Best time to Visit the USA [4th of July Special]

Last Updated: July 29, 2024

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On this 4th of July Independence Day holiday, we bring you a comprehensive guide that will help you plan your next trip around the United States.  Here we tell you everything you need to know about when is the best time to go to the US. Have you already decided that the United States of America is going to be your next travel destination, but you are still not sure when is the best time to go?

Photo Courtesy: Patrick, Our Volunteer from the US

We want to give you a hand and, therefore, we have written this blog to give you all the details about what is the best time to go to the United States. The United States is one of the largest countries in the world. Its great extension makes it one of the most varied in terms of climate. These are just some examples of the climates that can be found in this North American country: tropical climate in southern Florida and Hawaii, semi-arid in the western great plains, Mediterranean on the Californian coast, oceanic in the states of Oregon, Washington and part of Alaska, polar in most of Alaska.

Photo Courtesy: Patrick, Our Volunteer from the US

Important Information: Before making your trip plan to the USA, it is advisable to follow heat-watch, hurricane, strom notice and other weather safety warnings from the National Weather Service.

When is the best time to travel to the United States?

Well, as you may have deduced from what was said above, the best time to go to the United States depends a lot on what part of the country you are thinking of visiting. Here are some brief facts to consider before answering that question:

Photo Courtesy: Patrick, Our Volunteer from the US

1. The 100th meridian divides the country climatically.
2. West of the meridian: semi arid climate due to the Rocky Mountains blocking oceanic influence.
3. East of the meridian: average annual precipitation exceeds 50 centimeters; more rainfall.
4. Best time to visit the eastern United States: spring (mid-March to mid-June) and fall (September and October) to avoid crowds and extreme weather.
5. Avoid visiting southern states (Florida, Texas, Louisiana) during hurricane season (mid-June to end of November).
6. Western United States: highly variable temperatures and precipitation.
7. California and Arizona: very hot summers, chronic drought, summer fires; harsh winters.
8. Best time to visit the western United States: spring (March to late June) and fall (September, October, November).
9. Notable western national parks: Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Zion.

Best time to travel to New York and northeastern United States

New York's weather varies significantly between summer and winter. Summers can be hot, with temperatures exceeding 30°C, while winters often dip below freezing. The city's large size, density, and pollution levels can exacerbate the thermal sensation during the summer months, making it uncomfortable for those sensitive to heat. Conversely, New York experiences a surge in tourism during the Christmas season in winter.

US mega-city trips (NYC, Boston, Chicago) are best in shoulder seasons (Sept-Oct) for comfortable walking weather, avoiding winter's chill and summer's heat. The most favorable times to visit are spring and fall when temperatures are pleasant, prices are lower, and crowds are smaller.

Best time to visit San Francisco and west coast

Visit San Francisco April-September for sunny days with minimal rain. Be aware of fog, even in summer. Enjoy events like the film festival (April/May) or Yerba Buena Gardens festival (various shows).

To visit California, including LA and San Francisco, Washington, Arizona, and Oregon, the best times are June and July, or September and early October. However, June and July have the highest number of visitors.

Best time to travel to the Rockies

The optimal time to visit Yellowstone National Park or Glacier National Park in the Rockies region is from June to September. Avoid autumn and winter due to wind and snow conditions during October, November, and until mid-April

Best time to travel to the southwestern United States

If you don't know when to travel to the United States to visit Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, California, Texas or New Mexico, take note of the following: go better in spring. During the summer they are packed with tourists. It is also a good time to travel between September and May, if you want to enjoy winter sports.

Best time to visit Alaska

Alaska's temperatures swing significantly: summer highs of 35°C to winter lows of -60°C. Snow can happen even in June/July. Northern Alaska is especially frigid but offers Northern Lights. Visit May-September for milder weather.

Best time to travel to the Southeast and Florida

Photo Courtesy: Nat, Our Volunteer from the US

If your trip includes Florida with one of its countless theme parks, remember that the climate in this region is tropical. This implies rains from May to September. On the other hand, spring is the dry and warm season, and winter is perfect for visiting the region. As a summary, November to May would be the best months to travel to this area of ​​the US.

When to Visit the Great Plains of the Central United States

It is best to travel between late March and May, when the weather is milder. The months of September, October and November are also appropriate to visit this region. In summer, on the other hand, it is too hot, and in winter, in addition to finding many places closed, the cold will not let you enjoy the trip.

Best time to visit Hawaii

The best time to travel to the United States and visit Hawaii is between December and February, when temperatures are warmer. Between June and October, the temperature remains pleasant, and the rains appear between December and March, but in reality, the climatic differences are small, so you can visit Hawaii at any time of the year.

