Looking for the best Midwest spring break destinations in 2025? The Midwest offers incredible options for families looking to combine outdoor adventures with cultural experiences.

Whether you’re seeking vibrant cities, scenic countryside, or family-friendly attractions, these 13 Midwest destinations promise memorable spring breaks without leaving the region.

Why Stay in the Midwest for Spring Break?

Benefits of Staying Close to Home

Staying in the Midwest for spring break offers convenience and affordability. You’ll save money on flights and long road trips, which means you can splurge on unique experiences or upscale accommodations. Shorter travel distances reduce stress, especially for families with kids, and you can make the most of your vacation time instead of spending hours en route. Plus, the Midwest is packed with hidden gems, so you won’t miss out on adventure or relaxation.

Support Local Businesses and Communities

Choosing a Midwest destination means supporting local economies. From charming family-owned inns to unique restaurants and shops, your vacation dollars go directly to the communities you visit. It’s also a chance to explore the region’s history, culture, and natural beauty in a meaningful way.

Fewer Crowds, More Relaxation

Unlike major coastal hotspots, Midwest destinations are often less crowded. This means you’ll spend less time waiting in lines and more time enjoying your activities. Parks, museums, and attractions are typically more accessible, making it easier to plan a stress-free vacation.

Diverse Activities for Everyone

The Midwest offers something for every kind of traveler. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, biking, and exploring nature preserves. History buffs will love the museums and historic landmarks. Families can choose from interactive children’s museums, zoos, and aquariums. Whatever your interests, the region provides endless opportunities for fun.

Weather in the Midwest: Be Prepared for Variety

Spring weather in the Midwest is famously unpredictable, ranging from sunny and warm to chilly and rainy. This variety allows for both indoor and outdoor adventures. Pack layers to stay comfortable and prepare for all possibilities—whether it’s a hike in the sunshine or exploring an indoor waterpark on a rainy day. The ever-changing weather adds a sense of spontaneity to your trip, making it even more memorable.

Top Midwest Spring Break Destinations for Families

The vibrant city of St. Louis has many star attractions that your family will love! Ranked seventh in the country for the Best Weekend Getaways in the Midwest, St. Louis is my top pick for Spring Break 2024 in the Midwest!

St. Louis, Missouri: Iconic Attractions and Family Fun

Not only is mild weather a reasonable expectation, but you’ll be able to explore many free attractions, a US National Park, take in three different professional sports games, and so much more!

What to Do in St. Louis

You will find many reasons to head St. Louis for Spring Break!

• The Gateway Arch National Park and the Westward Expansion Museum
• Union Station
• City Museum
• Forest Park – many free attractions for budget friendly fun
• St. Louis Zoo – free to visit the St. Louis!
• St. Louis Cardinals MLB game – 2025 home opener is April 4
• St. Louis Blues NHL – last home game for 2025 is April 15
• St. Louis City Professional Soccer – 2025 season starts February 22 in St. Louis
• Eat Imo’s Pizza for a real taste of St. Louis

Where to Stay in St. Louis

If you’d like to stay in a convenient downtown location inside a National Historic Landmark, we highly recommend the St. Louis Union Station Hotel. With beautiful appointed rooms in a historic train station, you’ll find lots of love about this St. Louis hotel. Make sure to watch their hourly laser light shows, even if you stay somewhere else.

We also think Drury Hotels are great for families and there are several in the St. Louis area including one downtown at Union Station.

Read 19 reasons St. Louis is our #1 Midwest Spring Break destination!

Indianapolis, Indiana: Spring Break Excitement

I was surprised to learn how many amazing things there are to do in Indiana during trips in 2023 to both Hendricks County and Hamilton County – suburbs of the greater Indianapolis area. Not only do these counties have an amazing food scene, but they also offer so many activities for kids of all ages – including tweens and teens.

