The Top Spring Break Destinations, Ranked

Spring Break really is the great American contribution to leisure time travelling . A week every year where the immature , aphrodisiacal citizenry in Americago somewhere hot , with near no rules , and nobody there to recognize them . It ’s a hebdomad where you’re able to be whomever you want , do things you would n’t dare do back home , and in general relish life without much effect .

For years , cities in Florida like Daytona and Ft . Lauderdale reign the springiness disruption aspect . But they ’ve worked firmly to shed that image and , in their place , a dozen destinations – from Denver to the Dominican Republic – have step in as the top fleck for American college scholarly person to issue loose .

To find out to which SB spots all the nerveless Kyd are hit this year , we asked a crowd of them . And then we took their result , combined them with datum from STS Travel ( a caller that narrow down in planning heavy - mathematical group give break adventures ) , and ranked the 12 most pop .

Spring break dj with crowd

ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.com

12. Panama City Beach

While PCB has worked hard to shed its Spring Break image , it ’s still the openhanded political party name and address in theRedneck Riviera , and students from all over the SEC mass there in early March . While the urban center is home to Club La Vela – the biggest nightclub in the reality and background zero for all Spring Break activity – it has recently ban drinking on the beach . Consequently , this year is expected to be much tame . Whether that ’s true remains to be seen , but this could be the last time Panama City make an appearance on this lean .

11. Los Angeles

For upperclassmen on the west coast who require grown - up nightlife and beach that are n’t connected to a hotel puddle , LA has become a big Spring Break destination . true statement . A prompt , cheap flight of steps from most westerly province , here you may tarry by sidereal day in South Bay , one ofAmerica ’s sexiest region , and then hit the Santa Monica bars or clubhouse in Hollywood at night . Or go hike . Or surfing . The abundance of hotels and the variety of action make this a safe , solid schoolhouse break locale . And what it lacks in wild , it more than realize up for in choice .

10. Miami

At first coup d’oeil , Miami might seem like the ultimate stateside Spring Break address . screwball nightclubs , ragingpool parties , andstrip clubs that stay open 24 hours . That all say , the metropolis can get expensive , and if your Spring Break coincides withUltra , the price of hotels might take stuffing six people in a room . Drinks can get pricey too , so do n’t forget to pack your wallet . The upside ( if you ’re a guy ): The ratio of guys to girls isalwaysfavorable , since the clubs here keep a hyper - hard-and-fast threshold . The trick , of course , isgetting past the chucker-out .

9. Orlando

Your first reaction might be , " Yeah , dandy , Spring Break … from FIFTH GRADE ! " But count a slight deeper : Orlando ’s glut of theme parksisn’t just for familieslooking to ride the Tea Cups – some of the unspoiled roller coasters in the humankind are at Universal ’s Islands of Adventure . And where else could you spend your weekdrinking with Homer Simpson ? Of course , your theme - park boozing does n’t have to limit itself to Springfield , or even the USA . Witha little aid from us , you could drink in 11 countries in one Clarence Shepard Day Jr. at EPCOT . And yes , Mexico is one of them . Add in crazy cheap off - property hotel and this is one of the more underrated Spring Break destinations in America .

8. Cancun

Despite its " humankind - cun " reputation , the fellow - heavy originator of all - you - can - toast SB debauchery is still going strong . No , it ’s not the earth capital of Spring Break that it once was , but what the city has recede in US college nestling , it ’s pick up in students from South America , Europe , and Canada . In Cancun , you could party with multitude from all over the world without crossing an ocean , and the outside haulage means A - list DJs perform at the large nightclub during March . The Hotel Zone has ten of those to choose from , whether it ’s high - oddment radical lounges like Elevate or the high - energy EDM scene at Coco Bongo .

7. Punta Cana

The Dominican Republic has become the reality ’s hottest newfangled tropic Spring Break destination . And while Punta Cana has a long manner to go to enamour Puerto Vallarta and Cancun in terminal figure of bars and nightlife , the slew of all - inclusive resort like Barcelo Bavaro and Occidental Grand make it so you do n’t really need to get out your hotel to get the full experience . And if youdochoose to leave , the outdoor bodily process are some of the honorable in the Caribbean – a nearby tropic rain forest is full of tramp , vigor - lining , and ATV escapade .

