Cancún, Florida Lead 2026 Spring Break Search Trends Across U.S. States :: Hospitality Trends

An analysis of Google Trends data by Upgraded Points shows that Cancún, Mexico, is the most-searched international spring break destination in the U.S., while Florida leads in domestic searches, with Key West and Destin ranking highest among states for 2026 travel plans.

Overview of Spring Break Search Trends

A recent analysis of Google Trends search data by Upgraded Points from January 2025 through January 2026 highlights the most-searched spring break destinations and resorts in each U.S. state. The study considered both international and domestic locations, as well as specific resorts, to determine where travelers are most interested in spending their spring break in 2026.

Top International Destinations

Cancún, Mexico, is the leading international spring break destination, ranking as the top search in 13 states. Greece ranks second most-searched international destination, topping the list in 8 states. Belize leads in 5 states, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is the top choice in 4 states. Other destinations, such as Iceland and Peru, are the most-searched for in 3 states each.

The data indicate that while traditional beach destinations remain popular, there is also significant interest in non-traditional destinations such as Greece and Iceland for spring break travel.

Top international destinations by number of states where they ranked No. 1: – Cancún, Mexico: 13 states – Greece: 8 states – Belize: 5 states – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: 4 states – Iceland: 3 states – Peru: 3 states

Top Domestic Destinations

For domestic travel, Florida dominates search interest. Key West is the most-searched domestic spring break destination in 17 states and Washington, D.C., totaling 18. Destin, Florida, is the top search in 15 states. Combined, these two Florida destinations account for 33 of the top domestic results. In total, Florida destinations make up 37 of the 51 top domestic results (including Washington, D.C.).

Other leading domestic destinations include South Padre Island, Texas (5 states), Lake Havasu, Arizona (3 states), Panama City Beach, Florida (2 states), and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (2 states).

In-State Destination Preferences

The study also examined which destinations within certain states were most searched when multiple options were available:

– Florida: Orlando is the top-searched destination within Florida, surpassing beach destinations like Key West and Destin.

– Texas: Galveston is the leading in-state search, ahead of South Padre Island and Port Aransas.

– South Carolina: Myrtle Beach is more searched than Hilton Head Island.

– Alabama: Gulf Shores ranks higher than Orange Beach.

These results reflect the highest-ranking destinations among those included in the study’s keyword set and do not encompass all possible locations considered by residents.

Top International Resorts

The search for international resorts shows a strong preference for Mexico and the Dominican Republic:

– Resorts in Mexico are the top-searched international resort choice in 16 states, particularly in the Cancún/Riviera Maya and Los Cabos/Cabo areas.

– Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, resorts rank No. 1 in 12 states.

The most frequently top-searched international resorts, each ranking No. 1 in 4 states, are:

– Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort (St. Lucia)

– Secrets The Vine Cancun (Cancún, Mexico)

– Excellence Punta Cana (Punta Cana, Dominican Republic) – Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos (Los Cabos, Mexico)

Top Domestic Resorts

Interest in domestic resorts is concentrated in Florida, consistent with the state’s dominance in destination searches: – Florida-based resorts account for 28 of the 50 top-searched domestic resort results.

– Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina (Fort Myers Beach, Florida) is the most frequently searched domestic resort, ranking No. 1 in 10 states.

– Other highly searched resorts include Candy Cane Inn (Anaheim, California) in 5 states and Lago Mar Beach Resort & Club (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) in 4 states.

Methodology

The study compiled a list of keywords for 42 international destinations, 21 domestic destinations, 56 international resorts, and 36 domestic resorts, drawing from travel industry sources such as U.S. News Travel, AAA, Vrbo, Lonely Planet, Hopper, and Tripadvisor. Google Trends data was analyzed to determine the relative popularity of each term by state from January 2025 through January 2026. The top-searched destination or resort per state was identified based on the highest indexed interest.

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