Unique Indiana Activities for Families

Your family will love a lot about spring break in the greater Indianapolis area. At just about five hours from Eastern Iowa, the distance is doable and the attractions are fun!

What we also really love about visiting the greater Indianapolis area of Hendricks County or Hamilton County in the spring of 2024 is the potential to see the upcoming solar eclipse! If your spring break includes the date of April 8, you will want to be in the path of totality, and the Indianapolis area is a winner winner!

Beyond that, greater Indianapolis area offers a taste of city life, rural life in Hendricks County and a good appreciate for the arts in Hamilton County. Here are more things your family can look forward to on an Indiana Spring Break:

• Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
• Conner Prairie: Indiana’s Living History Museum – 2024 season opens March 26
• Get outside by Exploring the Monon Trail and McCloud Nature Park
• Love on rescue animals at Oinking Acres Farm Rescue & Sanctuary
• Family Friendly Improv at Red Curb Comedy
• Zipling and horseback rides at Strawtown Koteewi Park or Natural Valley Ranch

If you want to stay in Indianapolis, we recommend the staying at the Crowne Plaza Indianapolis in one of their authentic Pullman Train Car guest rooms!

Best Places to Stay in Indianapolis Area

If you’re looking for accommodations for large families or groups, check out these two vacation rental houses at Natural Valley Ranch – The Cabin and the Cottage. These multi-bedroom houses are perfect for large families or groups seeking a country adventure.

Best Family-Friendly Spring Break Destinations in Iowa

Dubuque, Iowa: Mississippi River Charm

Located just north of the Quad Cities along the Mississippi River, Dubuque has a lot of fun things your kids will enjoy over their Spring Break. From eating, to art, to museums, and learning about the river, here are a few things we think you will love in Dubuque!

• National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
• Grand Harbor Resort & Water Park
• Mines of Spain State Recreation Area
• Fenelon Place Elevator
• Lots of murals
• Sundown Mountain for skiing if the weather is still cold

We recommend staying at Grand Harbor Resort for water park access! Make sure to check out this post for more information about all of the fun things to do in Dubuque, Iowa.

Pella, Iowa: Dutch Culture in the Heartland

You don’t have to go far for a taste of Europe in the Midwest! Pella, located 30 minutes from Des Moines, is a bit like stepping into a Dutch fairy tale. It’s fun to visit during Christmas or for the beautiful Pella Tulip Time festival in May, but there are a lot of things you could do there during a spring break visit as well!

• Visit the Pella Historical Village
• Tour Wyatt Earp’s boyhood home
• Eat a Dutch letter cookie at one of the local Dutch bakeries
• Take a tour of the working windmill
• Try traditional Dutch food like Stamppot and Oliebollen

We stayed at the Grand Stay Hotel and Suites just a bit out of town. The Amsterdam Hotel is located right in the heart of Pella off the Molengracht Plaza, if you’re looking for a boutique hotel in downtown Pella. Make sure to read this post about all the fun things to do in Pella, Iowa.

Quad Cities, Iowa-Illinois: River Adventures and More

Another Iowa River town, the Quad Cities is actually a collection of cities spanning Iowa and Illinois. I head to the Quad Cities a couple times a month to go to Costco, so going there would be considered a stay-cation or an everyday activity for my family. But there are a lot of neat things your family will enjoy about the Quad Cities, especially if you’ve never been there before!

• Take a riverboat cruise along the Mississippi River
• Visit the Figge Art Museum, enjoy free admission on Thursdays from 5-9 pm!
• Visit the Putman Science Museum
• Head out to the World’s Largest Truck Stop & Iowa 80 Trucking Museum, also a free visit!
• If the weather is nice, take a bike-ride along the river
• Bettendorf Family Museum, something your younger children will enjoy!
• Scott County Park & Dan Nagle Walnut Grove Pioneer Village
• John Deere Pavillion, located in Moline, Illinois

Don’t forget to try a Happy Joe’s taco pizza and Whitey’s ice cream if you visit the Quad Cities! Because it’s so close, we’ve not actually stayed in a hotel in the Quad Cities, but if I were to stay there, I would check out the Hotel Blackhawk in the downtown area.

