When the temperatures rise, the flowers bloom, and the birds begin to sing, it can only mean one thing: Spring break is just around the corner. For families, the best spring destinations are ones where you can shake off the winter blues while avoiding the college spring break party crowds. The good news is that many of the best family vacation spots in the U.S. go all-in on spring activities and attractions for kids. Here are this year’s trendiest spring break spots for families.
1. Honolulu, Hawaii
Pleasant weather and fewer crowds make spring an especially nice time to visit the island of Oahu. In Honolulu, you can spend your days lounging on the beach at Waikiki, or exploring family-friendly attractions like the Honolulu Zoo, Kapi’olani Regional Park, and the Waikiki Aquarium. For the little ones, head to the tame Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon or the hands-on Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center. If you’re traveling with older kids and teens, plan a visit to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and book a surfing lesson.
Where to stay: Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk is a budget-friendly pick close to the beach that offers suites with separate bedrooms and mini kitchens plus complimentary breakfast. Or splurge for a stay at Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, a beachfront resort with four swimming pools (including one designated for families), complimentary kids club, and teen game room.
2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
The Smoky Mountains come alive with color in the spring as wildflowers fill the valleys and meadows with stunning hues. For outdoorsy families, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most accessible spring vacation spots because of its miles of walking, hiking, and biking trails for all abilities, not to mention wildlife viewing opportunities, historic buildings to tour, and family campgrounds to help you get back to nature. Thrill the kids by adding on a visit to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, where new immersive indoor adventure coaster NightFlight Expedition is opening in spring 2026.
Where to stay: The only non-camping lodging inside the park is LeConte Lodge, which can only be reached via a strenuous hike. It’s an unusual spring break destination that’s perfect for active families with older kids and teens. For a real treat, stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, which offers indoor and outdoor pools, kids activities, and free trolley service to Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country water park.
3. San Diego, California
The beaches in San Diego may not be quite hot enough in spring to draw the college crowd (temps usually hover in the 60s through May), but you’ll still enjoy that famous Southern California sun. This SoCal city is always a great place to take kids, thanks to attractions like SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego Zoo, and the museums and cultural institutions in Balboa Park. Just a few miles up the freeway is one of the best amusement parks for kids on the West Coast, LEGOLAND California Resort in Carlsbad, where the new LEGO Galaxy land launches on March 6, 2026. Spring is also the perfect time to hop on a whale watching tour and spot some migrating gray whales.
Where to stay: Find spacious rooms and amenities like a rooftop pool at the recently renovated The Westin San Diego Bayview or stay by the beach at Bahia Resort Hotel, where amenities include a pool, playground, beach games, and tropical gardens complete with resident ducks.
4. Grand Canyon, Arizona
The Grand Canyon may be one of the most visited tourist attractions in the U.S., but it’s also one of the best national parks to visit in spring precisely because the notoriously crowded South Rim doesn’t get quite as many visitors in the shoulder season (with the exception of a few busy school vacation weeks). Visiting the Grand Canyon in the springtime means avoiding that dangerous desert heat, too—temperatures don’t usually hit 90 degrees until late May. The more secluded North Rim doesn’t open until mid-May and only welcomes visitors until October, but it’s a far less-crowded alternative if you can plan your family’s spring break vacation for the second half of May. (Grand Canyon National Park plans an adaptive reopening of the North Rim in 2026 following 2025’s Dragon Bravo Fire; check the status here.)
Where to stay: If you can plan your family spring break trip well in advance, reserve a campsite or lodge room at Grand Canyon National Park. And there are all kinds of great lodging options just outside the park, like Holiday Inn Resort The Squire at Grand Canyon and Under Canvas Grand Canyon.
5. Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville was recently named the #2 top trending destination for spring break 2026 in the U.S. by Google, and it’s easy to see why. This vacation favorite in the Blue Ridge Mountains is continuing its recovery from 2024’s Hurricane Helene in a big way, and all Asheville sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway have reopened. The area’s home to family-friendly spots like The North Carolina Arboretum and The Adventure Center of Asheville, which features America’s first zipline adventure designed for kids under 10. The awe-inspiring Biltmore Estate becomes even more spectacular in 2026 with the debut of “Luminere” in late March, which illuminates the estate’s historic gardens and house on select evenings in a curated sensory production of light, imagery, and sounds.
Where to stay: Book a room at Village Hotel on the Biltmore Estate and you’ll be within walking distance of the playground, farm animals, craft demonstrations, and restaurants at Antler Hill Village. The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa is a great pick for a multigenerational trip with amenities like a sports complex, subterranean mineral spa, Donald Ross-designed championship golf course, and on-property hiking trail.
