Midwest Spring Break Ideas☀️🗺️🌊
Budget version bc it's rough out there folks
I love (most) of the cold and dark winters up on Lake Superior but lately I want to feel the sun on my face so badly it’s making my stomach hurt. I want to read in the back of my car with the tailgate open and string lights while it drizzles outside. I want to pitch a tent next to a beach with lapping waves.
I know we’re maybe halfway through winter proper, but I am ready to see the sun again (which is good, because I have a handful of warmer trips coming up I’m in the process of planning). So if you’re ready to see the sun again on a shoe-string budget I’ve got some ideas for you:
Red River Gorge, Kentucky
Kentucky’s Red River Gorge is home to the highest concentration of natural sandstone arches outside of Arches National Park (allegedly and according to some park promotional materials). There’s great rock climbing, hiking, a cute coffee shop or two and a number of nice campgrounds to choose from.
April and May make for decent camping weather, with early May and late April being especially nice with the blooming Mountain Laurel. If you’re looking for somewhere that feels like an exotic and far-flung national park destination, but without the air travel, RRG is the spot for you.
At a glance: budget-friendly & road trippable
Red River Gorge is a quick and shoestring-budget style trip for most travelers. You can find cheap (or even free if you know the Forest Service roads) camping, or book a small cabin, and for a lot of Midwesterners it’s a reasonable one-day drive. (Not for me, but I’m looking at you Detroit and Chicago!).
Even if you camp as early as March, you’re likely to find the winter car camping conditions to be more friendly, with lows in the 40s overnight which in my opinion isn’t bad at all if you have a 20 degree bag and thick sleeping pad.
READ: Best Hiking in the Red River Gorge
2) Las Vegas Hiking Trip
I’m a big fan of a Desert Spring Break for a few reasons — biggest reason is the sunshine and heat coming from snowy Northern Wisconsin. Second biggest reason is inexpensive direct flights to Vegas. Generally, flights from Midwest hub airports to Vegas are super affordable, and with a group of friends, this can easily be a less expensive alternative to a tropical vacation.
Check out places like Valley of Fire State Park, the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Joshua Tree, or Red Rock!
At a glance: exciting and can keep within reasonable budget
If you’ve got just three or so days and want to get somewhere warm, seriously look at Vegas. Hotels in the city are cheap, you can split a rental car with some friends and do Valley of Fire one day and Red Rock Canyon the next, and if you rally a group of friends to split costs I would bet you could pull this off easily under $700 a person.
READ: Best Hiking near Las Vegas (Desert Spring Break)
3) Northern Wisconsin Waterfall Road Trip
If your spring break doesn’t have to be warm and wilderness is more important, consider diving into a Northern Wisconsin Waterfall Road Trip. Here, you’ll find both winter car camping options and budget-friendly hotels. Personally, I think the best part of a Northern Wisconsin over spring break is the lack of crowds. Up here in the spring it can really feel like you have a beautiful place entirely to yourself.
Check out Copper Falls State Park, Pattison State Park, and the hiking and waterfalls of the Bayfield Peninsula. March is likely to still see icy and frozen conditions on trails (see above, left) but come April a lot of the rivers free up and waterfall season begins.
At a glance: solitude and budget-friendly road trip
I’ve cruised the Northern Wisconsin waterfall circuit (plus Ironwood, MI) at least twice in March and can recommend. Roads might still be dicey here and there, but depending on the year it can really feel like spring. Biggest pro for sure is that you’re likely to have almost any falls you visit to yourself. The big state parks still have open campgrounds in the winter, and if you pack your own food from what you have at home you can have your only expenses be gas, camping, and a few park passes.
READ: 11 Midwest Spring Break Ideas
4) Shawnee National Forest, Illinois
Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest is tucked away in the very south of the the state and home to a lot of really unique geology! This is a great camping and hiking destination for families or people looking for Jungle Book vibes but in the Midwest. You can find lots of canyon-like features, caves and waterfalls. Garden of the Gods is probably the coolest place to visit in the area with first-come, first-serve camping near by!
Similar to the Red River Gorge, true spring will happen in April and even March and it’s likely to already be fairly warm by the beginning of May, making the Shawnee National Forest a great outdoorsy spring break especially for people from Chicago. Because this Midwest destination is relatively far south, it can make for a really excellent spring break camping destination.
READ: Weekend Guide to the Shawnee National Forest
At a glance: wilderness, waterfalls and off-the-beaten path
I found the Shawnee National Forest to be very similar to the Red River Gorge, but more remote feeling. For reference, I was down here the last week of April and it already felt like full summer to me, which in my opinion makes it a really strong spring break camping trip contender. Short of your drive times, this spot is pretty much impossible to not keep budget-friendly if you’re camping, because there just aren’t all that many places to spend money!
Midwest Adventure Planning Resources:
Secret Trip Launch!!!! Guided Women’s Rock Climbing in Interstate State Park:
We’re back baby! Women’s rock climbing in Interstate State Park on the St. Croix River returns for it’s third year! Come join guides Mason, Annika and me (definietly not a guide climbing is still scary to me I will need gentle encouragement and cheering!) for a super fun weekend of climbing, hiking and hanging out with a bunch of rad ladies (and Mason!)
This is seriously always such a fun event, I love working with the folks at Forged Guides, and this is such a great beginner-friendly event to get women outside and making friends. Come for one or both days, I’ll organize camping nearby for anyone looking for a place to crash. I have some limited loaner camping gear available, so please contact me directly if you need a tent, sleeping bag or pad for the weekend!
*Note! Please remember to bring a tip for guides Mason & Annika!
Your writing is always so fascinating, as I love to travel but am a bit home locked at the moment with my babes at home:).
Valley of Fire is an underrated gem. Car camp outta a rental!