Spring Break Ideas That Avoid The Beach
Visiting the beach is usually at the top of any Spring vacation ideas list.
Rather than take the cliche spring break trip to the beach, why not try something a bit different? There is literally a whole world outside your door that’s begging for exploration.
Here’s a list of spring break ideas that avoid the beach to get you thinking outside the box!

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What to Pack for a Spring Vacation
Packing for a trip in the spring means being prepared for any type of weather!
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE US National Park Packing List!
US National Parks Pass – You can order passes online or get them at any of these Federal Recreation Areas. → BUY THE PASS AT REI and they will donate 10% of sales to the National Park Foundation.
2. Hiking Gear
- Spring hiking at some national parks may mean wet trails, and even some patches of snow! You’ll want waterproof hiking boots.
- Hiking socks that breathe … and if they prevent blisters, that’s even better: → Check out the BEST SOCKS by Darn Tough!
- Walking stick or trekking poles
3. Clothing – Layers
- Wicking and quick-drying base layers
- Fleece or insulated jacket: → Columbia fleece jackets are our favorite!
- Waterproof rain jacket
4. Daypack
- WATER: → Use refillable water bottles or a hydration backpack
- FOOD: → Check out our list of healthy snacks
- Flashlight or headlamp
- National Park maps
- Sunscreen
- Lip protection with sunscreen
- Polarized sunglasses
- Hand lotion
- Toilet paper (carry out in a bag – do not bury)
- Hand sanitizer
- First aid kit
- Bags to pack out trash
5. Other
- Cell phone
- Portable charger
- Medications
- Binoculars
- Guide books
- Camera Gear – DOWNLOAD the free camera gear checklist!
- Photography gear for hiking
Spring Break Ideas That Avoid the Beach
Hitting the beach is usually at the top of any US spring break vacation ideas list. If you want to avoid the beach, here’s a list places to visit this spring break!
1 – Road Trip
What’s more fun than an old-fashioned road trip? Call your best friend, or if it is a family spring break, gather up the kids and hit the road! There are so many spring road trip ideas in the US!
You can do this in two ways; you can choose your destination ahead of time or, if you are feeling a bit adventurous (and not traveling with little ones), you can simply drive and let the highway be your guide.

Here are some US Road Trip Ideas to get you thinking about all the possibilities:
- Utah National Park Road Trip Itinerary
- Oregon Road Trip
- American Southwest Road Trip Guide
- Southwest USA Road Trip Ideas
When it comes to packing, here are a few resources to make sure you’ve got everything you need:
- Family Road Trip Items to Pack
- Healthy Road Trip Snacks
- Healthy Road Trip Food
- Low-Calorie Road Trip Snacks
2 – US National Parks
If you enjoy the outdoors, then consider a spring break US National Park vacation! You may find pleasant temperatures, few crowds and colorful floral displays.
In April National Park Week happens, with the first day being a FREE entry day. Be sure to check the NPS website for specific dates and activities. National Junior Ranger Day is part of that week so check out this list of US National Parks to visit with kids!

Here are more resources to plan a National Park trip for spring break:
- US National Parks in the Spring
- National Parks by State
- US National Parks Pass
- US National Park Packing List
3 – Visit A City You’ve Always Wanted To See
Do you have a bucket list of places you want to visit? Look at your top three then see if your budget, time, and to-list can be done during spring break.
There are tons of US travel ideas like tour historic Colonial Williamsburg, stroll along the San Francisco Bay, or tour the landmarks of New York City.

Think about what type of trip you’d enjoy and then discover which cities offer the social, cultural, or historical features you’ve dreamed of experiencing.
Check out these fun locations:
- Things to Do in Portland in March
- Portland Bucket List
- Portland with Kids
- Moab in the Spring
- Moab spring break
4 – Go Camping
Camping doesn’t appeal to everyone, but it’s a unique option because usually you’ll get away from the traditional spring break crowds. If you’re on a limited budget, you don’t even have to travel far from home.
The beauty of camping is you can customize it to meet your own preferences. You can go rustic and find public lands to set up your tent. Or you can choose a campground with amenities like restrooms, showers and even laundry!

And don’t forget the fun glamping options like sleeping under canvas tents, in a teepee or even a covered wagon!
Here are some amazing destinations to go camping in the spring:
- Arches National Park Camping
- Bryce Canyon National Park Camping
- Island in the Sky Campgrounds
- Needles Canyonlands Camping
And some fun camping resources:
- Camping BINGO Printable
- Camping Christmas Ornaments
- Van Camping: Everything You Need to Know
- RV Camping Resources
- Camping With Dogs
- Camping Meals Planner
- Rent an RV – have it dropped off at your vacation destination!
5 – Explore the Outdoors
While everyone else is at the crowded beaches, you can enjoy outdoor activities like horseback riding, biking, off-roading and other outdoor sports.

Be sure to choose a region where the climate is warm enough for these outdoor adventures. Here are a few suggestions we recommend:
- Horseback riding one of the must-do Bryce Canyon activities
- Enjoy off-roading during a Moab spring break trip
- Spectacular views can be seen on a Canyonlands Island in the Sky scenic drive
- Spend a day outdoors doing Arches National Park photography
- Explore the world-famous Zion National Park hikes like Angles Landing or the Narrows
Here’s a list of spring hiking ideas in the US and some good resources for hiking during your spring break: