California Spring Break

There are many reason students and families select California beaches for Spring Break vacations. California still holds that magical attraction when it comes to setting trends, especially in the music, fashion and youth lifestyle scene.

University of California (UC) Spring Break 
University of California (UC) Spring Break
 March 21-29, 2026 | class resumes March 30, 2026
UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC San Francisco, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz

Cal State University Spring Break:

• March 14-22, 2026 Cal State Chico, Humboldt, Sonoma
• March 21-29, 2026 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cal State Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, San Marcos, Monterey Bay, Northridge, San Francisco, Los Angeles
• March 28-April 5, 2026 Cal State Dominguez Hills, Fullerton, Long Beach, San Diego State, Stanislaus State, San Jose State, Fresno State
  So where to people go on Spring Break beach vacations when they come to California?

The top places they visit are Los Angeles County beaches: Santa Monica, Hermosa, Redondo, Malibu, Venice and Manhattan. 

Second most popular beaches on the 1,000 miles of California coast are San Diego's beaches: La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Encinitas, Del Mar, Solano and Oceanside are the favorites. The most popular among them is probably San Diego's eclectic beach scene at Pacific Beach and "OB". There are some affordable hotel accommodations right next to the beach, and some pretty nice resorts, as well.

Third most popular beaches are Orange County beaches: Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, San Clemente, Newport Beach and Dana Point are among the favorites. Many of these beaches have bonfire rings (free, first come, first serve) and there's always that incredibly laid back beach vibe along this portion of the coast. The most vacation rentals to be had are located in Newport Beach, then San Clemente. There are plenty of hotels along the entire coastal stretch, as well.

Fourth most popular Spring Break beach vacations happen in Santa Barbara on the Central Coast. This is where wine country meets beach living, but of course, the University of California Santa Barbara is one of the most beloved colleges, so many students who can't afford to travel will stick around and surf, sunbathe, or just relax.

Fifth most popular destination (by the numbers, not the percent of visitors for size,) is Pismo Beach and Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County. There are some great hotels directly on the beach or on cliffs with stairways and beach access. It's a little cooler on the Central Coast than Southern California, but not a lot. Temperatures are generally around 7-10 degrees cooler than their southern counterparts.