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What the Spring Break 2026 data says
Several sources recorded increased early planning, but their findings have different scopes. Expedia Group said searches made in Q4 2025 for the spring-break period rose 25% year over year in both North America (NORAM) and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Expedia defines the period as typically mid-March to mid-April. These are Expedia searches, not completed trips. Expedia Group’s Q1 2026 traveler insights name Cancun, Orlando and Punta Cana as the leading NORAM early-spring search destinations; London, New York and Paris led in EMEA.
Other indicators point to varied trip styles. In a regional survey, beach destinations were the most commonly selected Spring Break format, while Hertz reported that road-trip rentals were a notable part of its own March–April business. Those findings are compatible: travelers can favor beaches while also driving to them, and neither source represents all U.S. travelers.
Which destinations were trending?
Google’s list measured search growth
Google ranked domestic destinations by the largest percentage increase in Google Flights searches for trips in March and April 2026 compared with the same months in 2025. Its February 17 list was: Hilo, Hawaii; Asheville, North Carolina; Sarasota, Florida; Long Beach, California; Panama City, Florida; Punta Gorda, Florida; Santa Ana, California; Fort Myers, Florida; Tampa, Florida; and Vail, Colorado. Five of the ten destinations are on Florida’s west coast.
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Hilo leading this list means its searches grew fastest by Google’s measure; it does not mean Hilo had the most total searches, bookings or visitors. Google’s list and methodology make that distinction important when interpreting a “trending” ranking.
Hilo also stood out in KAYAK searches
KAYAK likewise called Hilo its top trending Spring Break destination and reported flight searches up 60% versus the previous Spring Break. That is KAYAK’s search measure, not visitor growth, and should not be combined with Google’s ranking as though both used the same baseline or method. KAYAK’s guide reports flight interest up 7% year over year overall, while its destination and fare comparisons use its own search window.
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Florida and warm-weather destinations featured across sources
Florida appeared prominently in Google’s domestic search-growth list, while Expedia’s NORAM early-spring searches favored Orlando alongside Cancun and Punta Cana. AAA’s booking-data release identified Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Tampa among popular domestic Spring Break destinations. These signals suggest interest across beaches, theme parks and warm-weather escapes, but the sources measure different populations and actions.
What airfare figures mean—and why they differ
AAA reported on March 10, 2026, that round-trip flights to domestic Spring Break hotspots averaged about $815, 2% more than in 2025, based on AAA Travel booking data. It said popular Caribbean and international destinations averaged around $1,300 round trip and were slightly cheaper than the prior year. These are AAA’s booking-data figures, not a guaranteed fare or universal price for every departure city and travel date. AAA’s release provides its destination and fare context.
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KAYAK reported a different direction in its February 2026 comparison: domestic airfare was down 4% year over year and international airfare down 11%; Europe fares were down 8%, and Europe filled all ten places on its international flight-deal list. Its flight-search data covered searches from October 1, 2025, through February 9, 2026, for economy return travel March 1–April 30, 2026, compared with corresponding prior-year search and travel periods. KAYAK says average prices can vary and savings are not guaranteed. KAYAK’s guide describes that methodology.
The AAA and KAYAK figures are not a like-for-like contradiction that can be resolved by choosing one as the national fare. AAA reported booking averages for selected hotspots; KAYAK compared averages from its search dataset across a stated period and itinerary window. Departure market, dates, domestic versus international itinerary, and whether a figure comes from bookings or searches can all change the comparison.
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How travelers planned to travel
Beach, road trip and theme park choices
The Auto Club Group’s 2026 Q1 AAA Consumer Pulse survey asked, “What type of Spring Break trip are you planning?” Among 1,335 respondents in its territory who planned a Spring Break trip, 41% selected a beach destination, 32% a road trip, 28% a theme park, 22% a city or major metro destination, and 18% an ocean or large cruise. Respondents could select all options that applied, so the percentages do not add up to 100%.
The survey used a proprietary online panel and fielded January 26–February 5, 2026, among 5,000 residents in The Auto Club Group territory. Its Spring Break answers should not be generalized to all U.S. residents. The survey report gives the question wording, base and methodology.
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Rental-car activity extended across March and April
Hertz said spring demand among its customers was spread across March and April rather than concentrated in one week. Its forecast high-demand pickup dates in April were April 9, 17, 23 and 24; popular March pickup dates were March 6, 13 and 27. Hertz also said one in three of its customers was renting specifically for road trips and driving vacations. These are Hertz customer observations with data as of March 30, 2026, not a representative national travel survey.
Hertz reported that its spring customers typically reserved rental cars 16 days in advance. SUVs and vans were among its most-booked vehicle types, which the company connected with the space needed for families or groups, luggage and gear. Its suggestion to book a rental with flights and hotels is company advice; it does not guarantee availability or savings. Hertz’s April 1 release explains its customer data and recommendations.
How to use the trends when planning a trip
For a personal budget, a national trend is a starting point—not a quote for your trip. Compare options using the same departure airport, dates and trip length, then look at the total cost rather than airfare alone.
Quick Recap
- Compare dates and departure markets: A fare average or search trend may not match your airport or school-break week. If your schedule allows, compare nearby dates using the same itinerary assumptions.
- Separate trip type from destination popularity: A search-growth list identifies places gaining attention, not places with the highest total travel volume. Choose based on the activities you want—beach, city, theme park, cruise or outdoors.
- Budget the whole trip: Include lodging, ground transport, meals, fees and rental-car costs alongside airfare. A lower flight fare does not by itself establish a cheaper vacation.
- For a road trip, account for timing and vehicle needs: Hertz’s customer data suggests rental pickups can be busy on several dates throughout March and April. Its 16-day typical reservation figure is specific to Hertz spring customers, not a rule that guarantees a car if booked by that point.
- Read the measure before comparing percentages: Search growth, booking averages, customer behavior and survey selections answer different questions. Treat each statistic as a signal from its named publisher, with its own dates and population.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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