5. Columbus, Ohio
According to Priceline’s 2026 Travel Trends Report, 63% of travelers say they’re more interested in traveling to the Midwest than they used to be. The company’s Spring Break Travel Snapshot is bearing that out, with Columbus, Ohio, ranking as one of its “hotspots on the rise.” The city ushers in spring with special events like the Greater Columbus Cherry Blossom Festival, and family-friendly attractions include the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and COSI (Center of Science and Industry), named the nation’s top science museum for the sixth time by USA TODAY readers in 2026. The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at The Ohio State University reopens this spring with an new permanent collection, “The Story of Comics,” and new United Football League team the Columbus Aviators will kick off its first season at Historic Crew Stadium on April 3.
Where to stay: Book a room at cool new spot The Junto and you’ll enjoy amenities like access to the hotel’s Gear Garage and two complimentary tickets to COSI. Located in the Arena District, Sonesta Columbus Downtown is close to many attractions and offers Yoto Players for Sonesta Travel Pass members traveling with children as part of its Sonesta Kids Crew program.
6. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone’s most popular areas are overwhelmed by tourists in the summer, and while it’s one of the best national parks to visit in winter when the wildlife and geyser-viewing opportunities are unencumbered by crowds, the real sweet spot for many families is late spring. This “just right” time to visit finds the park less crowded than in summer but noticeably warmer than in winter. Some roads and accommodations inside the park are closed until mid-April and some features don’t open until May, so plan your family spring break to Yellowstone for the late spring. (The northern entrance in Gardiner, Montana, is open year-round.)
Where to stay: Time your spring getaway for early May and you can also stay at Old Faithful Inn, a shining example of the log-style “parkitecture” found at the most beautiful national park lodges in the country. Old Faithful Inn is typically open from early May to early October each year, weather permitting.
7. Chicago, Illinois
The city of Chicago is a popular Midwest family vacation destination year-round, but it’s one of the best spring break destinations for families, because visiting in spring allows you to avoid the city’s summer humidity. Visitors to the Windy City won’t want to miss the Field Museum, home to 4.6 billion years of history (including SUE the T. rex, the largest T. rex specimen ever discovered); the Shedd Aquarium and its more than 32,000 aquatic creatures; the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (one of the largest science museums in the world); and the breathtaking skyline views from The Skydeck at the top of Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower).
Where to stay: Situate yourself in the heart of the action at the LondonHouse Chicago, which is within walking distance of Millennium Park. Swissôtel Chicago offers a Kids Suite option stocked with toys and games and is steps from the Magnificent Mile.
9. Pensacola Beach, Florida
Known for its sugar-white sand and crystal-clear waters, Pensacola Beach was named 2025’s Best Beach in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards. The area consisting of the mainland city of Pensacola and barrier island community of Pensacola Beach also checks a lot of other boxes for a fun family spring break vacation, offering attractions ranging from the Historic Pensacola Village (where guides in colonial-era costumes share info about the area’s long history) to the National Naval Aviation Museum (one of the largest naval aviation museums in the world). Opportunities to explore the outdoors include the underwater Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail and Big Lagoon State Park, and the so-called “Festival City of the South” hosts popular annual events like the Interstate Mullet Toss.
Where to stay: Holiday Inn Resort Pensacola Beach Gulf Front and Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Pensacola Beach both provide budget-friendly beachfront stays with fun pools with lazy rivers. The Pensacola Beach Resort sits on more than 800 feet of gulf-front property and offers a range of family-friendly activities and amenities.
10. Washington, D.C.
The nation’s capital is at its prettiest in the spring, especially when the cherry trees are blooming and the National Cherry Blossom Festival is underway. It’s a fun family spring break destination that can also inspire young travelers to discover a love for history. The monuments along the National Mall and the Smithsonian museums, such as the National Museum of Natural History and National Museum of African American History and Culture, are among the must-dos, and the International Spy Museum is usually a hit with the younger set. A daytime or “moonlight” trolley tour can be a good way to take everything in, and make sure to take a spin on the historic carousel on the National Mall, which reopens April 23, 2026, after a major refurbishment.
Where to stay: The Hay-Adams offers an upscale experience with views of Lafayette Park and the White House. Kimpton George Hotel is a playful spot on Capitol Hill offering fun perks and amenities for families.
Why you can trust these picks: Read FamilyVacationist’s methodology for selecting and recommending vacation destinations and hotels.
Beth Luberecki also contributed to this story.
