need to plan ahead for spring break. This popular vacation window coincides with school holidays in dozens of countries, pushing up prices for accommodations and demand for plane seats. If you're hoping to travel somewhere you can't drive to, don't delay when it comes to making reservations. 

If you're heading away for spring break, be a little more cautious than usual at this busy time. With Easter celebrations in the mix as well as spring break parties, drunk driving spikes, and people don't always think about risks, such as strong currents at the beach. 

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1. Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Best spring break for desert sunsets

Unless you really like the desert sun, Phoenix is perhaps best skipped in the sizzling summer months, but late winter and early spring in the Arizona desert? Now we’re talking! Besides the sunny (but not too hot) spring weather, Phoenix offers plenty of ways to unwind, whether your idea of spring break means getting a vitamin D dose while playing outdoors or soaking it up along with a few cocktails at the nearest patio bar.

While in town, admire the array of succulents, cacti and other native plants at the Desert Botanical Garden. In downtown Phoenix, stroll the Roosevelt Row Arts District, with stops at galleries and record stores. After you’ve caught one of Phoenix’s technicolored desert sunsets, hole up at late-night haunts with great rooftop patios – try the Grapevine for karaoke, or Valley Bar and Crescent Ballroom for cocktails, live music, DJ sets and arty community parties.

2. Culebra and Vieques, Puerto Rico

Best spring break for beach lovers

If you spend spring break just off the coast of pearl-like Puerto Rico, you can look forward to white sands, sparkling blue seas, slow living, and not an all-inclusive resort in sight. Tiny Culebra is home to the extraordinary expanse of Playa Flamenco, one of the best beaches in the entire Caribbean. At Playa Carlos Rosario, snorkeling with sea turtles is an experience you’ll never forget.

Larger and skinnier than Culebra, yet just as languid, the nearby island of Vieques has myriad beaches to frolic on. Its crown jewel is Bahía Mosquito, an astonishing bioluminescent bay. Venture out on an after-dark kayak trip to witness one of nature’s best magic shows, as microscopic organisms radiate in the dark below the surface, making the water glow.

3. Hawai‘i Island, Hawai‘i, USA

Best spring break for admiring the forces of nature

Hawai‘i’s largest island offers huge pleasures all year long. Yet March marks the end of the high season in this tropical state, and budget travelers can usually find (relative) discounts for getaways to Hawai‘i Island (Big Island), the largest island in the archipelago. 

Variety is the big draw of this legendary island escape. Trek up toward snow-capped Mauna Kea, wander through a verdant Kona coffee farm and watch the island get just a little bit bigger at one of the longest-running volcanic eruptions anywhere in the world. Hawai‘i delivers much more than a mere beach getaway!

4. Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA

Best spring break for wild, empty spaces

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Deep in the heart of Texas, the skies don’t get wider and the nights starrier than in Big Bend National Park, the star attraction of the wide-open western part of the state. And in early spring, depending on the year’s rainfall, another layer of color sets in as thousands of wildflowers make the desert bloom.

Lovers of the outdoors will find endless opportunities for active adventures in the park’s 1250 sq miles of scrubland and low mountains – from hiking and camping to (very) scenic drives. To best experience the park’s grandeur, go paddling on the Rio Grande through Santa Elena Canyon, where rugged limestone cliffs plunge to the narrow water below – a thrilling cathedral of nature.

5. Los Angeles, California, USA

Best spring break for urban vibes

Yes, the wildfires of January 2025 were devastating, but Los Angeles is getting on with the business of rebuilding the areas affected, and away from the worst-hit sections of Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Pasadena, the city continues to enchant visitors. And spring is quite possibly LA's most charming season, with moderate temperatures, smaller crowds and plenty on the events calendar.

Sun-kissed California girls and boys frolic in the surf, while colorful characters keep it real on the boardwalk of Venice Beach. For a more low-key surf scene, head further south to Hermosa and Manhattan Beach. You'll find a host of local organizations that welcome donations to help with the city's recovery, but just coming here and spending your holiday money will support LA businesses.