Chicago, Illinois: A City of Endless Opportunities

Must-See Attractions in Chicago

Chicago has long been our go-to city when we need a cultured, urban experience. Located only three hours from Eastern Iowa, Chicago is an amazing city to explore. For a really fun treat, take Amtrak from Galesburg to Chicago and make your way around the city on public transportation. Here some of our favorite places to explore in Chicago:

• The Bean
• Chicago Field Museum
• Cubs game at Wrigley Stadium
• Sky Deck at Willis Tower
• Architecture boat tour
• Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, make sure to buy the extra ticket for the German U-Boat tour experience!!
• Chicago Museum of Art, find the original American Gothic painting by Iowa artist, Grant Wood
• Lunch at the SafeHouse Chicago, a fun spy bar that you need a secret password to enter!

Save money with a Chicago CityPASS if you plan to hit the museums! We enjoy staying at one of the Embassy Suites when we visit Chicago with our kids. Their make your own omelet station is one of our kids’ favorite vacation breakfasts, and they have free happy hour for the grown ups too. Win-win!

Midwest Spring Break Destinations in Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri: A Blend of History and Modern Fun

A five hour drive from Eastern Iowa. Kansas City is another great spring break destination because of its many attractions and events. The city has a variety of museums, including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Money Museum, which are both free to visit. Kansas City spans both Missouri and Kansas so if you’ll find twice the number of things to do! Here are some of our favorite things to do in Kansas City

• Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
• Money Museum
• National World War I Museum
• Kansas City Plaza
• Harry S Truman Presidential Library & Museum – sneak in some learning

Our kids really enjoyed staying at the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas, if you’re looking for hotel recommendations! Learn more about things to do in Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas in these posts by Little Family Adventure. If you’re looking for delicious restaurants in Kansas City, Ks, here you go!

Springfield, Missouri: Outdoor Adventures and History

At 6 1/2 hours away, Springfield, Missouri is a little bit further than some of the other destinations on this list, but we still recommend considering this town! You can probably expect Spring Break temps in the high 50s or 60s, which I consider reasonable for indoor or outdoor activities if the sun is shining. Here are some things to do Springfield and the surrounding area:

• A visit to the Original Bass Pro Shop
• A trip to Fantastic Caverns
• Discovery Center Science Museum
• Fritz’s Adventure for indoor, adventure-based family fun
• History Museum on the Square
• Ghost Tour at Pythian Castle
• Springfield is 30 minutes from Branson which is full of touristy things to do
• Springfield is about an hour from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Rocky Ridge Farm – highly recommend a day trip!
• Baker Creek Seeds is also near Rocky Ridge Farm, so plan to visit both one day

We stayed the Drury Inn in Springfield and really liked their free dinner, free breakfast, and free happy hour! For more information about family-friendly fun in the Springfield, Mo area, read this post!

Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota: Indoor and Outdoor Fun

Best Family-Friendly Activities in Minneapolis

With average temperatures in the 40s in March in Minneapolis-St. Paul, you will most likely want to seek out indoor activities for Spring Break. Lucky for you, there are a lot of fun indoor activities your family will enjoy in the Minneapolis area!

• Mall of America – from delicious food to world class shopping to an indoor amusement park, your family will really enjoy spending some time at the Mall of America! Plan to spend at least two days at the Mall of America if you want to do all of things.
• One of our favorite activities at the Mall of America was doing an Escape Room – make sure to check out The Escape Game and save the world!
• Can-Can Wonderland – whimsical indoor miniature gold course with amazing food! They’re open Thursday – Sunday and I highly recommend a visit!
• Science Museum Minnesota – located along the river in St. Paul
• Mill City Museum – Bank of America and Merrill Lynch card holders get one FREE admission on the first full weekend of every month
• Walker Art Center – your art lovers will really enjoy this art museum in downtown Minneapolis and teens get free admission every single day!

