Florida Spring Break 2024

Florida Spring Break 2024 will typically last around 6 to 7 weeks. Spring break start date varies each year being around 4 to 5 weeks before Easter. Most colleges have their spring breaks before Easter but a few are after.

The 2024 Florida Spring Break runs from approximately February 24 to April 6. The Canadian colleges tend to break up first and the American colleges typically start the following week.

The busiest period for the Florida Spring break in 2024 is between March 2 and March 16.

Most Florida colleges will have their one-week break between March 2 and 9 or between March 9 and 16 in 2024.

As well as all the beaches, bars, clubs and restaurants, there is so much more to do in Florida. You can visit the theme parks, go kayaking, take an airboat or helicopter ride, go on a sunset cruise, ride in a swamp buggy, rent a Segway or an electric bike, or go scuba diving, the choices are endless.

Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach (known as PCB) with its 27 miles of beautiful white sandy beaches is one of the most popular Spring Break destinations. With free shuttle buses to take you from the hotels to the nightclubs and bars.

It lays claim to being the “Spring Break Capital of the World”. Orlando would dispute that as it is now the #1 Florida Spring Break destination.

Being further north, it is less distance to drive for most students but the weather is less predictable. Tour operators even operate buses to bring students down from the North East and Canada.

Panama City Beach has some of the world’s largest beach clubs. Places like Harpoon Harry’s, Club La Vela (largest club in the United States), Hammerhead Fred’s, Latitudes and Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant. The Spinnaker Club has shut its nightclub and is now the Spinnaker Beachside Grill.

It is not over-developed, it is still reasonably priced and regulations were fairly relaxed. However, after some bad incidents in 2015, laws have been tightened and alcohol is no longer allowed on the beach and clubs must stop selling alcohol by 2 a.m. This resulted in a big drop off in student numbers but it still attracts around 2 million students each year.

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is still an inexpensive choice and hence an important Spring Break destination. Despite the dramatic rise in popularity of Panama City Beach. The Daytona International Speedway and the Kennedy Space Center are all close by. Orlando and Florida’s many theme parks are only a day trip away.

One of Daytona’s claims to fame is the 23 miles of beach, most of which you can drive along in your car. Sitting and watching the young students posing in their pickups as they cruise up and down the beach is an amusing experience. A few years ago, a mile-long strip of beach in front of the historic Boardwalk was declared a vehicle-free zone but you can still drive and park on 16 miles of beach, tide permitting.

Being on the Atlantic coast, unlike the Gulf of Mexico, brings the opportunity to go surfing. Like all the Florida destinations, Daytona has its fair share of top-class nightclubs including Baja Beach Club, Club 600 North, Razzles, Ocean Deck and Fat Tuesday.

Orlando

If the beach is not your thing, then Orlando makes a good destination. With Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld all within a few miles of each other.

There are still plenty of opportunities to swim at water parks. There is Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, Aquatica and Volcano Bay, not forgetting Discovery Cove.

For nightclubs you cannot beat Universal’s CityWalk for choice. There is also no shortage of great resort hotels with pools, private villas and condominiums.

Miami South Beach

Miami, and in particular South Beach, is an up-and-coming Spring Break destination. With its vibrant culture and amazing nightlife and is popular with the more sophisticated partygoers.

There are not many places that beat Miami when it comes to upmarket restaurants and nightclubs and being further south, the weather is even better.

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale has some amazing beaches, boating canals and stunning nature. Its slightly more relaxed vibe is perfect for spring breakers looking for a mix of beach fun and a touch of sophistication.

There are also some great bars and restaurants along the coastline to enjoy in the evenings. Fort Lauderdale still attracts students though not in the same numbers of old.

Other Florida Destinations

Amongst the other Florida top spots is Jacksonville. With its vibrant night scene, laid-back Key West, Hollywood Beach, St Pete Clearwater Beach and Naples.

A Look Back at Spring Breaks of the Past.

You could say that the modern-day week-long Spring Break dates back to the 1960s. The release of the classic road trip film “Where the Boys Are” which tells the story of four very different college girls who drive to Fort Lauderdale in Florida looking for boys, fun, sun and romance.

During the hippy period of the late 60s and early 70s, alcohol and free love took its toll and some beach communities tried to deter spring breakers.

A number of Florida towns make the top 10 most popular Spring Break destinations including Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers and Tampa

A lot of students who had previously visited Fort Lauderdale, moved up the coast to Daytona Beach. This was easier to get to, cheaper and more lax in their rules. In the late 1980s, the numbers visiting Fort Lauderdale dropped dramatically from an estimated 350,000 to around 20,000. Students are fickle and destinations gain and lose popularity particularly if local laws are changed.

By the time of the 80s, Spring Break started to mature, becoming less about getting drunk and more about concerts and parties, visiting theme parks, taking part in sports and other activities like surfing, scuba diving and parasailing.

Each year more and more students are also looking at charity programmes helping people in the developing world.

In the 90s, MTV started broadcasting from all the major beach resorts bringing in big-name groups like Run DMC to front their shows which in turn brought in corporate sponsorship.

Other destinations started to gain popularity, places like Panama City Beach in the Panhandle and further afield, South Padre Island in Texas with 34 miles of beaches, Palm Springs in California, Las Vegas in Nevada and New Orleans with its party atmosphere and lax drinking laws.

Drunken behaviour and general rowdiness are still an issue and in the USA. You need to be 21 to legally drink alcohol in most states. One of the attractions of Mexico is that the legal drinking age is notionally 18. With South Padre Island being only half an hour from the Mexican border, it is popular with the younger students.

With the advent of cheaper airfares and more affluence amongst the student population, international destinations like Cancun and Acapulco in Mexico and the Bahamas have become even more popular.