10 of the Best USA Cities for Spring Vacation This Year
These are some of the best USA cities to visit in spring this year for blooming flowers, gorgeous weather, and fun family-friendly activities.
Looking for the best places to visit in spring in the USA? Whether you’re searching for blooming cherry blossoms, tasty food festivals or free parks and attractions that burst to life come March, these USA city breaks make fantastic spring vacation ideas.
From warm places to visit for spring in the south, to East Coast metros packed with history and culture, to West Coast destinations that combine downtown sightseeing with outings to nearby parks, these are some of the best cities to visit in spring.
10 Best USA Cities for Spring Vacation
Check out our favorite cities to visit on spring vacation!
Asheville, North Carolina
By Christine of Uncorked Asheville
If you are looking for one of the best US cities to visit in the spring, head to Asheville, North Carolina. The gorgeous spring mountain weather is sunny with mild temps, perfect for outdoor adventures.
Hike “The Hunger Games” waterfalls at DuPont State Forest or head to Craggy Gardens for woody trails where wildflowers bloom. Pack a charcoal grill for a picnic and drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway for endless scenic views and lookouts. Craggy Pinnacle boasts 360-degree breathtaking mountain vistas along with the Asheville Watershed.
Biltmore Estate’s endless gardens and trails also blossom in spring. You can bike, hike, or walk. The Biltmore — as America’s largest house — is a full-day excursion in and of itself. Tour the grand mansion (don’t miss the library), catch a concert in the courtyard and pop over to Antler Hill Village for shopping and dining.
If you only have a short time in Asheville, head over to the River Arts District, where the sun shines down on rainbow streets filled with urban art. You definitely don’t want to skip Asheville in the spring. This two days in Asheville itinerary will help you plan your trip!
Washington, DC
By Meghan the Traveling Teacher
The U.S. capital is an impressive and action-packed destination year-round, but spring in Washington DC is an especially scenic time of year to visit. In the spring, cherry blossoms bloom all across the city, beautifying parks, neighborhoods and the riverfront.
The timing to see the flowers can be really tricky, but the National Cherry Blossom Festival is usually scheduled around the middle of March through April. They are all over the city, but by far the spot with the most trees is the Tidal Basin near the National Mall. Cherry blossoms line the waterfront and seem to turn the entire area pink. Other spots around town that are less crowded and still beautiful include the National Arboretum and Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.
In addition to the Washington DC cherry blossoms, in the spring the city has fewer crowds than in summertime (even with the spring break groups), and great weather for walking around. Most monuments and Smithsonian museums are located in the same mile radius along the National Mall, so being able to walk between them is ideal. Even with the occasional rain shower, spring weather is generally pleasant for sightseeing outdoors at must-visit spots like the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and war memorial parks.
Houston, Texas
By Stephanie of Stephie on the Road
Houston is one of the best cities in the U.S. to visit in the spring. Not only are there so many fun activities happening between March and June, but you’ll enjoy warm temperatures that often hover around the 70s and 80s — perfect for some outdoor fun!
In early March, you can catch the Houston Rodeo, a huge event for the city featuring barbecue competitions, live music, a carnival, and more. Watch real Texas cowboys barrel race, rope calves, and ride some bulls!
Buffalo Bayou Park downtown is ideal for a relaxing picnic amongst one of Texas’ proudest treasures — fields of bluebonnets, the state flower.
Spring in Houston is also a great time to try some new foods, as it’s prime crawfish season. A few places in Houston hold annual crawfish boils with fun for the family and live music. You can also attend Houston’s annual Food Fest in May with dozens of vendors from all over East Texas.
Head south this spring to enjoy the rich culture of the fourth-largest U.S. city. Get here before the summer temps roll in and the locals start hiding indoors!
New Orleans, Louisiana
By Slavka of On 2 Continents
With picturesque architecture, a rich history, and a vibrant cultural scene, New Orleans is packed with things to do, see and taste. And spring is probably the best time to visit this city since the weather is milder and crowds lower than in summer.
The scorching temps and humidity in the summer can feel unbearable and winter and summer months see the most rainfall. Spring weather, however, is close to ideal, with highs typically in the balmy 70s and 80s.
From a tourism point of view, the popular Mardi Gras season (typically in February to early March) is wild, and it can be hard to enjoy the sights fully due to the crowded festivities and higher prices for accommodation and services.
If you are into festivals, Mardi Gras isn’t the only one to attend in the city. In fact, springtime is packed with music events such as the French Quarter Festival, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the BUKU Music and Art Project, and the NOLA Caribbean Festival. You’ll have a hard time to decide which one to choose.
While in New Orleans, don’t forget to try local delicacies such as gumbo, crawfish etouffee, po’boys and beignets.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
By Derek and Mike of Robe Trotting
America is full of amazing cities of all sizes, but Philadelphia is among the best and makes a fantastic springtime destination. There are so many things to do in Philadelphia throughout the year, but in spring they can be seen and done with lower crowd levels. While tourists are fewer, the residents of Philly are out and about. In the Spring, the city is vibrant and lively after a cold and often snow-filled winter — it really comes alive!
Spring in Philadelphia is the perfect time to head outside and explore the Old City. It’s the location of some of America’s most treasured landmarks like The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. You can also see where historic figures like Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross lived. The church that they attended is open to the public and a pew used by George Washington sits inside. If you want more of Washington, visit the site of America’s first presidential home. It was built when Philadelphia was the capital of the United States from 1790-1800.