6. Asheville, North Carolina, USA

Best spring break for Smoky Mountain magic

Southern charm, a creative local community and plenty of outdoor activities make Asheville one of the USA’s most appealing places to visit – for spring break and beyond. This small city in the Appalachian foothills has the highest concentration of breweries of any place in the country, while its award-winning food scene covers everything from Southern classics to mouthwatering Spanish tapas. Coming here will also help the city's ongoing recovery after Hurricane Helene hit the area in 2024.

While in Asheville, it’s hard to resist a visit to the largest mansion in the US, the Biltmore Estate. Active spring breakers have plenty to seek out, too – you’re at the threshold of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the entire country. There are endless miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and spotting wildlife such as black bears, elk and red-bellied woodpeckers, while the French Broad River offers kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.

7. Southern Baja California, Mexico

Best spring break for a natural escape

To see a different side of Mexico, catch a plane to Los Cabos, then immediately head north, away from the resort's cluster of beach hotels. A short distance up the sparsely populated Pacific Coast of Baja California Sur, nature beckons in profusion, amid stunning natural scenery in a sometimes overlooked part of the peninsula. 

The weather is warm, dry and sunny in the spring, and the beautiful coastline offers the chance to see sea lions, kayak through turquoise waters, go whale watching (the season winds down in March), and even help with turtle conservation, all of which will allow you to return home with environmental bragging rights rather than drinking tales.

8. El Tunco, El Salvador

Best spring break for surfers

One of Central America’s least visited but most intriguing countries, El Salvador has been attracting new attention from visitors from all over. This small but fascinating nation tempts with mountain hikes, sunny beach days and surfing galore – and with frequent nonstop flights between many cities in the USA and San Salvador, it’s easy to pack it all into an itinerary lasting just a few days. Add in warm, dry season weather continuing into March, and it's a done deal. 

The waves hit El Salvador’s rocky coast especially intensely at El Tunco, a small village that’s become a major stop on the world’s surfing circuit. Surfers line up to catch gnarly breaks just beyond the town's black volcanic beaches, while on land, sun-kissed visitors toast to the end of an active day at El Tunco’s lively collection of waterfront restaurants and bars.

9. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Best spring break for tropical drama

Grab your passport, your sunscreen and the flashiest bathing suit you own and head to one of South America’s premier destinations. In addition to its famous beaches, Rio de Janeiro has something to offer every type of spring breaker: stunning panoramas, fantastic food and a variety of outdoor adventures that will make for a getaway to remember.

Set up camp on Ipanema Beach to see and be seen, or join the ranks of tourists on Copacabana’s hotel-lined oceanfront. Take the cable car up to Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain) or bask in the colossal shadow of the statue of Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado by day. Then hit the bars in Botafogo or party to the sounds of samba in the clubs of Lapa by night. You might not want to come back home...

10. The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Best spring break for wildlife enthusiasts

How about an island getaway for spring break with crowds of tortoises instead of legions of party people? Remote yet well worth the effort to get to, the Galápagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador are home to some of the earth’s rarest and most unique flora and fauna. This could be the perfect spring break for nature-loving, adventure-seeking travelers.

With a minimal human footprint, the Galápagos have unmatched biodiversity. Endemic species such as giant tortoises, marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies roam the islands, and it's easy for human visitors to get close to these natural superstars along the islands' volcanic shores. 

Drawn to the water? Go surfing, kayaking, biking or scuba diving near the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on Isla San Cristóbal, or snorkel alongside stingrays, mantas, turtles and the occasional shark at Devil’s Crown, one of the archipelago’s most outstanding marine sites. Most visitors arrive in this remote part of the world on a package tour, but adventurous travelers can put together their own budget itineraries, too.

11. Whistler, Canada

Best spring break for skiers and snowboarders

If skis appeal more than a surfboard for a spring break escape, head to the world-famous resort town of Whistler, British Columbia. Come March, the peak season wanes, and mountain resorts begin to offer up discounts to keep the momentum going. At this point in the season, the days are longer and the skies clearer – but months of winter weather have ensured a solid snowpack for run after run.

For 360-degree views of the glorious scenery, take a ride in the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, a 2.75-mile engineering wonder that connects the peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. At lower elevations, hike through stunning conifer forests, with a chance of spotting the area’s black bears as they emerge from hibernation.