Deciding Best Time to Visit and Weather in USA

One of the major factors to consider while deciding your suitable time to visit the USA is understanding the weather and temperatures in different regions.

Photo Courtesy: Nat, Our Volunteer from the US

State	Avg °F	Humidity Morning	Humidity Afternoon	Precipitation (Inches)
Alabama	62.8	84	52	58.3
Alaska	26.6	77	64	22.5
Arizona	60.3	53	25	13.6
Arkansas	60.4	85	49	50.6
California	59.4	76	62	22.2
Colorado	45.1	60	35	15.9
Connecticut	49.0	79	52	50.3
Delaware	55.3	79	54	45.7
Florida	70.7	87	57	54.5
Georgia	63.5	86	50	50.7
Hawaii	70.0	71	56	63.7
Idaho	44.4	68	41	18.9
Illinois	51.8	83	58	39.2
Indiana	51.7	83	58	41.7
Iowa	47.8	78	56	34.0
Kansas	54.3	80	50	28.9
Kentucky	55.6	79	55	48.9
Louisiana	66.4	87	61	60.1
Maine	41.0	82	61	42.2
Maryland	54.2	77	52	44.5
Massachusetts	47.9	75	59	47.7
Michigan	44.4	84	61	32.8
Minnesota	41.2	78	55	27.3
Mississippi	63.4	91	54	59.0
Missouri	54.5	82	53	42.2
Montana	42.7	71	45	15.3
Nebraska	48.8	82	53	23.6
Nevada	49.9	71	32	9.5
New Hampshire	43.8	84	53	43.4
New Jersey	52.7	83	59	47.1
New Mexico	53.4	60	29	14.6
New York	45.4	82	61	41.8
North Carolina	59.0	83	52	50.3
North Dakota	40.4	80	51	17.8
Ohio	50.7	80	57	39.1
Oklahoma	59.6	79	48	36.5
Oregon	48.4	85	59	27.4
Pennsylvania	48.8	77	54	42.9
Rhode Island	50.1	78	57	47.9
South Carolina	62.4	86	49	49.8
South Dakota	45.2	83	53	20.1
Tennessee	57.6	84	53	54.2
Texas	64.8	82	49	28.9
Utah	48.6	67	43	12.2
Vermont	42.9	77	58	42.7
Virginia	55.1	84	52	44.3
Washington	48.3	83	62	38.4
West Virginia	51.8	83	59	45.2
Wisconsin	43.1	84	58	32.6
Wyoming	42.0	63	43	12.9

Source: currentresults.com

Photo Courtesy: Patrick, Our Volunteer from the US

On overall:

Season	Months	Best Time to Visit the USA	Weather Details
Summer	June to August	Northern states: warm to hot days, cooler mornings and nights	Southern states and tropical areas: very high temperatures
Autumn	September to November	Northern regions: beautiful fall colors in red, yellow, orange	Temperatures begin to drop across the country
Winter	December to February	Southern states: fairly mild	Northern, northeastern, midwestern, western, Great Plains: snow and lower temperatures
Spring	March to May	Countrywide: temperatures begin to rise	Common storms and storms until summer months

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Photo Courtesy: Patrick, Our Volunteer from the US

What is the high season for traveling to the USA?

The high season is during the summer.

When is the low season for visiting the USA?

The low season is from November to March.

What is the best time to visit the west coast of the USA?

Early summer (June and July) or September and early October.

When is the ideal time to visit the east coast of the USA?

Spring is ideal for visiting New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, or Boston.

Is winter a good time to visit the USA?

Winter is generally inadvisable due to extremely cold temperatures and heavy rainfall in some regions. However, the answers depends on which region of USA you are planning to visit.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the best time to travel to the United States can be tricky, since the country is very large. This brings with it not only climatic differences, but also different landscapes and geographies. From the snows of the north, through the tropical climate and tornadoes of the east, to the warmth of the west coast. Everything is possible in the USA.

Spring and autumn, broadly speaking, are the best times to travel to the United States. However, due to the size of this country, it is advisable to find out in advance about the area you want to visit, since the climate can vary greatly from one place to another. However, in the US there are four seasons, just like in Europe, spring from March to June is warm and rainy.

Summer (June to September), meanwhile, is quite hot and humid, with an average of 35ºC. During the fall (September to December) the cool breezes of September and October give way to the frosts of November and December. For its part, winter (between December and March) leaves frozen thermometers with temperatures of up to -34ºC.

We hope this information was helpful to you to decide your next best time to visit the beautiful destinations of the USA.

We would like to thank our volunteers from the USA who shared with us their photos, moments and experiences.