With flight prices soaring higher than the planes themselves, spring is the perfect time to rediscover the classic American road trip. They also work if your plans are still in limbo so you need a flexible itinerary.
Three places in particular are the ultimate spring road trip destinations, which we’ll touch on in a bit, but also feel free to stay more local. Either way, gas up, grab snacks, and point the car toward adventure. You definitely do not need a boarding pass to travel well!
Coachella Valley | California
main airport: Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
average spring temperatures (F): high 70s to low 90s (March vs May) and cool, pleasant nights in the 50s and 60s
main highlights: art and culture events, spa experiences, golf, Joshua Tree National Park, desert landscapes
where to stay: Best Western Plus Coachella Valley Inn & Suites ($), The Good House ($$), Thompson Palm Springs ($$$$)
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(Kijung Sung / 500px via Getty Images)
If there is a season when the Coachella Valley truly earns its reputation as a road-trip playground, it is spring. The desert climate finally finds its sweet spot. Days are warm without being unbearably punishing, evenings are pleasant enough to snuggle up but doesn’t require bundling up, and the days are long enough to explore the various surrounding desert cities but also leave time for breathtaking stargazing.
That might’ve sold the destination already, but there’s more.
I recommend staying yourself in one or two places, depending how long you stay. For most folks, being based in Palm Springs will fit any road-trip plan. There’s fun midcentury modern shopping boutiques, interesting museums and cultural centers, and incredible restaurants (Pit Boss BBQ & Soul Food, Bar Issi, and Rooster and the Pig to name just a few). It’s the most “city-like” you can get in Coachella Valley and the liveliness helps set the mood for the trip.
That said, there are also great lodging and accommodations in the surrounding desert cities if you prefer something quieter, and since they’re all relatively close together it really comes down to preference.
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(Robert Brill via Getty Images)
Spring is the best time to experience Coachella Valley because the landscape just blooms. Literally, there are hundreds of wildflower trails and parks all over the desert, splashing unexpected color across the surrounding hills. Joshua Tree National Park and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park offer trails for all skill levels so the outdoors is accessible to everyone.
Spring is also festival season. Music fans descend for Coachella Music Festival and the country-leaning Stagecoach Festival, food fanatics can get excited for the Palm Springs Food & Wine Festival, art lovers have the perfect road trip itinerary during Desert X, and tennis lovers cannot miss the BNP Paribas Open.
The Florida Keys | Florida
main airport: technically Key West International Airport (EYW), but I like to fly into Miami International Airport (MIA)
average spring temperatures: high 70s to mid 80s (March vs May) and comfortably pleasant nights in the low 70s
main highlights: water-based activities, tropical weather, vibrant nightlife
where to stay: Seafarer Key Largo ($$), Waterside Suites & Marina ($$$), Ocean Key Resort ($$$$)
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(Cristian Lourenço via Getty Images)
I just want to give you a heads up now. The Florida Keys is not a budget destination, but it is definitely worth the price!
Personally, I like to fly into the Miami airport because it’s cheaper annddd I like to grab a bite to eat. I could spend the entire time in Miami, but if you want to get your wheels rolling, definitely make the drive to the Florida Keys, a 120-mile (193-km) stretch of over 800 coral islands from the tip of Florida out across the Gulf of Mexico affectionately called the “American Caribbean.”
The journey down the Overseas Highway feels less like a highway and more like a scenic bridge that forgot to end, hopping from island to island with turquoise water on both sides. It is essential that you visit in spring because not only do you avoid hurricane season in fall and the high holiday prices of winter, but you also avoid the sticky and unrelenting humid heat of summer.
While the beaches are stunning and you could spend your whole road-trip beach hopping, you’ll find there’s a lot more water activities depending on the island you stop at. Key Largo is known as the diving capital of the world and even has it’s own (John Pennekamp) Coral Reef State Park.
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(Jacob Boomsma via Getty Images)
Islamorada is a hotspot for sport fishing, Marathon is the more family-friendly stop with a Turtle Hospital and the iconic Seven Mile Bridge, or you could take a trip out to the remote Dry Tortugas National Park for some incredible birdwatching.
Or if you was vibrant nightlife, historic sites, and nightly sunset celebrations, head to the southernmost point of the continental US – Key West.
Oregon Wine Country | Oregon
main airport: Portland International Airport (PDX)
average spring temperatures: mid 50s to high 60s (March vs May) with nights in the 40s
main highlights: world-famous wine tasting, farm-to-table dining, relaxing and rejuvenating environment
where to stay: The Vintages Trailer Resort ($), Atticus Hotel ($$), Black Walnut Inn & Vineyard ($$$)
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(Luis D. Barrera Gamboa via Getty Images)
Last but certainly not list, for wine lovers everywhere, you need to add Oregon’s Willamette Valley to your spring road-trip bucketlist.
This is a destination if you crave a slower road-trip, one that involves cruising down winding scenic paths, stopping at beautiful vistas for good food and even better drinks, and just relaxing. In spring, the vineyards of the Willamette Valley, Oregon’s wine country, wake up after winter with fresh green vines and mustard flowers between the rows.
Just a heads up though, Oregon springs can be quite unpredictable, but that also allows for flexibility depending on your interests. If you like moodier crisp days, visit in March where you can slowly drift between vineyards between light showers and let the soft drizzle lull you to sleep at night. For slightly more adventurous, May’s extended sunlight allows for more outdoor exploration in the surrounding areas.
Either way though, there’s a reason Oregon is so lush, so pack a rain jacket just in case.
Each vineyard is so unique and different, so winery hopping is not only recommended but strongly implied, with neighboring wineries forming local self-guided tours and useful routes to help get you from place to place. To get you started, a few of my personal favorite wineries are Abbey Creek Vineyard, Ponzi Vineyards, and CHO Wines – just to get you started!
If you don’t want to plan on a DD, I recommend signing up for a wine tasting tour so you can safely be returned to your beautiful accommodations in one piece.
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Spring also blooms some great local events, like Oregon Wine Month in May, when wineries host special tastings, dinners, and small events scattered across the valley. There’s also the annual AAPI Food & Wine Festival that pairs Oregon’s acclaimed chefs and world-famous wines for an innovating tasting experience.
Wine lovers come for the region’s celebrated Pinot noir, of course, but the real charm is the pace. We live in such a hectic and busy time, but the Willamette Valley calls you to live in the moment.
Answer that call.
