12 Amazing Spring Break Hot Spots

Find the top 12 spring break party destinations where you're guaranteed to have a good time.

By: Lynn Coulter

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We Know the Best Places for Your Spring Break

Before school is out for the summer, it's out for spring break, and that means it's time for college students to party and play. The hottest spring destinations are ready with special hotel and resort packages, live performances at bars and clubs and outdoor stages with music and fun galore. Check out our list of some of the best spring break destinations to mix and mingle.

The Bahamas

Spring breakers flock to the Bahamas for the white beaches, crystal-clear water and live entertainment at mega-resorts. Paradise Island, home to Atlantis, a world-famous resort and casino, is a popular stop in this island chain. So are the Exumas, known for their tourist-friendly swimming pigs, along with Freeport on Grand Bahama and Nassau on New Providence Island. Shown here: Breezes Bahamas in Nassau.

Find More Beaches: The 10 Best Beaches in America

Las Vegas, Nevada

OK, Las Vegas isn’t tropical, but it’s warm and sunny and the nightlife, casinos and poolside parties on the Strip are practically nonstop. If your spring break falls in March and you're of legal age, place your bets and watch the March Madness games at Westgate Superbook or Cica Sportsbook. Drive a Ferrari at Exotics Racing, zipline or hit the wave pool and 11-acre beach with real sand at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

Dominican Republic

Spring break usually centers around Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, where you’ll find great weather (the daily spring average is 86 degrees F), sandy beaches and clear water. Live DJs at Pearl Beach Club keep the party going around the infinity pool while mixologists craft cocktails with local fruits and spices. When you're ready to get out of the sun, play the slots, table games and video poker at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (you must be at least 18 years old) or watch awesome acrobatics and other incredible shows at the Coco Bongo.

Miami, Florida

Miami has it all: beautiful beaches, warm water, chic bars and clubs, beach parties, cruise parties, pool parties and yacht parties — you get the idea. Music Week runs every March and venues across town are scheduled to feature almost every major artist in electronic dance music. ULTRA, a festival billed as one of the world’s premier electronic music events, wraps things up every March. In between sets, shop, parasail, flyboard, swim, sunbathe or just see and be seen.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Spring breakers, Puerto Vallarta has beaches with powder white or golden sand, turquoise water and parties that rock all day and night. Book a villa with your crew or an all-inclusive stay at a beachfront hotel. For the best bars, visit Malecon, a mile-long boardwalk along Banderas Bay that leads into the city where you'll find shops, restaurants, cafes and more.

Daytona Beach, Florida

Drive on the hard-packed sand at Daytona Beach or just enjoy the sun and waves. It's one of the top 10 cheapest spring break destinations, according to US News and World Report. Home to some of the hottest nightclubs in Florida, Daytona also has plenty of daytime action, including Frisbee tournaments, beach volleyball and great sets played by top DJs. Take a free party bus to many local clubs, bars and hotels or pay $20 and drive (at 10 mph) in designated areas on the 16-mile-long beach. Shown here: Hard Rock Hotel, Daytona Beach

More Fabulous Florida Beaches: 20 Top Beaches in Florida

South Padre Island, Texas

College students head to South Padre Island each spring for the warm temperatures, emerald water and 34 miles of sunny beaches. Although this is traditionally a popular destination for families and couples, it's also a legit party scene for college kids, especially when the action cranks up at night. During the day, there are volleyball games, banana boat rides, parasailing trips, rock walls to climb and contests on giant stages with heart-pounding sound systems.

Panama City Beach, Florida

Twenty-seven miles of sugar-white beaches attract spring break crowds to Panama City Beach on the Florida panhandle. Some hotels set up beachside stages that crank out music and host daily contests and other activities. Check out the free shuttle bus from major beachfront hotels to the big clubs and bars. In 2022, PCB was ranked as the 10th cheapest beach destination for spring break in the US. Be aware: drinking isn't allowed on the beach or in parking lots during spring break. No glass bottles, either.

See More About Panama City Beach: 21 Best Gulf Coast Beaches

Jamaica

Negril is considered one of the most beautiful towns in Jamaica, and its Seven-Mile Beach is known for its powdery sand and clear, calm water. It's also home to Rick's Cafe, a cliffside bar and restaurant where you can actually jump off a cliff (save the drinks for later) or just sit there and watch the sunset. Negril also boasts all-night parties, a relaxed vibe, fun contests and themed events. Reggae music was born in Jamaica (there’s a Bob Marley Museum in Kingston). Order a Red Stripe Jamaican-made beer and nosh on jerk chicken, a local specialty.

Cancun, Mexico

Convenient flights to Cancun, and good ground transportation once you're there, make this Mexican destination a real hot spot for travelers. There are plenty of fun, bustling bars and clubs and all-inclusive resorts that feature top-notch pools and party space on the beach. Archeology majors, make a day trip to explore some of the historic ruins in the area, like 1,200-year-old Chichen Itza. Everybody else — hit the sun-kissed beaches.

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Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

The action goes on from morning until night in the clubs and on the beaches of Cabo San Lucas, which lies on the southern tip of California’s Baja peninsula. Sunbathe on the beautiful sand, ride a Wave Runner or look for the occasional celebrity to pop in at Cabo Wabo Cantina, said to be one of the top places in the world to eat and party. Don’t forget to hang out at Señor Frog’s, open only during the daytime but famous for its drinks, live entertainment and stunning views of the sea. Cabo’s beaches are a major destination for the surfing crowd.

Key West, Florida

Key West is as far south as you can go in the continental US. Rent a bike to get around this 4-mile-long island and head to Sloppy Joe’s for music, dancing, craft beers on tap and spring break special events. The karaoke cranks up at midnight at Ricks Bar Key West, home to one of the biggest dance floors in the Keys and state-of-the-art laser and light shows. For fun in the sun, snorkel or dive around the coral reefs, sail, kayak through the mangroves or take a sunset party cruise with unlimited drinks and apps.

12 Amazing Spring Break Hot Spots

Shop This Look

We Know the Best Places for Your Spring Break

The Bahamas

Las Vegas, Nevada

Dominican Republic

Miami, Florida

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Daytona Beach, Florida

South Padre Island, Texas

Panama City Beach, Florida

Jamaica

Cancun, Mexico

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Key West, Florida

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