6. Puerto Vallarta

While the rest of the year , Puerto Vallarta can be one of the more advanced locale in Mexico with inadequate trips toRiviera Nayaritand an abundance of4 - and-5 Diamond resort , Spring Break is the complete opposite . PV might have the best strip of legal profession along the Malecon – the beachfront street that runs through downtown – of any spot on this lean . Perhaps the most renowned event is Collage ’s weekly foam party , a Tuesday shindig that ’s been featured on every Spring Break TV special in history . There are also EDM megaclubs , Zoo – where you’re able to predictably spend all night dance in a coop – and the needed Señor Frogs .

5. Colorado

The haulage of a Spring Break ski mission has always made shoes likeVailandAspenbig time March destinations . But add legalized marihuana to the commixture , and all of a sudden you ’ve got college Thomas Kyd who ca n’t say a snowboard from an ironing panel coming to Colorado . for certain , you’re able to impinge on the nation ’s biggest ski refuge by acreage in Vail , or the world - course slopes in Aspen , Breckenridge , Steamboat Springs , or any of Colorado ’s other powdery resort hotel towns . But now mass also go to Boulder to savour legal ganja in one of America ’s best college towns . Or Denver , where spring circuit breaker over 21 can arrive at a standoutcollection of breweries .

4. South Padre Island

Unlike its loath Spring Break twin in Florida , South Padre has adopt the company and been one of the practiced domestic SB destinations for decennary . Though it was once nickname the " two - nation destination " for its copiousness of 30 - minute side trips to Mexico , the US Department of Public Safety advises against that now . Still , this barrier island has no shortage of way to company with ten Texas - sized nightclubs welcoming college student all calendar month . Check out CHAOS , which feature a tattoo parlor for those looking to make womb-to-tomb bad decisions , or Laguna Bay , which host aMaximparty last year . And while the daytime beach parties are everything you ever wanted a Spring Break beach party to be , watch out yourself : this year police will be using drones to make trusted everyone stays in pedigree .

3. Las Vegas

Once you turn 21 , Vegas is the absolute go - to for Spring Break . apart from the joy of showing your ID to casino security and telling them to leave you to your atomic number 28 slots , if your schooling ’s break is timed decently , you’re able to watch March Madness at the sport books and bet 20 - team parlay ALL weekend . Past gaming , you ’ve gotAmerica ’s best pocket billiards parties , an endless raiment ofstrip club , andmega - clubslike XS , Hakkasan , and Marquee , all of which overshadow any of the spots your underclassmen friends are hit in Mexico .

2. The Bahamas

As youmight have get a line , the Bahamas are actually over 700 islands , so it ’s tough to name just one here that ’s outstanding . First , every Spring Break sail on the planet block in Nassau , where Señor Frogs has induce more than a few people to miss their gravy holder home . A short gondola ride from the cruise larboard is Atlantis , which is like proceed to Vegas , but with an actual beach nearby . Then there ’s Freeport , where the bar - line town public square is an un - walkable sight of Spring Break debauch . Finally there ’s Bimini , where student can be in less than three hours ( from Miami ) thanks to the Resorts World’sSuperFast sail ship , and big name DJs act the holiday resort nightly .

1. Key West

Honestly , the island at the end of the Florida Keys is almost like Spring Break all year , and acting a fool in the middle of Duval Street is more or less stock behavior . But during March and April , the bars on that fabled crapulence boulevard are rampart to wall withFlorida ’s best and brightest college students , who choose for the scant drive to Key West over long flight of stairs to Mexico . Though thebeach here leaves something to be desired , what Key West lacks in moxie it makes up for in nightlife . And after a few hours at Rick ’s or the Hog ’s Breath Saloon , you ’ll completely forget that you never had a fortune to rest out .

contract up herefor our daily Thrillist electronic mail , and get your location of the best in food / drink / fun .