40th Birthday Trip Ideas: The Best Destinations to Celebrate Your Milestone

What to consider before planning a 40th birthday trip

There are two critical variables to consider before you even really start planning a 40th birthday trip: budget and duration. Once you know who’s “in” for the trip, you’ll need to figure out how much money everyone is willing to spend and how long a trip everyone is comfortable with.

Your budget might be different from the friends you want to invite, and while you may want to take a week-long vacation somewhere, others may only be able to swing a long weekend because of things like PTO limitations or parenting duties.

As the birthday girl, you can approach these 40th birthday trip ideas in a couple of different ways. You can throw out a budget range and trip length that you feel comfortable with, see what your friends say, and revise as necessary. Or you can send a poll or Google form asking for feedback on the price range and length.

When to start planning a 40th birthday trip

Start planning earlier than you think you should so that the trip can actually make it out of the group chat. You’ll want to give your friends a heads up six months, if not closer to a year, in advance that you’re planning a trip. This way, people can start mapping out childcare, planning PTO, or setting aside funds each month to be able to come.

Give your friends a deadline for committing to the trip, so that you have at least a few months to plan all of the details.

How to decide where to go for a 40th birthday trip

Once you’ve figured out the budget and how long your trip will be, you can start thinking about destinations and what you want to do. I knew I was OK splurging on a few dinners or activities, but didn’t want to go overboard with spending.

My birthday is in November, and with all of the craziness of the end of the year, I also knew I could only swing a long weekend. That cut out any sort of international destination. I’m on the East Coast, so it also cut out anything on the West Coast.

I wanted cozy vibes, great food, and a chance to get outside if possible, which narrowed my search to the Northeast for my trip, which is how I landed on a 40th birthday trip to Portland, Maine.

If you’re doing a joint birthday trip celebrating multiple 40th birthdays, you could always do a version of the viral “we are not going to” videos. Or, again, send out a poll or Google form where the majority wins. But if you’ll just be celebrating your birthday, take the opportunity to be selfish and make the final decision yourself.

Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter where you end up if you’re with your best friends. But these fifteen spots are all fabulous destinations to commemorate your 40th birthday.

Charleston, South Carolina

Best for: Pretty beach and city vibes, with a touch of culture.

Visit this idyllic Southern city to get a dose of the beach as well as top-notch shopping and cuisine. Your group could easily spend a day perusing all of the shops on King Street and in the Charleston City Market. Take some time to walk along Rainbow Row to get some seriously Instagrammable photos with the candy-colored houses. The city is also well-known for its ghost tours if you’re looking for an evening activity.

You really can’t go wrong with where you choose to eat. But if you plan ahead, book the private dining experience at Wild Common, one of the three Charleston restaurants to recently get a Michelin star.

Where to stay in Charleston:

The Mills House Hotel is centrally located in downtown Charleston and has a killer rooftop pool. The hotel also offers a crabbing experience if you and your friends want to try your hand at catching your dinner (and then the hotel will cook it for you!).

Outside of Charleston, staying at The Dunlin is about as dreamy as you can get. It’s about a thirty-minute drive from downtown, but you’ll find luxury accommodations and dining as well as twenty miles of pathways to walk and talk on, as well as activities like paddleboarding and kayaking.

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Best for: A slower-paced trip with wine tasting and shopping in a quaint, picturesque setting.

If you can’t make it to the Cotswolds, Carmel-by-the-Sea would be a great option. It’s a waterfront, small, picturesque city about two hours from San Francisco’s airport or an hour from San Jose. If you’re looking for more of a slower-paced 40th birthday trip, Carmel might be the spot for you.

There are a number of different tasting rooms to sample California wines, and an amazing cheese shop (aptly named The Cheese Shop) that will let you taste every cheese in the store if you want. You can also take a hike, walk on the beach, or visit the high-end shops on Ocean Avenue. If you and your girls golf, Pebble Beach is right next door. Watching the sunset from Sunset Beach is a must. It can get crowded so go a bit early to get a prime viewing spot. Stationaery serves brunch every day until 3 pm, and for dinner La Bicyclette is a rustic restaurant serving French-Italian fare.

