A new state-by-state analysis of Google search behavior shows that a small group of destinations in Florida and Mexico attract the strongest spring break interest from US travelers. The study, conducted by Upgraded Points, looks at Google Trends data from January 2025 through January 2026 and identifies the top-searched domestic and international spring break destinations in every US state and Washington, D.C. The report lists Cancún as the leading international destination, while Key West and Destin, Florida, account for most of the domestic state-level wins.
Where Americans Want To Go For Spring Break 2026
On the international side, Mexico stands out as the most prominent country in the dataset. The study reports that Cancún ranks as the top-searched international spring break destination in 13 states, the highest total for any overseas location in the analysis. Greece ranks second among the top international results, ranking first in eight states. Belize appears as the top-searched international spring break destination in five states, while Puerto Vallarta in Mexico leads in four. Iceland and Peru each hold the top international position in three states.
For domestic travel, Florida destinations dominate search activity. Key West ranks as the top-searched domestic spring break destination in 17 states plus Washington, D.C., totaling 18 state-level wins. Destin, also in Florida, holds the top domestic position in 15 states. Together, Key West and Destin account for 33 of the 51 domestic top spots across all states and the District of Columbia. In states where the keyword list includes more than one in-state beach or city, the study also identifies an overall in-state leader.
Within Florida, the report lists Orlando as the top domestic destination when it competes directly against other Florida options in the methodology. In Texas, Galveston leads over South Padre Island and Port Aransas, while in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach ranks ahead of Hilton Head Island. In Alabama, Gulf Shores emerges as the leading in-state destination over Orange Beach.
Top International Spring Break Destinations for 2026
- Cancún, Mexico
- Greece
- Belize
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Iceland
Top Domestic Spring Break Destinations for 2026
- Key West, Florida
- Destin, Florida
- South Padre Island, Texas
- Lake Havasu, Arizona
- Panama City Beach, Florida
