26-02-2025
'It's a Party in the U.S.A' This list ranks Panama City among the best
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.
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.
For its study, BonusFinder analyzed more than 100 cities across the country across the following metrics:
Number of Clubs and Bars (Per 10,000 People)
Number of Late Night Food Venues (Per 10,000 People)
Number of Hotels (Per 10,000 People)
Number of Casinos and Card Rooms (Per 10,000 People)
Time of the Last Call at the Bar (on a regular Saturday)
Average Number of Parties on a Special Weekend (Per 10,000 People)
Average Number of Concerts on a Regular Weekend (Per 10,000 People)
Average Number of Festivals (Per 10,000 People)
Average Price of a Drink
Average Price of a Hotel Room
Average Taxi Cost from the Airport to the City Center
Average Price of a Meal in a Fast Food Restaurant
Safety Index (out of 100)
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.
Here's BonusFinder's top 10 best party cities in the U.S. for 2025:
Key West, Florida
Panama City, Florida
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Daytona Beach, Florida
Biloxi, Mississippi
Las Vegas, Nevada
Charleston, West Virginia
Reno, Nevada
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Albany, New York
Curfews and beach bag searches: This Florida city cracks down on spring break. What to know
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.'
Here are the categories Key West placed top 5 in:
First for the Number of Clubs and Bars
First for the Average Number of Parties on a Special Weekend
First for the Number of Late Night Food Venues
First for the Number of Hotels
Second for the Average Number of Festivals
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.'
Here's how Daytona Beach placed in BonusFinder's individual categories:
Second for the Number of Hotels
Third for the Number of Clubs and Bars
Third for the Average Number of Parties on a Special Weekend
Third for the Number of Late Night Food Venues
Third for the Number of Casinos and Card Rooms
Third for the Average Number of Festivals
10th for Average Taxi Cost from the Airport to the City Center
11th for Average Price of a Meal in a Fast Food Restaurant
27th for Average Price of a Drink
38th for the Last Call at the Bar
46th for Nightlife Ranking
116th for the Average Number of Concerts on a Regular Weekend
151st for Average Price of a Hotel Room
156th on the Safety Index (32.06 out of 100)
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.
(Daytona Beach): March 3-9
(Tallahassee): March 10-14
(Boca Raton): March 1-7
(Fort Myers): March 2-8
(Miami): Feb. 24 - March 1
(Lakeland): March 2-10
(Tallahassee): March 10-14
(Sarasota): March 14-28
(Orlando): March 17-22
(Gainesville): March 15-22
(Jacksonville): March 17-22
(Tampa): March 17-23
(Pensacola): March 17-23
(Davie): March 3-9
(Marianna): March 17-21
(Ocala): March 17-23
(Daytona Beach): March 17-21
(Cocoa): March 17-23
(Lake City): March 14-21
(Key West): March 15-23
(Fort Myers): March 17-22
(Jacksonville): March 17-23
(Panama City): March 15-21
(Tampa): April 18-20
(Fort Pierce): March 17-23
(Leesburg): March 9-16
(Miami): March 24-30
(Madison): March 10-14
(Niceville): March 17-21
(Lake Worth): March 3-9
(New Port Richey): March 10-16
(Pensacola): March 17-23
(Winter Haven): March 17-23
(Gainesville): March 17-22
(Sanford): March 16-23
(Avon Park): March 10-14
(Palatka): March 17-21
(St. Petersburg): March 16-22
(Bradenton): March 3-7
(Tallahassee): March 10-14
(Orlando): March 17-23
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: 3 spring break places on 'best party cities' list, includes Panama City
