Places to Go for a 21st Birthday That’ll Be Everyone’s Roman Empire

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population Clock, nearly 4.5 billion people in the United States will turn 21 in 2025. That means there’s potential for 4.5 billion birthday celebrations. How will yours be different?

A 21st birthday is notable because it means that, although you’ve been old enough to vote, gamble, and buy cigarettes since you were 18, you’re now an adult who can also legally consume alcohol. That bit of freedom is enough to make most people want to take full advantage of the occasion.

Whether or not you choose to incorporate drinking into the festivities, we’ve got several good ideas for places to have your 21st birthday. Check out our list below, including how to celebrate and where to go for 21st birthday fun.

Table of contents:

• 21st birthday party ideas with alcohol
• 21st birthday party ideas without alcohol
• Ideal spaces for 21st birthday parties

Places for a 21st birthday with alcohol

If you plan to fully embrace your newfound affinity for adult beverages, you’ll want to incorporate alcohol into whichever type of party you choose. When picking places to go for a 21st birthday that involves drinking, just be sure to coordinate transportation in advance, whether you book a shuttle, assign a designated driver, or call a cab or an Uber.

Sippin’ the suds: Breweries

Plan a brewery tour for you and your besties. This could involve traveling to the place where your favorite beer is made or choosing a smaller local microbrewery to keep costs low. Either way, plan to do a tasting afterward, and spend some time in the gift shop to commemorate the visit.

Pass the vino: Wineries

Are you a wino at heart? Consider a winery tour, where you visit several wineries in an area like Napa or Sonoma in California or the Finger Lakes wine region in upstate New York. If you’re feeling extra spendy, venture further afield to countries like France and Italy, which are known for their vintages. To stick closer to home, find a local winery that can offer tastings or winemaking classes.

Straight or on the rocks: Distilleries

Distilleries are fascinating places to not only learn about the making of spirits like whiskey, vodka, rum and gin but also to figure out which of those might most appeal to your palate. Sign up for a tour, class or tasting with your friends.  

Chug! Chug! Chug! Keggers

If sheer raucousness is what you’re going for, you can’t go wrong with a classic kegger that specifically provides kegs of beer in which guests can partake. For this type of casual event, you’ll likely also need music, a beer pong setup, and, if you don’t want to host in your own digs, a private residence to serve as home base for the shenanigans.

Bussin,’ literally: Party buses

One of the best ways to ensure you can drink and not have to drive is to book a party bus for a night. Your chariot might look chic on the outside, but inside you can expect flashing lights, loud music, and perhaps even a disco ball or two. Seating is generally available around the perimeter of the interior with plenty of space in the middle for dancing as your driver shuttles you from place to place (read: bar to bar).  

Bar crawls

Make your way across your town or favorite city by taking a self-guided tour of its bar scene. More debauchery than history, this event will likely leave you unable to remember most of the journey. If you’re not hopping on the aforementioned party bus, wear comfortable walking shoes (and, for a steady supply of free drinks, a sash that proclaims your age).

Ladies who (boozy) brunch

Let’s be honest: Brunch is a trend for a reason. It’s delicious, doesn’t require you to wake up at the crack of dawn, and provides a perfect setting for you to catch up on the hot goss with your friends as you sip mimosas. Whether you book a warehouse, barn or other location to plan and cater your own delectable midday soiree or keep it simple with a restaurant reservation for your squad, it’s an option that adds a bit of class to day drinking.

Did someone say open bar? All-inclusives

If you want sun-and-sand vibes, ocean views, and nearly unlimited alcohol, a trip to a beachy all-inclusive resort, a booze cruise, or a full cruise vacation with an alcohol package might be exactly the way to go. Round up the fam, pick a destination, and enjoy yourselves without having to worry about hidden charges.  

Where Monet meets merlot: Paint and sip

Schedule a paint-and-sip party, where you hire an artist to lead you and your guests in a couple hours of painting instruction as you enjoy glasses of wine and other beverages. Art studios and lofts are perfect places to host these types of events.

Alcohol-free Ideas for 21st Birthday

Keep the happy and scrap the hangover. If you’re someone who would rather have a dry celebration, here are some alcohol-free 21st birthday activity suggestions that will keep everyone happy without the hangovers.

Spoiled at the spa

Treat yourself to a spa day or weekend, where you can relax, rejuvenate, and enter your 21st year with a fresh face, polished nails, and massaged muscles. Hop into the sauna to sweat your cares away, bask on a tile lounger with a good book, or indulge in aromatherapy. Invite a couple of your closest friends or go solo for a more you-focused experience.

Feel the flow: Yoga and nature retreats

For a mindful 21st birthday that’s a far cry from bar crawls and binge drinking, check out a yoga or nature retreat. Whether you work on breathing and meditation, cleanse your energy, commune with wildlife on a hike, go camping, or simply spend the entire time in shavasana, several days of these activities can help you take on a new decade in a more centered, grounded, and present way.

Let them eat: Plan a picnic

Picnics are a charming way to bring people together for food, conversation, and low-key outdoor fun. Decide whether you’d like to set up your spread at a local park or secure a special venue like a leafy courtyard with fairy lights or a curated backyard space. The latter will allow for decorations, comfy seating, and less worry about carrying all of your food and supplies to the nearest grassy field.

Act childish: Theme parks

If you’d like to ring in adulthood by feeling like a kid again, a theme park visit could be a wonderful way to reclaim your sense of childlike wonder. Enlist your crew, and organize a trip to your nearest theme park, or plan a longer stay at a resort like Walt Disney World or Universal Studios. Meet the characters, buy some fun souvenirs, ride all the rides, and stuff yourselves silly with cotton candy.

Pick up and go: Road trips

The world expands a bit more when you reach your 20s. Strike out and see it on a road trip that leaves you and your copilots in control of the destinations you visit, how long you stay, and how you get there. Plan a route with points of interest, create a playlist, gas up your car, stock up on junk food, and prepare to hit the road.

21st birthday party venues

With so many choices for activities, it can be difficult to narrow down 21st birthday ideas. The last thing you should have to worry about is finding a venue when you eventually decide what you’d like to do. If you’d prefer to plan your own party and handle the logistics, scouting out a bookable space that offers flexibility, transparent hourly pricing, and real customer reviews is key.

Peerspace offers a marketplace of thousands of quirky and unique places to have a 21st birthday party, whether you’re dreaming of a chic rooftop with city views, a cozy lounge, a private residence with indoor and outdoor spaces, or a blank-canvas warehouse space that will allow you creative license to bring your visions for an elegant dinner or a paint-and-sip event to life.

Peerspace offers something for every vibe and every budget. Plus, you can filter your search by features like outdoor areas, built-in bars, or even karaoke setups, so your party is exactly what you pictured. With Peerspace, it’s not just about booking a space; it’s about creating an unforgettable experience.

Check out what Peerspace has to offer for your 21st birthday bash.