Where to stay in Carmel:

Carmel is not big, so wherever you stay, you’re going to be walking distance to everything. The Stilwell Hotel recently opened in 2024 and is a couple of blocks off Ocean Avenue, the main thoroughfare. It’s got plenty of fire pits to snuggle around for late-night catch-ups, too.

Breckenridge, Colorado

Best for: An active, outdoorsy girls getaway for those who love skiing in the winter or hiking in the warmer months.

If you’re an outdoor girlie, your 40th birthday should be in Breckenridge. Ski or snowboard in the winter with your friends or tackle any number of hiking options in the summer. Colorado’s “14ers,” hikes that get up to at least 14,000 feet in elevation, are famous, but Breckenridge has a number of great “13ers” that are just as challenging. Take a guided hike with Colorado Adventure Guides to take out the mental load of planning your trek.

You can also stay active by trying a stand-up paddleboarding lesson or you can try a group reiki session in town. Try to find Hotel Alpenrock’s speakeasy at night for exceptional cocktails. You’ll need to find the front desk staff that has a little yellow canary pin to get access. Your group can also book a tasting menu at Rootstalk downtown. The chef won the James Beard award for best chef in 2024 and focuses on using seasonal ingredients.

Where to stay in Breckenridge:

In the winter, stay at the Grand Colorado on Peak 8 for easy ski-in/ski-out access. They have standard hotel rooms as well as multi-bedroom residences that can accommodate a large group. You’ll be able to take the Gondola into town from the hotel, or you can use the complimentary shuttle to get around Breck.

In the warmer months, Hotel Alpenrock is closer to downtown so that you could more easily stroll to bars and restaurants.

Sedona, Arizona

Best for: A wellness girlies retreat with a little woo woo, relaxing spa treatments, and epic nighttime stargazing.

Sedona is famous for its vortexes, which are thought to be focused areas of energy. There are a lot of wellness and spiritual-focused activities to do in Sedona, but you can also find things like wine tours and the famous Pink Jeep Tours, too.

To tap into what Sedona is most known for, book something like a sound healing experience for your 40th birthday trip. You can also get your aura photographed and get it read by a psychic or shop for crystals. Sedona also has amazing hiking. Try the Cathedral Rock Trail for a beautiful sunset hike.

Where to stay in Sedona:

The Wilde Resort and Spa has a spa on site and heated pools. They also offer a number of different experiences like yoga, meditation, and stargazing, throughout the year that guests can participate in.

The hotel also is home to Luminosa, a Michelin-recommended Italian restaurant, for a great meal.

South Beach, Florida

Best for: The glam gals who still love to get dressed up and go out on the town.

Feeling like you want to glam it up some nights? South Beach is a great option for a 40th birthday party then. It’s known for its night scene and there are plenty of clubs if you want to party at night and beach by day.

Even if you’re not headed to the club, visiting South Beach is a good excuse to get dolled up each evening. Head to the 1 Hotel rooftop for cocktails and insane views. They serve decaf espresso martinis if you can no longer drink caffeine after dinner. Pop by Medium Cool to listen to jazz and sip specialty cocktails before it turns into a swanky lounge at 10 p.m. If you get tired of the beach during the day, you can take a walk or rollerblade down the promenade. Or book the legendary drag brunch at Palace South Beach for some fun.

Where to stay in South Beach:

South Beach gets expensive fast, especially during peak beach-going season. The Moxy Miami South Beach is a Marriott property, which is a great way to use rewards points if someone in the group is a member. It’s a couple of blocks from the beach but you’ll still get beach access with beach chairs from the hotel.

Savannah, Georgia

Best for: A long-weekend girls’ getaway browsing antique shops, sampling tasty eats, and meandering through the city.

Savannah is an artsy city that’s great for antique browsing and Southern hospitality on a 40th birthday trip. Head to The Paris Market for two floors of vintage and antiques or Picker Joe’s for over 10,000 square feet of treasures. There’s also plenty of boutique shopping in the historic downtown and a number of independent bookstores like E. Shaver Booksellers if you and your friends want to take an afternoon to curl up with a good read.

The food scene in Savannah is also well-known. Brunch at The Collins Quarter is a must, and The Olde Pink House is a famous restaurant serving up Southern classics like fried green tomatoes and fried chicken. Husk is also a sought-after destination. After dinner, head to the Peacock Lounge for cocktails.

