Many factors affect the recommended travel season, the main one is the weather (which can also cause closure of roads). Choosing the right travel date is very significant for the trips success. Below is information that will help you decide when to travel to the USA and Canada.
Alaska:
July and August. It is also possible to travel to Alaska in June and September that are borderline in terms of weather.
See more information about Alaska here.
Western Canada:
In the Canadian Rockies – July and August. It is also possible to travel to the Rockies in June and September. In June some of the hiking trails may be blocked by snow and in September first snow may fall on the mountain ranges.
Along the coastal area (Vancouver, Victoria, etc.) – May-October.
See more information about Western Canada here.
Eastern Canada:
The tourism season usually begins during the month of June and ends in October. In late September and early October most of this region is colored by the marvelous fall foliage.
See more information about Eastern Canada here.
Central United States:
The appropriate season for traveling to this region is from May to October – with significant preference for June to mid-September only, as until June and from mid-September there may be blizzards and extreme weather in this region – which is partly very cold in winter months.
See more information about Central United States here.
Northwestern United States:
In areas far from the coast and topographically high (Yellowstone, the Cascade Mountains, etc.) – July and August. It is also possible to visit this region in June and September although in June some of the hiking trails may be blocked by snow and in September first snow may fall on the mountain ranges.
Along the coastal area (Seattle, Portland, Washington and Oregon Beach, etc.) – May-October. It is also possible to travel to this region in April and November when the weather may be a bit cold, but still reasonable.
See more information about Northwestern United States here.
Southwestern United States:
April-October, it is also possible to visit this region in March and November which are borderline in terms of weather. In July-August this area can be relatively hot (although due to its high altitude the heat is usually tolerable). The best months to travel to this area are April-May and September-October. This does not apply to the high areas of the Rocky Mountain Range in the state of Colorado which is usually snow free and with roads open June-September only.
See more information about Southwestern United States here.
California:
In areas close to the shoreline – year round. In the topographically high regions (on the Sierra Nevada mountain range and on the Trinity Alps and Cascades mountain ranges) April/May-October/November. That said, the valley of Yosemite National Park (located on Sierra Nevada mountain) is usually accessible year round and roads are usually open in winter (excluding extreme weather).
See more information about California here.
Northeastern United States:
The tourism season usually begins during the month of June and ends in October. It is also possible to travel to the northeast in May, however during this month some of the tourist attractions may be closed. In areas close to the ocean that have a more temperate weather, as well as in the more southern areas of the Northeast, it is also possible to travel in April and November.
See more information about Northeastern United States here.
Southeastern United States:
In North Carolina you can travel year round but it is most recommended to visit this region in April-November. South Carolina and Georgia can be travelled year round, but due to the extreme heat and humidity It is recommended not to travel to these states at the height of summer (June-August). The exception is the Appalachian Mountain Range and the Smoky Mountains National Park where some of the roads are open in May-October only.
See more information about Southeastern United States here.
Florida:
Florida can be visited year round but it is best to avoid visiting this state during the summer months (June-September) which are very hot and very humid. The north of the country may be a bit cold in December-February. If you want to watch the migration of the Manatee to the Florida springs you should visit the state in November-March.
See more information about Florida here.
Some more things to take into consideration when deciding when to travel:
– If travelling to the eastern USA – mainly Southeastern USA (especially the coastal area and the Outer Banks Islands), and if travelling to Florida, please take into consideration that the hurricane season occurs in June-November. The peak of storms occurs in September.
– The busiest months of the year in terms of travel are usually mid-June-mid-August (summer break in the USA). Those who can go on a trip in late May or early June and from mid-August will usually enjoy smaller crowds. The weekends of Memorial Day (in May) and Labor Day (in September) are usually very crowded. Regions where you can also travel in spring and winter (first and foremost Florida) can be very busy during the spring/Easter holidays as well as the winter holidays around Christmas and the New Year.
a tropical storm above the plains of the southeast
