Most searched US spring break destinations for this year, with some surprises

Key West tops nationwide spring break searches in 17 states, with Florida destinations dominating travel planning as beach towns lead vacation interest. Travel Most searched US spring break destinations for this year, with some surprises Florida accounts for most top-searched domestic spring break destinations By Kelly McGreal Fox News Published February 15, 2026 11:43am EST Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Spring break in Fort Lauderdale College students make their annual descent to Florida's beaches for fun in the sun. (Romain Maurice for Fox News Digital) NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! With spring break planning underway, a few destinations are standing out nationwide. An analysis by travel site Upgraded Points examined search activity over the past year to determine which domestic locations are generating the most interest ahead of the busy vacation period.The review looked at search trends from January 2025 through January 2026 and identified the top spring break destination in each state. TOP TRAVEL DESTINATIONS GAINING BUZZ FOR 2026 TRIPS REVEALED IN NEW REPORT The results point to a strong preference for warm weather beach towns, with several locations consistently topping search interest across multiple states. Recent search trends highlight the domestic destinations Americans are most curious about ahead of spring break. (iStock) Key West, Florida, emerged as the most searched domestic spring break destination overall, according to the analysis.The island city topped search interest in 17 states and Washington, D.C., including Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERDestin, Florida, followed closely behind, leading search interest in 15 states. The states where Destin generated the highest search interest include Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma and Utah. Key West, Florida, was the most-searched domestic spring break destination nationwide. (iStock) Taken together, the two Florida destinations account for a majority of the top domestic results.CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIESOutside of Florida, South Padre Island in Texas also drew significant interest, emerging as the most searched destination in five states, including Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Lake Havasu, Arizona, also generated strong search activity, ranking first in Arizona, California and Nevada. Outside Florida, South Padre Island topped searches in five states, while Lake Havasu led in Arizona, California and Nevada. (iStock)Panama City Beach, Florida, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, rounded out the list, each emerging as a favorite in two states.TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ The study also revealed which destinations residents preferred when several in-state options were included. In Florida, Orlando generated more search interest than coastal destinations such as Key West, Destin and Panama City Beach, suggesting that theme parks and city-based attractions remain strong draws alongside beach vacations.CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP In Texas, Galveston outpaced other in-state beach destinations. Kelly McGreal is a production assistant with the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Related Topics TravelSpring Break NationLifestyleVacation DestinationsFlorida Fox News Lifestyle A look at the top-trending stories in food, relationships, great outdoors and more. Arrives Twice a week By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time. Subscribe Subscribed Subscribe You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!