Where to stay in Savannah:

The Ann Savannah is well-suited for a girls’ trip as it offers up to four bedroom suites with full kitchens and is centrally located to the historic downtown. The hotel is also part of the Marriott chain if you’ve got points to use.

For an activity that’s bound to create lasting memories, try the hotel’s Mystical Mimosas package. It includes a two-hour tarot reading with one of Savannah’s renowned psychics as well as a couple of bottles of bubbly.

Asheville, North Carolina

Best for: A mountain girls’ getaway with brewery stops between hikes.

Asheville is a craft brewery paradise, as well as a great spot for groups who love mountain towns and the outdoors. You’ll need a car to get around to different hiking spots. Pick a couple of hikes so you can check out everything the Blue Ridge Mountains have to offer!

You’ll also need a car if you plan on taking a tour of the Biltmore Estate, a famous estate that was once home to the Vanderbilt family. While you’re out and about, head to the historic Grove Park Inn to sit on the patio to have a drink and to enjoy the view.

Back in town, you could easily spend a full afternoon sampling from all of the breweries. Burial, Wicked Weed, and Hi-Wire Brewing are all great options, but there are over twenty to choose from.

Where to stay in Asheville:

The Flat Iron Hotel turns 100 in 2026, but recently underwent a massive renovation. It’s very reasonably priced, and their Double Full Bunk room can sleep up to eight guests, which is pretty perfect for a 40th birthday trip.

Wilmington, North Carolina

Best for: A beachside set-jetting trip for nostalgic girlies to step into The Summer I Turned Pretty and Dawson’s Creek vibes.

Wilmington has long been known as the “Hollywood of the East,” and most recently, The Summer I Turned Pretty was filmed around town and the neighboring beaches. It’s also where shows like Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill were filmed. So visiting Wilmington for your 40th birthday is a good way to relive some of your favorite shows, old and new, while also getting in quality beach time.

Your group could eat at The Oceanic where Belly’s engagement news drops, have coffee like Belly and Taylor did at Bespoke (or go later for cocktails!) and of course hang on Wrightsville Beach. There’s a walking tour of filming locations from One Tree Hill and several guides to all of the spots from The Summer I Turned Pretty that your group can check out, too.

Where to stay in Wilmington:

Stay at the recently renovated Trailborn Surf & Sound in Wrightsville Beach so you can lounge on the beach while you’re not recreating all of Belly’s scenes. There are complimentary lounge chairs and umbrellas on the beach and a full bar at the pool. The hotel has a full menu of activities that you and your group can book, like surf lessons or a sunset boat cruise, to reduce the amount of planning you’ll need to do.

Sonoma, California

Best for: A wine country getaway convenient for West Coast pals.

No girls’ trip round-up would be complete without wine country on the list. Sonoma is less pretentious than neighboring Napa, and I’ve always felt like it has friendlier vibes.

Hire a driver for the day so that you don’t have to worry about who will be the designated driver. Companies can often create an itinerary based on the types of wine your group likes to drink.

You can also visit a number of tasting rooms around Sonoma Plaza. Hire a driver for one day and spend one day bopping around the plaza to make the trip more budget-friendly. Or, spend one of your days on a biking tour around Sonoma. You’ll still get to try wine along the way, but will get to ride by all of the beautiful vineyards while you do.

For a more casual meal, head to El Molino Central for out-of-this-world Mexican food. And for a classic Sonoma experience, book a table at The Girl & The Fig. It’s been around since 1997 and is a mainstay on “where to eat” lists every year.

Where to stay in Sonoma:

Spring for a stay at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa. Lounge by the pool, catch up by the fire pits at night and book a spa treatment when you’re not out wine tasting.

Honolulu, Hawaii

Best for: West Coast gals who want to splurge on a luxury trip with beach, spa, and hiking days.

This might be a harder destination to get to if you’re on the East Coast, but it would be worth the effort. Obviously, spend time on the beach and indulge in all of the shaved ice you can eat. But you can also take a day to shop at Ala Moana, the largest open-air shopping center in the world. Take a hike up the Diamond Head volcano to get sweeping views of the island and Pacific Ocean or take a hula lesson to learn more about the culture.

