When to go · United States
United States, month by month
The best months for United States: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct.
Month by month
- JanuaryMixedCold and snowy north and in the mountains; Florida, Hawaii and the desert Southwest are the picks.Northeast: cool · Southeast and Florida: best weather · Gulf and Deep South: fineCrowds: Low · 3 festivals or holidays
- FebruaryMixedStill winter north; ski season in the Rockies; Presidents' Day weekend busy. Mardi Gras in New Orleans (date varies).Northeast: cool · Southeast and Florida: best weather · Gulf and Deep South: fineCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
- MarchGoodSpring break fills Florida beaches and parks; the desert parks come into season.Northeast: cool · Southeast and Florida: best weather · Gulf and Deep South: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
- AprilGreatGood month for the Southwest, Washington cherry blossoms, the South; mountain roads still closed.Northeast: fine · Southeast and Florida: best weather · Gulf and Deep South: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
- MayGreatWarm and green; Memorial Day (last Monday) opens the summer season; timed-entry systems start at some parks.Northeast: best weather · Southeast and Florida: fine · Gulf and Deep South: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
- JuneGreatRockies and northern parks open; desert heat builds; hurricane season starts. Book parks months ahead.Northeast: best weather · Southeast and Florida: rainy · Gulf and Deep South: hotCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
- JulyMixedPeak season: parks full, 4 July crowds, 40 °C+ in the desert, humid East. Alaska and the Pacific Northwest are at their best.Northeast: hot · Southeast and Florida: hot · Gulf and Deep South: hotCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
- AugustMixedHot and busy; wildfire smoke in the West, hurricane peak begins in the Southeast.Northeast: hot · Southeast and Florida: storm or typhoon risk · Gulf and Deep South: storm or typhoon riskCrowds: High
- SeptemberGreatAfter Labor Day the crowds drop and parks stay open; Florida and the Gulf are at hurricane peak.Northeast: best weather · Southeast and Florida: storm or typhoon risk · Gulf and Deep South: storm or typhoon riskCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
- OctoberGreatBest all-round month: New England foliage, desert parks, cooler cities. High roads start closing late in the month.Northeast: best weather · Southeast and Florida: storm or typhoon risk · Gulf and Deep South: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
- NovemberMixedQuiet between holidays; Thanksgiving week is the busiest travel period of the year.Northeast: fine · Southeast and Florida: best weather · Gulf and Deep South: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 4 festivals or holidays
- DecemberMixedHoliday lights in New York, ski season opens; flights and hotels peak around Christmas and New Year.Northeast: cool · Southeast and Florida: best weather · Gulf and Deep South: fineCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
Weather by region
How each climate zone rates each month.
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NortheastNew York, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Maine | Cool | Cool | Cool | OK | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Best | Best | OK | Cool |
| Southeast and FloridaMiami, Orlando, the Keys, Savannah, Charleston | Best | Best | Best | Best | OK | Wet | Hot | Storm | Storm | Storm | Best | Best |
| Gulf and Deep SouthNew Orleans, Houston, Nashville, Atlanta | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Storm | Storm | Best | Best | OK |
| Midwest and Great LakesChicago, Detroit, Minneapolis | Cool | Cool | Cool | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Cool | Cool |
| Rockies and national parksYellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Denver | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | OK | Cool | Cool |
| Desert SouthwestLas Vegas, Phoenix, Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Death Valley | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Hot | OK | Best | Best | OK |
| California coastSan Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Big Sur | OK | Wet | OK | Best | Best | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | OK |
| Pacific NorthwestSeattle, Portland, Olympic, Mount Rainier | Wet | Wet | Wet | Wet | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | Wet | Wet | Wet |
| AlaskaAnchorage, Denali, Kenai, Inside Passage | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | OK | Best | Best | Best | OK | Cool | Cool | Cool |
| HawaiiOʻahu, Maui, Big Island, Kauaʻi | OK | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | OK | OK |