Cheap Spring Break Flights 2027: When to Book and Where to Go

Most college and school spring breaks in 2027 land in March, spread across the weeks from early March through Easter, which is March 28. A lot of districts tie their break to Easter, so the last two weeks of March will be the most crowded and the most expensive.

The booking window depends on where you're going. Fare data from past seasons shows domestic flights bottom out around 5 to 6 weeks before departure, so late January to early February for a mid-March trip. International is different. Europe tends to be cheapest about three months out, which means booking around Christmas. Mexico and the Caribbean sit in between, but the beach resorts fill up early, so book those by the holidays too.

One rule holds every year. Midweek departures run 15 to 25% cheaper than Saturday flights during peak spring break weeks. Leave on a Tuesday or Wednesday if your schedule allows it.

Orlando from $89 round-trip on Spirit or Frontier from Chicago O'Hare and Atlanta, with Southwest from most big cities usually under $200. Florida is the cheapest spring break trip in the country almost every year. Tampa and Fort Lauderdale are close behind, and Fort Lauderdale is often cheaper than Miami for the same beaches.

San Juan from around $260 round-trip on JetBlue from JFK or Boston. Puerto Rico is the easy Caribbean option: no passport needed for US citizens, the dollar is the currency, and there are plenty of nonstops. Old San Juan plus a couple of beach days is a great five-night trip.

Cancun from under $320 round-trip on American from Dallas-Fort Worth, or United from Houston and Denver. Cancun at spring break means parties in the Hotel Zone. Tulum and Playa del Carmen are calmer and an hour or so down the coast. Punta Cana and Costa Rica, via San José or Liberia, regularly come in under $350 from the East Coast too.

Madrid, Lisbon or Dublin from around $550 round-trip from New York and Boston on Iberia, TAP or Aer Lingus, if you book by the end of December. March is low season in Europe, so once you land, hotels are a fraction of summer prices. Lisbon in March is about 65°F, which is perfect for walking all day.

Watch for the low-cost transatlantic carriers too. Norse Atlantic and the occasional fare sale on the big airlines can put Paris or London under $450 round-trip from the East Coast. Bags and seats cost extra, so price the full trip before you book.

If you're flying from the West Coast or the middle of the country, Europe usually means a connection. That's fine. A one-stop itinerary through New York or Chicago is often $150 to $250 cheaper than a nonstop, which is real money for a week-long trip.

Avoid the last two Saturdays of March. That's when the Easter-linked breaks start and fares peak. If your break is flexible, the first two weeks of March are noticeably cheaper on every route above.

Check second airports. Fort Lauderdale instead of Miami, Midway instead of O'Hare, Newark instead of JFK. The savings can be $50 to $150 per person, which adds up fast for a group.

Price the extras before you book. A $89 Spirit fare to Orlando can hit $250 with a carry-on and seats. Southwest includes two checked bags, so for families it often works out cheaper in the end.

Set fare alerts now for your dates, and book international trips by Christmas. Then search from your home airport below to see what's cheap for the week you want.