If you’re looking for a family-friendly hotel, our family really enjoyed the Best Western Plus located a quick walk from the Mall of America. A more upscale option is staying at the Radisson Blu in the Mall. There’s also a Great Wolf Lodge located very near the Mall of America too!

Omaha, Nebraska: Hidden Gems in the Midwest

Omaha, Nebraska

You’ll find Omaha is a quick 4 hour drive west across Iowa. We generally pass right through on our way somewhere, but it’s definitely worth stopping in Omaha! From a world class zoo (with very warm indoor areas) to a vibrant downtown and food scene, and lots of fun, interactive museums your kids will enjoy – I highly recommend spending a few days here!

• The Omaha Zoo- you will love this zoo even if it’s cold
• The Durham Museum – interactive history and science museum
• Lauritzen Botanical Gardens – the inside exhibits are also fabulous
• Kenefick Park
• Omaha Children’s Museum
• Get ice cream at Coneflower Creamery 
• Your older kids might enjoy a True Crime or Culinary Tour

Learn more about what to do in Omaha in this post!

Midwest Spring Break Destinations in Wisconsin

Door County, Wisconsin

A 6 1/2 hour drive from Eastern Iowa, Door County is a beautiful spot along the Green Bay and Lake Michigan that you have to visit – preferably in each season.

Most people head there in the summer, but there are plenty of things to do in the spring as well. And it’s a less crowded time to visit! This is the one place I would wish for cold weather because there are so many fun winter activities to do in Door County! A few things your family will enjoy doing in Door County include:

• Open Door Bird Sanctuary – Find a time to see their beautiful raptors
• Ice Fishing with JJ Malvitz Guide Services – depends on weather and ice depth, but super fun and highly recommend!
• Popelka Trenhard Glass Fine Art Gallery & Studio – stop in and watch master artists blow glass!
• Grab a pizza at Sonny’s Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria
• Crossroads Big Creek Nature Preserve – a 200-acre preserve that honors the Native People and the settlers of Door County. Take a stroll outside or participate in an experience-based learning activity if available.
• Ridges Sanctuary – learn about the Door County’s Boreal Forest as you take walk on the Hidden Brook Boardwalk and explore the indoor nature center.
• Take a guided fat tire e-bike tour of Whitefish Dunes State Park with Door County Kayak – wear warm clothes, mittens, and bring sunglasses!
• Door County Maritime Museum – learn about many lighthouses, ship wrecks and ship building, steer a boat through treacherous channels and more! This is fun, interactive museum with a great view from the top!

The Landing Resort has suites perfect for families, walking trails, and an indoor pool. Ot, stay the The Dörr for a more upscale experience.

Read this post on What to Do in Door County in the Winter for more vacation inspiration!

Five Non-Midwest Spring Break Destinations

Huntsville, Alabama – I’ve been to Huntsville several times now and always leave more impressed than I was. If you have a kid interested in NASA and STEM – this is definitely the city for you. But there is a lot more to do than just that too!

Gulf Shores / Orange Beach, Alabama – the closest, and some say the most beautiful, beach to Iowa has a lot of fun things to do! Also read, 29 Family-Friendly Things to do at Gulf State Park (+where to eat, where to stay!)

Colorado – Colorado is amazing for skiing (check out our favorite affordable family-friendly ski resort!) and we really enjoy visiting Denver and Colorado Springs too! We also enjoy taking the overnight Amtrak train to Denver instead of driving. A super fun way to get to your spring break destination!

Panama City Beach Florida – well, Florida is just iconic spring break, isn’t it? We also love visiting friends in the Bradenton/Sarasota area and find lots of fun things to do there besides being beach bums.

I hope this post inspires you to seek out a new adventure! Where's your favorite place to spend spring break?