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Quick Answer
At a glance
- Best time
- Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct; Dec–Apr for Florida
- Time needed
- 10 to 14 days
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Language
- English
- From the airport
- New York JFK: AirTrain + subway to Manhattan, 60–75 min
- Visa
- ESTA ($40.27) or US visa
- Getting around
- Domestic flights, Amtrak, car rental
The USA is a continent-sized country, so “when should I go” is really “where am I going”. The Northeast has four real seasons, Florida has a dry winter and a wet, hurricane-prone summer, Southern California is mild and dry most of the year, and Hawaii barely changes. Every date and price below was checked on 4 October 2026.
The best time to visit the USA, month by month
Average daily highs in °C from NOAA’s 1991-2020 normals for four stations, one per main region.
| Month | New York (Central Park) | Miami | Los Angeles | Honolulu | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4.2 | 24.6 | 19.1 | 26.9 | Florida and Hawaii sun; quiet New York |
| February | 5.7 | 25.7 | 18.7 | 26.9 | Florida, Hawaii; New York’s snowiest month |
| March | 9.9 | 27.0 | 18.9 | 27.3 | Florida’s peak season, California |
| April | 16.6 | 28.7 | 20.1 | 28.4 | Spring in New York, dry Florida |
| May | 21.9 | 30.4 | 20.8 | 29.3 | The Northeast at its best; Miami’s rains start |
| June | 26.5 | 31.8 | 22.2 | 30.5 | New York, California, Hawaii |
| July | 29.4 | 32.6 | 23.9 | 31.2 | Hot, humid East; dry West; school holidays |
| August | 28.5 | 32.6 | 24.8 | 31.6 | California coast, Hawaii |
| September | 24.6 | 31.7 | 24.7 | 31.3 | New York; peak hurricane risk in Florida |
| October | 18.1 | 29.9 | 23.6 | 30.5 | New England foliage, New York |
| November | 12.2 | 27.4 | 21.6 | 28.9 | Florida dries out; New York’s holidays begin |
| December | 6.8 | 25.7 | 18.9 | 27.7 | Christmas in New York; winter sun in Florida |
Rain follows the regions too: Miami gets about 243 to 267 mm a month from June to September against about 46 mm in January, while Los Angeles gets almost nothing from May to October and most of its rain from December to February.
Top Cities to Explore
The USA by region
New York and the Northeast
The Northeast has the biggest swing between seasons. New York averages highs of about 22 to 27°C in May and June and about 25 to 18°C in September and October, the most comfortable months for walking the city. July and August are hot and humid. Autumn colour peaks in New England from late September into October: see our New England fall foliage guide.
Winter is cold, with Central Park December highs of about 7°C and around 76 cm of snow a season, mostly from December to March. It is also New York’s Christmas season: the Rockefeller Center tree arrives on 7 November and is lit on 2 December 2026, and Bryant Park’s free-admission rink opens on 28 October. Our New York guide has the holiday dates, where to stay and the airport transfers. Pack properly for it: winter boots, a packable down jacket and a thermal base layer.
Florida and the South
Florida’s best season is December to April: Miami averages highs of about 25 to 29°C with little rain. From May the wet season starts, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October, according to the National Hurricane Center. Summer trips are hot and often cheaper, but read our hurricane season travel guide before you book one. From Florida or New York, Mexico’s Caribbean coast is a short flight away: see Cancun and the Mexico guide.
California and the West
Los Angeles is mild all year, with highs of about 19°C in winter and 24 to 25°C in late summer, and almost no rain from May to October. August and September are the warmest months on the coast, and January and February the wettest.
Hawaii
Honolulu barely changes: highs of about 27°C in winter and 31 to 32°C in late summer, according to NOAA. April to September is the drier half of the year in Honolulu, with roughly 13 to 22 mm of rain a month against 47 to 60 mm from November to March. From the West Coast, compare cheap flights from San Francisco to Honolulu.
How much does a day in the USA cost?
The USA is expensive, and big cities most of all. Hotel rooms are the largest cost, and taxes and tips are added on top of most prices you see.
| Item (2026) | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New York subway or local bus ride | $3 | MTA |
| New York subway and local bus, weekly cap | $35 in 7 days | MTA |
| Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry, adult | $26 | National Park Service |
| The Metropolitan Museum of Art, adult | $30 | The Met |
| ESTA application | US $40.27 | U.S. Customs and Border Protection |
Rooms vary most by city and season, with demand highest in each region’s best months. If the budget is tight, pick shoulder months and compare a few neighbourhoods before you book.
Getting around the USA
Distances decide the transport: fly between regions, take the train on the Northeast Corridor, and drive for national parks and road trips.
Entry rules, money and staying connected
Entry: citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries who fly in for 90 days or less for tourism, business or transit need an approved ESTA. The official ESTA website lists the fee as US $40.27, and an ESTA is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. CBP recommends applying when you make your travel plans. Everyone else needs a US visitor visa from a US embassy or consulate. Apply only on esta.cbp.dhs.gov; copycat sites charge more.
Money: the USA uses the US dollar. Sales tax is not usually included in shelf or menu prices: it is added at the till, and the rate varies by state and city. Tipping is customary in sit-down restaurants, for taxi drivers and for hotel staff. Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere; if a terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in dollars.
Data: a travel eSIM gets you online on landing; see the best eSIM for the USA.
- Activate before you fly: data works on arrival
- Plans for 200+ countries from a few dollars
- Keep your number; no physical SIM swap
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to visit the USA?
There is no single best month, because the country spans several climates. For New York and the Northeast, May, June, September and October are the most comfortable. Florida is at its best from December to April, Southern California is mild all year and almost dry from May to October, and Hawaii stays warm in every month.
Is the USA worth visiting in winter?
Yes, if you pick the region. Miami averages January highs of about 25°C and Honolulu about 27°C, according to NOAA’s 1991-2020 normals. New York is cold, with December highs of about 7°C, but it has Christmas lights and ice rinks: Rockefeller Center lights its tree on 2 December 2026.
Do I need an ESTA to visit the USA?
Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries who fly in for 90 days or less for tourism, business or transit need an approved ESTA. The official ESTA website lists the fee as US $40.27, and an ESTA is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Everyone else needs a US visa. Apply only on esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
When is hurricane season in the USA?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, according to the National Hurricane Center, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. It matters most for Florida and the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Winter and spring trips to Florida fall outside it.
How do you get around the USA?
Distances are long, so most visitors fly between regions and rent a car for national parks and road trips. On the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak’s Acela and Northeast Regional trains link Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. In New York, the subway is the easiest way around, at $3 a ride.
How does tipping and sales tax work in the USA?
Prices shown in shops and on menus usually exclude sales tax, which is added at the till and varies by state and city. Tipping is customary in sit-down restaurants, for taxi drivers and for hotel staff, and the tip is not included in the menu price. Cards are accepted almost everywhere; if a terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in dollars.
Start planning your USA trip
Pick the region first, then the month: New York for museums, Broadway and Christmas lights, Florida or Hawaii for winter sun. Comparing the USA with other winter trips? See where to go in December, or the UK guide and London for a Christmas city break on the other side of the Atlantic.
Find cheap flights to New York | Compare New York hotel prices
