Where to Travel to Avoid the Crowds This Spring

by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 12:00 PM ET, Fri March 1, 2024

The spring break travel season has arrived and with it have the crowds.

Many premier destinations are seeing surging demand that inevitably leads to not only hordes of tourists but soaring travel costs.

The good news is that there are plenty of lesser-visited locales that spring break travelers can discover without feeling rushed or cramped.

Here are some of the best places to stray from the crowd this spring.

Lake Forest, Illinois

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan just a 40-minute train ride (Metra line) north of Chicago, Lake Forest is an idyllic Midwest destination for escaping the spring break and summer crowds in 2024.

Visitors can look forward to a relaxing walk through the 385-acre Chicago Botanic Garden, enjoy a gin tasting at Koval Distillery—the first distillery in Chicago since Prohibition—and peruse locally owned shops in the city's Historic Market Square.

To make the most of your visit, consider the 57-room Deer Path Inn, a boutique hotel that will remind guests of an English manor house. The North Shore landmark boasts spacious accommodations, a special afternoon tea service, and mouthwatering dishes and drinks from sushi to bangers and mash across three different restaurants.

St. George's, Bermuda

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest English settlement in the New World, St. George's is an excellent alternative to the more visited city of Hamilton, Bermuda.

The town features beautiful beaches, of course, as well as plentiful charm in the form of cobblestone streets, pastel-colored houses and historic landmarks like St. Peter’s Church, which is the oldest Anglican church in the western hemisphere.

Travelers can elevate their stay here with a luxury stay at The St. Regis Bermuda Resort, which features a premier beachside location next to Fort St. Catherine. The property's special partnership with local tour guide, author and activist Kristen White ensures that guests will come away with an authentic St. George's experience.

Clarksville, Tennessee

Escape the crowds in Nashville without sacrificing the free live music by venturing about 45 minutes northwest to Clarksville in Montgomery County, Tennessee.

An affordable and slower-paced alternative to the Music City, Clarksville boasts an easy-to-navigate downtown area along the Cumberland River that includes highlights such as the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center—the state's largest general history museum with a dedicated kids floor—and a professional performing arts venue in the Roxy Regional Theatre in addition to coffee shops, art galleries, bars and restaurants and locally owned shops.

Visitors can also stroll the five-mile riverwalk, and relax in multiple parks and a marina. Nearby adventure opportunities include scenic hiking and biking trails like the nine-mile Clarksville Greenway, rock climbing on the Cumberland's bluffs and the only publicly accessible cave in the world with visible 14th Century Native American Mississippian art at Dunbar Cave State Park.

If that weren't enough, Clarksville is home to Tennessee's oldest single-family-owned winery—Beachaven—as well as three distilleries, and a handful of breweries.

Canberra and Hobart, Australia

Travelers heading Down Under will undoubtedly be drawn to places like Sydney and Melbourne but if they want to experience the best Australia has to offer minus the crowds, Canberra and Hobart are superb alternatives.

The capital of Australia, Canberra has everything you want from an overseas destination, including friendly locals, gourmet restaurants and unique cultural attractions such as the National Gallery of Australia, National Library, Nishi Gallery and National Arboretum.

View of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia from Mount Wellington

On the island state of Tasmania, the capital of Hobart is a creative and charming destination sure to be a hit with history buffs. Highlights include the Mona (Museum of Old and New Art) and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site, among others.

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Southern Pennsylvania's Lancaster County is the perfect place to escape the stress and noise this spring. Renowned for its history and charm, this slice of Amish paradise is both convenient and ideal for spring breakers traveling from big cities like Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York.

For an authentic Lancaster County experience in between touring farmers' markets, museums and historic landmarks, travelers can stay at the 86-room AmishView Inn & Suites, which offers a bed and breakfast vibe with all the resort amenities, including a pool, robust breakfast buffet, on-property shopping—there's no sales tax on clothes in Pennsylvania—and a restaurant.

The property is minutes from premier attractions like the Kitchen Kettle Village, the Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market & Artisan Village, Sight & Sound Theatre, American Music Theater and downtown Lancaster and is the perfect starting point for Amish tours and buggy rides.

Yakima Valley, Washington

Visitors to Washington State may bypass bustling Seattle in favor of the spectacular Yakima Valley roughly two hours away. This region is celebrated for not only its wide-ranging opportunities for adventure but also for incredible wines, awesome craft beer and other locally sourced flavors.

Travelers will find tranquility touring the valley's sprawling orchards and vineyards and can reconnect with unparalleled nature on a rewarding hike or scenic drive on routes like the White Pass and Chinook Pass Scenic Byways.

Martin County, Florida

The Sunshine State is certainly a popular spring break destination. Still, visitors can break from the pack in Martin County, home to the most bio-diverse lagoon ecosystem in the Northern Hemisphere.

Nestled along South Florida’s Treasure Coast region between Miami and Orlando, this hidden gem boasts over 22 miles of uncrowded beaches and 100,000-plus acres of parks and conservation lands. Its unique county-wide, four-story building height restriction means visitors will encounter far fewer crowds compared to Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

Paddleboarder in Jensen Beach in Martin County, Florida

Travelers to Martin County can also look forward to world-class fishing and water sports as well as endless charm in quaint downtown districts such as historic downtown Stuart and downtown Jensen Beach. The former was even named "America’s Happiest Seaside Town" by Coastal Living magazine.

Texas Hill Country

Scenic Texas Hill Country offers travelers serenity in bunches this spring. Visitors can set up shop at the 550-acre La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio.

Boasting sweeping views of the city, property highlights include the Loma Vida Spa and Wellness with Sky Loft treatment rooms with outdoor shower or soaking tubs that overlook nature, an adults-only pool and accommodations and even secluded villas with their own pool and private transportation to resort amenities including five heated swimming pools and 10 restaurants.

West Virginia

From charming mountain towns to serene country roads, West Virginia offers a wide range of experiences for travelers looking to escape the crowds in 2024.

Find some calm riding one of the largest off-roading trail systems in the country (Hatfield-McCoy Trails), stargaze in Watoga State Park or Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, hike the magnificent Monongahela National Forest or tee off on your pick from dozens of spectacular golf courses.

In between each new adventure, consider stopping off in one of the state's slower-paced small towns like Wardensville, Davis, Thomas, Lewisburg and Fayetteville.

Loudoun County, Virginia

A short drive outside of Washington, D.C., Virginia's Loudoun County is a picturesque and peaceful setting where visitors can sample some of the country's best vino at more than 50 wineries and tasting rooms in addition to breweries and farm-to-table restaurants.

The region also features an expansive network of hiking and biking trails that allow travelers to explore nature before winding down with a rejuvenating treatment at top spas like the Spa at Lansdowne and Salamander Spa.

Plus, Loudoun County is full of charm in the form of tiny historic villages like Taylorstown, Morrisonville, Unison and Willisville where visitors can take a step back in time.

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