Spring Break 2026 Trends Report

Spring has sprung and Americans may be looking forward to turning the page with a warm-weather vacation. And with millions of people hitting the skies and highways for spring break, new data has revealed the most popular destinations and how to save time and money along the way. 

From Hawaii to Florida, travelers are targeting beachy locales for the ultimate spring getaway and looking to both fly and hit the roads for the holiday season.

This is what travelers need to know about spring break, and how to save and avoid crowds along the way.

Hawaii Is Having a Moment

The town of Hilo, Hawaii, on the state’s Big Island was the top trending destination for spring break vacations, according to data from both Kayak and Google Flights. In fact, Kayak found there was a 60 percent increase in spring break searches for the town this year, compared to the same time period last year.

Hilo is also a great place to score a deal since Kayak also found airfare was down 26 percent year over year, which the company said indicates travelers are “looking for nature, authenticity and better value.”

Travelers who head to Hilo have easy access to the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park along with the chance to chase waterfalls, hike amazing trails, and more.

When it comes to home rentals, Airbnb told Travel + Leisure spring breakers are heading south to Florida with Fort Walton Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Treasure Island, Bradenton, and Venice all trending destinations.

“These towns, while growing in popularity, continue to provide families with more space and a peaceful place to go offline and reconnect – including surfing, bird watching, shark tooth hunting, shell collecting, and more,” Airbnb wrote in its report.

Hitting the Road 

Road trips remain a popular way to spend spring break. For travelers picking up a rental car, Wednesdays and Sundays are their best bet to start the trip since that is when they will generally find the cheapest rates, according to data from Hertz shared with T+L.

“The travel industry is seeing value‑seeking, intentional planning as airfare and lodging dynamics evolve; travelers are timing departures to stretch budgets without sacrificing experience,” Hertz wrote in its report.

When it comes to hitting the road, Hertz found the cities of Orlando, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Las Vegas were popular spring break destinations since each offers a combination of “sun, simple planning, and that all‑ages appeal.”

However, higher gas prices threaten to put a damper on fun in the sun. The national average for a gallon of gas currently sits at more than $3.40 per gallon, according to AAA. The company said this can be attributed in part to the outbreak of war in Iran and the Middle East, but is also a consequence of seasonal trends.

“Springtime typically sees higher gas prices as gasoline demand rises and summer-blend gasoline production begins,” AAA wrote in a statement.

Up in the Air

Airlines are also expecting a robust spring break season. United Airlines said it expects to fly more than 27 million passengers throughout the spring break travel period with about 4,900 daily flights. For the airline, Orlando, Las Vegas, Honolulu, Phoenix, and Fort Lauderdale were the top destinations. 

However, it comes amid a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). That has resulted in intermittent longer lines at airport security along with the continued suspension of popular trusted traveler program Global Entry.

Experts have encouraged travelers to arrive at the airport earlier than usual to prepare for potentially long lines. Travelers can also check airport websites ahead of their trip since many post real-time security wait times.