If you’ve lived in Florida for long enough, you know that spring break brings hordes of crowds every year – from families looking to escape the cold and sit on a warm, quiet beachfront, to college students hoping to kickstart the summer at beachfront parties and bars.

For many Floridians – particularly those who live in beach towns that attract college students on vacation – spring break is a dreaded few weeks that bring traffic and throngs of party-ready students.

And spring break is less than a month away for most of Florida’s college students. Ahead of spring break 2025, BonusFinder , a comparison tool for online gambling sites, released a study ranking the best “party cities” in the U.S. for 2025.

Three of Florida’s spring break hotspots, including Daytona Beach and Panama City, dominated the top five spots on the list.

Here’s BonusFinder’s list of the best party cities in the U.S. this year, which Florida cities ranked and why.

What is the biggest party beach in Florida?

It depends on who you ask and which study or “best” list you read – but no matter where they place, Panama City Beach, Daytona Beach and Miami Beach almost always make the list.

Based on that methodology, Key West, Florida, placed as the top party city in the U.S. and Panama City took second place. Daytona Beach took fourth place, right behind Atlantic City, New Jersey, which ranked third.

Is Key West known for partying?

Of all the Florida Keys, Key West is widely known for having the best and most nightlife options. And that is clearly reflected in BonusFinder’s study.

“The city’s commitment to keeping the party going extends beyond just nightlife. Late-night food options are abundant, with Key West ranking No. 1 for the number of late-night eateries, making it easy to grab a bite after a night out,” BonusFinder’s study says .

“The city also leads the nation in the number of hotels per capita—so you’ll never have trouble finding a place to crash. However, expect to pay a premium for your stay, as Key West ranks as the most expensive hotel rooms in the country, with an average room costing around $490 per night.”

See why Daytona Beach ranks high on this list of best party cities

Daytona Beach took fourth place on BonusFinder’s list, for its abundance of late-night food and entertainment options, while ranking low in the safety category.

“The city does have its downsides—bars close earlier than some of the top-ranked party cities, with last call at 2:30 AM,” the study says.

“Additionally, Daytona Beach ranks 156th on the safety index, meaning visitors should stay aware, especially in busy nightlife areas.”

What week is spring break in Florida?

Spring break for most counties in Florida will land in the third week of March, some counties will have spring break later in March or in early April. See the spring break dates for all of Florida’s 67 counties here .

Most Florida colleges and universities will have their spring break within the first two weeks of March.

Spring break 2025 dates for Florida universities

Spring break 2025 dates for Florida colleges