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Best time to
visit the USA
From east to west, the U.S. measures 2,680 kilometres across – and in that range there are five climate regions. So, the best time to visit the USA really does depend on what specific location you have in mind. If you’re not fussed, then spring and autumn are generally the most pleasant times to be in the U.S.
Knowing the best time to visit the U.S. depends on what you’re looking for in a trip. If weather is your main concern, then it’s worth bearing in mind that the USAcontains five distinct climate regions that vary significantly at any given time of the year. However, the most pleasant temperatures generally occur during spring and autumn across most of these regions.
The Northeast – home to cities such as New York, Boston and Philadelphia – gets average highs of 9°C during spring and 11°C during autumn, with frequent showers across the region. In contrast, the sun-kissed cities of the Southwest like Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego bask in temperatures of 12–17°C through both shoulder seasons. Further up the West Coast, Portland and Seattle are cooler and wetter, being in the states of Oregon and Washington respectively. Late spring temperatures are warmer in Midwest hotspots like Chicago and Columbus but can get chilly in autumn, while Southeast cities like Miami and Orlando, Florida, and New Orleans, Louisiana, experience average highs of 19–22°C in both seasons.
USA in January – March
The northern states of the US are cold in winter, with short days and heavy snowfall affecting access in many regions. As a result, prices are much lower than at other times of the year and there are fewer tourists. A visit to a city like Chicago or New York is still rewarding, however, with lots of indoor attractions including fine galleries and museums and of course great restaurants and shops.
Winter is a lovely time to visit the southern half of the country, with pleasant temperatures and a good deal of sunshine. It is also a cheaper and usually less busy time of year. The nights can be cold; particularly in the deserts, but temperatures are ideal during the day for outdoor activities such as hiking and sailing.
Visiting the USA in April
In the northern US, the bite of winter starts to ease in April, and although it can still be cold the snow has started melting and temperatures begin to go up. The snow is replaced with some rainfall; especially in coastal regions including New England and over in the Pacific Northwest, but there is a sense that spring is close.
Down in the south, April is a perfect time to travel, with warm sunny weather. The national parks, forests and wetlands are lush and vibrant, the wildlife is more active and there are a wide number of events in towns and cities. This is also when the baseball season starts.
Visiting the USA in May
Spring has arrived in almost all areas of the northern US. Sunny days reveal lush green vegetation, attractive prairie grasslands and wildlife as it emerges from winter. It is an excellent time to visit this part of the country, with comfortable temperatures allowing for exploration and outdoor activity.
While Pacific storms can bring Hawaii most of its rainfall in May, the weather across the rest of southern US is typically warm and dry; making it a good time to explore most locations. The Memorial Day holiday takes place on the last weekend of the month and is recognised with popular parades and commemoration ceremonies.
June
June is a lovely time of year to visit the northern US, with sunny warm days and fewer visitors than the summer. The Rockies are perhaps at their most majestic, national parks are lush and verdant, while the great cities of the region take advantage of the weather with outdoor cafés and restaurants, parks and gardens, lakeside trails and cycle paths all bustling with activity.
The lovely warm June weather found in the southern states lends itself to time spent outdoors; with biking, hiking, fishing and sailing all proving popular with visitors and locals alike. Numerous festivals are held in June with a particular focus on cuisine, arts and crafts and music.
July – August
The summer in the northern states of the US is a time to explore the outdoors, with many of the region’s national parks at their very best. Take a hike into Montana’s Glacier National Park, see the steaming geysers of Yellowstone and take a boat trip out on Lake Michigan. The northeast coastline is buzzing through the summer, with the beaches of Cape Cod in New England proving particularly popular. Although the cities of the east are hot and humid in summer, the temperate climate of the northwest can bring slightly milder weather with more average rainfall.
In the southern half of the country, the hot summer months are filled with outdoor events, including the 4th of July national holiday, making it a very popular travel season. The weather does have a distinctly different feel from one coast to the other; with the southwest attracting a dry heat and the eastern states seeing humidity levels increase; particularly in Florida and the Deep South states, which feel decidedly tropical and experience occasional thundery storms and heavy rains, which break up the heat.
Visiting the USA in September – October
In the northern US, autumn welcomes the changing hues of the foliage; a spectacle that, in New England especially, brings lots of visitors. Throughout the region, striking golden and red colours extend across the landscape of national parks, forested valleys and even the urban green spaces of cities like New York and Washington. The weather is usually still fine, with sunny, bright days in many places.
The summer crowds have started to disperse in September and prices started to drop, but storms are more prevalent in the southeastern states at this time of year, with the hurricane season producing wet and windy weather. There is less risk of storms further west, where temperatures are still pleasant. It is a fine time to visit the southwest; particularly if exploring the national parks. Meanwhile, the islands of Hawaii are lovely, with warm sunny days and fewer visitors.
USA in November – December
Colder, shorter days mark the arrival of winter, with many areas in the northern half of the country attracting their first snowfall in November. In southern states, the end of the year is milder and can be inclement in places, with rain showers possible. However, the temperatures in the Deep South and Florida are still fine and pleasant.
There is a noticeable air of anticipation across the country, with the national celebration of Thanksgiving starting an extended sociable and festive period leading up to Christmas.
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You could easily spend a lifetime in the US and still feel like you’ve just scratched the surface.
It’s epic on every scale. After all, this is a place where you can watch the thunderous spectacle of Niagara Falls, trek through the soaring Black Hills of South Dakota and cruise along California’s glorious Pacific Coast; where you can ski at Lake Tahoe, go cattle ranching in the Midwest and imbibe live jazz in New Orleans.
The options, it seems, are endless.
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