For local flavors, try a Philly soft pretzel, a famous cheesesteak, and Italian water ice. Some of the best restaurants are located on the 13th Street corridor in the Midtown Village/Gayborhood. They even hold a springtime festival which is common for many of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.
Spring in Philadelphia is a season for outdoor festivals, historic attractions, and delicious food. The temperatures are warm without the heat and humidity of summer. There can be rainy days in spring, but they’re perfect for visiting Philadelphia’s world-class museums, like the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Franklin Institute Science Museum or The Mutter Museum of Medical Oddities.
Disney World, Florida
By Sarah of Moment Mom
While visiting Walt Disney World is a must in every season, a trip during springtime features some extra magic, not to mention, much more pleasant temperatures than the blazing and humid summer months.
The weather in Central Florida can be overwhelmingly hot and muggy during the summer, but spring brings the perfect pool weather. For those visiting from colder climates, especially, it’s a treat to head to one of the best Disney pools and spend an entire day lounging under the sun in March.
Disney World also takes advantage of the balmy weather to feature exciting outdoor experiences in spring. The star of the show is the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. Nothing quite gets you in the mood for celebrating spring more than topiaries of your favorite Disney characters. Not only can you enjoy local spring blooms, but a trip around the Epcot World Showcase allows you to explore exotic flowers from countries around the world, like a wall of orchids in the Mexico Pavilion.
The addition of special food items to the Flower and Garden Festival means you can also sample delicious bites while admiring the artful floral arrangements.
Seattle, Washington
Karen of Travel Mad Mum
Being well known for its rain, it should not come as a surprise that Seattle transforms in spring as flowers come into bloom. With beautiful cherry blossom trees bursting with color in March and the tulip festival running in April, it's really a marvelous time of year to appreciate Seattle's beauty.
The best places to see flowers include the University of Washington’s campus, the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, and multiple botanical gardens around the city. You can even just admire the especially colorful bouquets sold at stalls around Pike Place Market.
Spring in Seattle is also an exciting time for marine wildlife lovers. While people look for whales in Seattle's waters throughout the year, spring is best for seeing gray whales and is the start of the orca-watching season. You can book a boat excursion specifically to find them but you may get lucky and spot them even on a regular ferry ride.
On top of all the exciting things there are to see and do in spring, another benefit for visitors is how budget-friendly the city is during this season. Because Seattle's busiest tourist time is summer, you can find tons of great deals on hotels and tours earlier in the year.
San Diego, California
By Dhara of It's Not About the Miles
Looking for a great springtime destination in southern California? Visit San Diego! The weather is amazing, with daytime temperatures in the high 60s, and nights just a tad bit cooler. It's the perfect time to wander outside, soaking in the sunshine and all the amazing things to do in San Diego.
Balboa Park, in the heart of the city, is a wonderful place to stroll in the spring, with spectacular pink and white blooming trees everywhere, and shrubs and flowers bright with color as well. Make sure you catch a performance at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion if there is one when you are visiting.
Cabrillo National Monument, at the tip of the Point Loma peninsula, offers easy trails, wildflowers and stunning views of the coast and the city skyline. Another excellent spot to go hiking along the waterfront is at Torrey Pines State Reserve, just a few miles north of downtown San Diego. On the way, stop in La Jolla to check out the sea lions draped on the rocks.
About 35 miles north of San Diego is Carlsbad, where you can visit the ranunculus fields in peak bloom between March and early May. If you visit in a super bloom year, consider making the one-hour drive north to Lake Elsinore, where the fields of flowers can take your breath away. Entire hillsides become ablaze with the orange of California poppies, and you can see patches of purple and yellow as well.
St. Louis, Missouri
By Kelli of Compass and Coastline
Warm and sunny spring days call for time spent outdoors in St. Louis, Missouri, is a city known for baseball, butter cake and the Gateway Arch. St. Louis also is among the top U.S. cities for free tourist attractions.
A great place to start is Forest Park, with more than 1,300 acres of green space in the city. It’s not only a fantastic place for a picnic, but you can also hike, visit museums, or see a performance at The Muny, an outdoor theater and concert venue. Home to over 19,000 wild animals, the St. Louis Zoo here is easily walkable, free, and a great environment to spend the day outside. Love boating? Stop by the park’s Boathouse for canoe and kayak rentals, live music and food.
Another fun thing to do is visit the Missouri Botanical Gardens, which is especially beautiful in springtime. You’ll see rare and endangered plants, a Japanese garden, reflecting pools and more. There’s even a Butterfly House!
The city also hosts the St. Louis Earth Day Festival each spring and is home to the Delmar Loop, an eclectic dining and entertainment district.
Honolulu, Hawaii
By Michelle of Harbors and Havens
The busiest destination on the state’s busiest island, Honolulu is packed with things to do and see, and spring means the end of the rainy season and a brief window of fewer crowds before the summer vacationers start arriving.
The months of March through June also bring a wave of festivities in the city and around the island, like the Honolulu Festival at the tail end of winter to celebrate Pacific, Hawaiian and Asian cultures, the Lei Day Festival with crafts and music in May, and the King Kamehameha Floral Parade in June, a tradition for more than 100 years.
While Honolulu and its beachfront neighborhood of Waikiki hold the vast majority of hotels, restaurants and shops on the island, you can easily escape the bustle by staying in a quieter neighborhood a short drive away on the east coast, hiking inland waterfall trails, and visiting remote beaches on the North Shore.
This 3-days in Oahu itinerary covers all the best sites and a road trip around the island, perfect for newcomers and returning visitors alike! Or, if you have longer on the island, see how to spend 5 days on Oahu.
