When is the best time to visit the USA?

With vibrant cities, majestic mountains and glorious beaches, you could discover the rhythms of the Deep South, the relaxed west coast and the culture of the east coast, as well as the warm welcome of the Midwest. And among all this diversity, you’ll find equally varied climates, so it pays to choose the right months for your holiday in the US. We’ve picked out the best time to visit America, whether you’re hoping to explore the glaciers of the far north, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the country’s national parks or its great cities.

Temperatures can rise dramatically across the US during the summer months, so the northern states are the best option this season. It’s a particularly good time to visit Alaska, when you’ll find warm weather, long daylight hours and excellent wildlife viewing in the state. The northerly states bordering Canada are another tempting option, with temperatures usually hovering in the mid to high 20Cs in states like Maine and other areas of New England, compared to soaring humidity and temperatures which can top 40C in southern states like Nevada and Florida.

Summer is a good time of year to visit Alaska

Spring is a fantastic time to visit the US, with pleasantly warm temperatures across much of the country but without the excessive heat of the summer. In California, wildflowers are blooming and there’s good weather to drive down the spectacular Pacific Coast, explore Yosemite National Park or discover the state’s cities; San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Elsewhere in the Deep South, it’s warmer still but not too hot for sightseeing, with a chance to soak up the rhythms of New Orleans, as well as discovering civil rights and music history.

By late spring, the cities of the north-east are also enjoying some of their best weather, whether you’re hoping for a city break in New York, or to discover history in Washington DC, Philadelphia or Boston. Or head away from the bright lights and busy streets to explore some of the magnificent US National Parks – late spring is a perfect time to visit parks anywhere from Arizona and Wyoming and South Dakota.

There are few better places to visit in the US during autumn than New England, as the leaves blaze in shades of molten gold, crimson and burnt orange across the north-eastern states. It’s an unsurprisingly popular period to explore, but from the autumnal rainbow of colours to the picturesque villages tucked away amid the forests and hills, you’ll never be short of an unforgettable view.

New England is famous for its autumn colour

The cities of the east coast are equally attractive, especially New York, with the heat of summer long gone but before the often Arctic conditions of winter. Or head to the west coast for California’s own tempting cities, the grape harvest in the vineyards, and fewer crowds in Yosemite National Park, as the leaves change colour here in late September and October.

Elsewhere, you’ll find good conditions in National Parks across much of the US, if you’re planning to visit a few states in one trip. The hottest months are over in the Deep South too, with a whole string of autumn festivals in New Orleans during late autumn, and plenty for those who love music elsewhere too. It’s best to avoid the south-eastern states such as Florida though, with the higher chance of hurricanes making landfall between mid-August and mid-October.

There’s a reason snowbirds fly south to Florida during the winter months. With hurricane season past, temperatures can rise to around 24C in the south of the state, even in January – the Florida Keys makes a very tempting alternative to chilly weather elsewhere, with temperatures rarely rising above freezing in the northern states and cities like Chicago.

Or there’s a chance to experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans, during the two weeks running up to Shrove Tuesday, when the whole city parties. If you’re hoping for a winter wonderland experience, New York turns on the festive charm in December with plenty of holiday attractions, although winter snowstorms make it less appealing in January and February. This isn’t the season for an outdoorsy holiday though; many national parks close during the winter months, with roads sometimes becoming impassable, while travel around Alaska ranges from challenging to impossible, with as little as four hours’ daylight in some areas of the state.

April to October tend to be the best months to visit the northeast USA, after the freezing temperatures of winter. Late spring is often quieter, which makes it an ideal period to visit some of the busier corners of the north-east, while you’ll also find fantastic whale-watching in New England, and some eye-catching cherry blossom across the region, including Washington DC. The glorious autumn colours make New England unmissable in September and October, although it’s a much busier time of year to explore.

During the summer months, the more northerly states have warm temperatures with long sunny days and balmy evenings, but humidity rises sharply in the big cities, including New York and Washington DC, so these are best avoided in July and August.

