Spring break 2026 didn’t happen in a vacuum. It unfolded amid TSA disruptions, rising gas prices, and broader global uncertainty. Despite everything, many people still traveled.

Start.io analyzed mobile user data between March 15 and April 15 to understand how and where movement played out. The result is a clear, data-driven view of spring break travel across the U.S.: from distance to destination to regional behavior.

Nearly Half of Americans Traveled, and They Mostly Stayed Domestic

To start, travel volume remained strong. In impressive 44.8% of Americans traveled domestically more than 100 miles during the spring break period. By comparison, just 2.4% traveled internationally. That’s a nearly 19:1 ratio of domestic to international travel. 

And when people traveled domestically, they didn’t stay close:

  • 66% went 500–1,000 miles
  • 24% went 200–500 miles
  • 10% went 100–200 miles 

One City Stood Above the Rest

When it comes to domestic destinations, one city clearly stands apart: Chicago. Chicago ranks as the top destination for 25 states, accounting for half of the country. 

The states sending the most travelers there span the Eastern half of the U.S., including the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast. From Georgia and the Carolinas through Ohio and Illinois, up to New York and Massachusetts, Chicago consistently emerged as the central draw.

Where Chicago isn’t the top destination, regional patterns take over quickly:

  • Western states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada) favored Los Angeles.
  • Florida travelers largely stayed in-state, with 19.9% heading to Miami.
  • Texas travelers leaned toward San Antonio (12.9%).
  • Mountain states like Montana and Wyoming gravitated toward Denver.
  • Gulf states such as Louisiana and Mississippi preferred Houston. 

International Travel Followed a Different Pattern

While domestic spring break travel showed a mix of national and regional hubs, international travel is far more concentrated. Canada was the top destination for 46 out of 51 states, accounting for 90% of states and about 15.4% of total international traveler share. 

After Canada, there’s a noticeable drop:

  • Mexico ranked second at 8.8%.
  • Brazil followed at 5.8%. 

A handful of states broke the pattern and favored Mexico instead: border states Arizona, New Mexico, and California, as well as Washington and Alaska, where travel skews toward warmer destinations. 

Beyond the Americas, travel extended globally, though at a smaller scale, with destinations like South Korea, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Australia, Singapore, and France each capturing a small share of travelers. 

A Few States Drive a Large Share of Travel

Not all states contribute equally to travel volume. Texas leads across the board:

  • 10.2% of total domestic travelers
  • 10.3% of total international travelers 

Florida ranks second in both categories. Together with Georgia, New York, and North Carolina, these five states account for 34% of all domestic travel. 

Similarly, international travel is not evenly distributed. A small group of states accounts for a disproportionate share:

  • Hawaii (23.6% of travelers go international)
  • Alaska (22.6%)
  • California (12.8%)
  • Oregon (8.8%)
  • Washington (8.5%) 

These figures are well above the national average of 5.1%. At the other end, states like West Virginia, Iowa, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana show much lower international travel rates, all below 3.5%. 

Taken together, the data paints a clear picture of how Americans traveled for spring break 2026: overwhelmingly domestic, often long-distance, and shaped by a mix of national hubs and regional proximity. From Chicago’s dominance across half the country to Canada’s outsized role in international travel, the patterns highlight just how structured large-scale travel behavior remains, even in a more unpredictable environment.