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If you’re picturing packed museums, long restaurant lines and jammed sightseeing buses this spring break, you might be picturing the wrong kind of trip.
According to new travel data released by Airbnb, many Americans are swapping crowded city itineraries for something far quieter: wide-open landscapes, national parks and small desert towns where the biggest activity of the day might be a hike—or simply watching the sunset.
In other words, spring travel is going a little more analog.
Friend groups in particular are driving the shift. Instead of organizing city getaways or party-focused beach trips, travelers are planning outdoor adventures together, centered around hiking, stargazing or exploring national parks. The company says nature and outdoor experiences are now among its most-booked travel categories for groups, showing an increasing desire for trips that prioritize space and scenery over jam-packed schedules.
California’s Twentynine Palms and nearby Yucca Valley (both gateways to Joshua Tree National Park) are seeing rising interest, along with Page, Arizona, the basecamp for Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. Mountain towns like Estes Park, Colorado (a launching point for Rocky Mountain National Park) and Moab, Utah (known for its access to Arches and Canyonlands) are also trending with groups planning spring trips.
While friend groups are chasing trails and desert vistas, families are also tweaking their spring travel habits, but in a slightly different way. Florida remains one of the most popular destinations for family spring break, yet travelers are increasingly bypassing the state’s busiest hotspots in favor of quieter coastal towns.
Places like Fort Walton Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Treasure Island are drawing attention for their relaxed pace and nature-based activities. Visitors can go shark tooth hunting along Venice’s beaches, bird watch in coastal preserves or simply spend the day collecting shells versus standing in line for theme park rides.
Another surprise standout this season: Costa Rica.
The Central American destination is gaining traction with both families and friend groups looking for a mix of surf culture, rainforest exploration and wildlife encounters. Towns like Jacó, Tamarindo, La Fortuna and Nosara are seeing growing interest from U.S. travelers seeking adventure with a laid-back edge.
Taken together, the trend suggests something simple but telling about how Americans want to travel right now. After years of packed itineraries and big-city bucket lists, many spring travelers seem perfectly happy trading sightseeing schedules for hiking boots—and a lot more fresh air.