December to April are some of the best months to visit the south-eastern states of the US, with heat and humidity soaring during summer, when temperatures of 40C aren’t uncommon.

The coast is also affected by hurricanes; the season officially runs from June to November, although mid-August to mid-October is when hurricane activity usually peaks. Once the storms are past, Florida is blissfully warm during the winter months, while temperatures rise close to 20C in Georgia and South Carolina by February and into the mid 20Cs by April.

The southern states are at their best between March and May when the weather is warm but not too hot, and nights are pleasantly cool. Spring brings flowers blooming at the plantations of the Deep South houses, as well as major festivals like Jazz Fest in New Orleans, and temperatures hover between around 22C and 26C in key cities like Nashville, Tennessee and Montgomery, Alabama, if you’re hoping to discover the music and civil rights history of the Deep South.

Nashville, Tennessee

Late autumn is another good period to consider, although coastal states such as Louisiana may still be affected by hurricanes during September and early October. Summer is best avoided thanks to the high humidity and temperatures which can top 40C, making it hot, sticky and exhausting to explore. Winter is rarely too cold, but rainy days are more likely, and it can feel chilly in the evenings.

You’ll find a surprising variation in climate across the southwest states of the US, with desert conditions in parts of Nevada, Utah and Arizona, where summer highs are scorching but winter nights consistently drop below freezing. At the Grand Canyon alone, temperatures and conditions can vary dramatically between the base of the canyon and the viewpoints on the rims.

Spring and autumn are good times to visit California and the southwest

Spring and Autumn tend to be the best periods to explore, with more pleasantly sunny days and without the chilly nights – March to May, and mid-September to October generally see temperatures in the mid to high 20Cs. It’s cooler over towards the coast if you’re visiting California, although April to June and September to early November are still the best times to explore the Golden state. You can enjoy the grape harvest in autumn, plus some glorious wildflowers blooming along the coast and countryside, including national parks like Yosemite, where you’ll also skip the biggest crowds.

San Francisco has its own microclimate, so it’s often foggy and cooler than Los Angeles during summer, but has some of its best weather in autumn.

The cooler northwestern states are best visited between May and October, with warmer, drier weather in Oregon and Washington State, whether you’re planning a city break in Seattle or a visit to one of the area’s National Parks. Temperatures are usually in the low 20Cs during the peak summer months, with long sunny days, while May-June are quieter with some beautiful wildflowers and dramatic colours on the trees during autumn in September and October. Winter temperatures rarely rise above 10C in this area, while there’s rain on around half the days each month.

In Alaska, peak summer is by far the best period to visit with the state’s warmest weather and long hours of daylight. May and early September are quieter, although the weather can be more mixed, so mid-June to mid-August tend to be the best – and busiest – months. Outside this time, you’ll find weather conditions make it harder to explore if you’re hoping to visit glaciers, see icebergs calve or spot some of the wonderful wildlife making its home here. The winter months are better for seeing the Northern Lights, but very few tours and cruises run at this time of year, so September can be a good compromise as it gets closer to the equinox but before the weather turns.

America’s heartland, including Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Kansas, Wisconsin, Missouri, South Dakota and Minnesota, is at its best in the summer. Winters tend to be cold and snowy, and while Chicago’s festive attractions make December tempting, you’ll find many places close across the region and travel is far more difficult.

Early Spring still sees lower temperatures and more unpredictable rainfall, and if you’re hoping to visit national parks like Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, you could still find snow at higher altitude and rain during April. By May, the weather has warmed across the region, with longer, sunnier days through to the end of August, a chance to enjoy the beaches around the Great Lakes and high temperatures in the mid to high 20Cs by July and August.

Cities like Chicago have regular summer festivals, although peak summer can feel sticky in the city.

Early autumn is another inviting period to explore the Midwest, with vibrant fall colours and harvests across the region, including fruit such as apples, cranberries and cherries, plus grapes in some of the area’s vineyards and pumpkin patches galore. Temperatures stay in the low 20Cs during September, although it’s cooler by October with snow arriving from November.

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