The Most Romantic Valentine’s Day Getaways [2026 Survey]
Not every Valentine’s Day needs a big city backdrop or carefully planned schedule. Increasingly, couples are drawn to towns that feel relaxed and welcoming, where the mood matters more than the agenda.
We surveyed 3,012 couples to find out which destinations they’d most want to slip away to with a partner this February.
The answers stretch across the country, but they tell a consistent story – romance, for many, is less about doing more and more about being together.
Key Findings
New York quietly emerges among the coziest, most romantic states.
Lake Placid and Aurora both make the top three, and another New York town isn’t far off.
Together, they hint at why smaller towns in the state work so well for Valentine’s Day: they’re easy to walk, easy to settle into, and better enjoyed at a slower pace.
Florida performs far better than expected.
With three Florida towns in the top 10, the rankings show that couples don’t automatically associate romance with winter chill. Gentle evenings, water-side strolls, and calm historic areas are clearly part of February’s appeal.
Mountain towns rank high for emotional “escape,” not adventure.
Ouray, Taos, and Homer all appear near the top, but not because couples are chasing adrenaline.
Instead, respondents seem drawn to places that feel naturally sheltered – narrow valleys, dramatic views, and peaceful nights that encourage staying close.
The Southern Appalachians offer a softer version of romance.
Towns across Tennessee and the Carolinas rank highly, suggesting couples are drawn to gentler mountain scenery, warm places to settle into, and the kind of quiet escape that comes with a tucked-away cabin or a familiar local café.
Classic New England remains a go-to setting for cozy, old-world charm.
Places like Bristol, Camden, Waitsfield, Sugar Hill, and Stockbridge lean on preserved buildings and walkable historic streets to create a romantic feel that doesn’t need much staging or scenery to work.
Historic main streets have a strong advantage.
Clinton, Lewes, and Shepherdstown suggest that romance doesn’t have to come with big views. For a lot of couples, it’s the care put into old buildings, the glow of evening light, and streets that invite a slow, unplanned walk.
Lake towns are more romantic than expected.
Places usually associated with summer shine in February too – Minocqua, Grand Marais, Rangeley – suggesting that still water and quiet boardwalks provide their own kind of intimacy.
Wild scenery continues to resonate.
Idaho, Montana, and Oregon appear again and again in the list. The towns there offer wild surroundings without the intensity, making them an easy choice for couples who just want to unplug and take things as they come.
Final Thoughts
This Valentine’s Day, couples aren’t chasing extravagant plans – they are looking for places that feel warm, secluded, and easy to enjoy without much effort.
The top-ranked destinations share a simple quality: they make it natural to slow down together, whether that’s in a lakeside cabin, a small mountain town, or a quiet strip of historic waterfront.
Romance, it turns out, is less about doing things – and more about being somewhere that makes time feel gentler.