Where to stay in Honolulu:

Stay at the Prince Waikiki hotel for your 40th birthday trip for a bit of luxury. It’s right in the middle of Honolulu so if you want to venture off-property (although you’ll be tempted to stay!) you’ll be right in the mix of things.

Rent a private cabana at the hotel’s pool to properly celebrate, or book massages at the spa.

International 40th birthday trip ideas

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Best for: An easy-to-get-to winter escape for breezy beach days, luxe spa treatments, and delectable dinners. Plus, whale-watching is in peak season January through March.

An all-inclusive option is mega-appealing for a 40th birthday trip for a number of reasons. It cuts out a lot of the mental load associated with planning a trip, and means you’ll have a better idea of what the final cost of the trip will be.

Cabo has a range of all-inclusive resorts to fit different budgets and preferences. Some resorts like Hilton’s Breathless Cabo San Lucas Resort are known to have more of a party-type vibe while others like the Grand Velas Los Cabos are more focused on luxury experiences. Wherever you stay, expect to find pools galore and cocktails that never stop flowing.

Where to stay in Cabo:

For more of a luxury vibe that isn’t at the top of the price scale (although it’s close), try the Le Blanc Spa Resort. If you get tired of lounging by the pool, the hotel can help set up experiences like a camel tour of the Baja Desert or whale watching from a catamaran.

Cotswolds, United Kingdom

Best for: Fans of the Regency Era (or The Holiday) to take a dreamy escape to the historic rolling English countryside.

NGL, between being obsessed with The Holiday for years and seeing some of my favorite influencers take a trip to the Cotswolds earlier this year, taking a trip to the English countryside is high on my list.

You can easily “borrow” their itinerary by visiting Daylesford Farm to take a cooking or floral arranging class, shopping around the charming little village Stow-on-the-Wold, and having lunch at Estelle Manor. Or, you can attempt to recreate portions of The Holiday by visiting Cromwell Manor, which is where Amanda and Graham have their date, or having a pint in The White Horse, the pub from the movie. Consider stopping in London for a day or two on your way in or out to maximize your across-the-pond flight.

Where to stay in the Cotswolds:

The Cotswolds technically spans about 800 miles, so there are lots of great options to stay throughout. Thyme is a quintessential British country estate that has enough to do on-site that you may not want to venture out. Guests can borrow bicycles to ride to a neighboring village, but can also play tennis or badminton, go for a multi-mile walk, visit the spa or hang by the pool (in warmer months) on the property.

Quebec City, Canada

Best for: A girls’ getaway that’s giving Europe without the long flight.

If searching for French-girl vibes for your 40th, consider Quebec’s capital, Quebec City. It’s a short flight from most major East Coast cities and has rich French culture. As a 40th birthday destination, the city boasts unique experiences in every season: seeing the epic Montmorency Falls while leaf peeping in the fall, ice skating through the woods in the winter, and enjoying outdoor dining in the Old Port or Saint-Roch neighborhoods during the warmer months. Any girls’ trip to Quebec City must include meandering through the quaint shops and sampling authentic fare on the centuries-old Quartier Petit-Champlain.

Where to stay in Quebec City:

The imposing European-style Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is an iconic landmark for a splurgey fairytale girls’ getaway. For a more budget-friendly boutique experience, consider the highly-rated Hôtel du Vieux-Québec, where a Comfort or Superior queen room boasts two plush beds, exposed stone walls, and more space for getting ready.

Aruba

Best for: A warm-weather beach vibes + adventure 40th birthday girls’ trip.

If you’re keen for a bit of beach and adventure, go to Aruba for your 40th birthday. The island gets less rain than other tropical destinations and is outside of the main hurricane belt, making it a destination you can consider for more months of the year.

Soak up the rays on the beach before taking a UTV tour of the naturally rocky and rugged island. Flamingo Beach is also a must-do. It’s on a private island owned by Marriott, and if you stay at the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort, you’ll get complimentary access. But if not, tickets go on sale to visit the island one month in advance. It’s a club-like experience with the added perk of wild flamingos roaming around, and you have to take a water taxi to get there.

Where to stay in Aruba:

It’s worth staying in a beachfront resort to have easy access to the sand and sun while you’re in Aruba. The Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino has several dining options, but you’ll be able to walk to other restaurant and bar hotspots. They also boast Aruba’s tallest waterslide at one of their pools for a bit of fun.