North America

When Is the Best Time to Visit North America?

The best time to visit North America is during the balmy spring (April to June) and fall (September to November) shoulder seasons. You’ll avoid the scorching heat of summer and chill of winter while benefitting from smaller crowds of tourists and cheaper prices with a spring or fall visit.

North America is best to visit in the shoulder seasons for a few reasons:

• Mild weather: The sheer size and geographic diversity of North America means the weather differs a lot, but for the most part, the weather is mild, pleasant, and enjoyable during the spring and fall months. Rain may be more common in the spring, but summer months hold the most precipitation across the continent. By fall, rainfall drops off again for cool, dry conditions that lend themselves to sightseeing, outdoor recreation, and visiting attractions.
• Smaller crowds: Spring and fall visits see fewer visitors, making them especially ideal for a less-crowded stay. Summer and winter breaks attract huge crowds of tourists to different regions of North America, like Toronto, New York City, the California coast, Florida beaches, and Mexico’s bustling ocean resort towns.
• Lower prices: With fewer tourists come lower prices that can make a North American trip much more affordable. Hotel rates, flight prices, and attraction costs drop with lower visitor demand in the spring and fall. This is the perfect time to visit if you’re sticking to a tight budget.
• Diverse cultural experiences: North America’s far-flung roots mean you’re in a for a range of cultural experiences and influences when you visit. You’ll find people celebrating holidays like Cinco de Mayo and Oktoberfest in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Mexico pays tribute to its rich traditions in color, music, dress, and cuisine. Major cities in all 3 North American countries feature international sections with names like Chinatown or Little Italy. It’s a melting pot and there are tons of ways to experience these cultures in the spring and fall.

Your experience visiting during the spring or fall will be different based on where you travel in North America:

• United States: Springtime and fall are ideal times to visit for most of the U.S., including popular destinations like NYC, Boston, and Florida and southern California beaches. Spring flowers or fall foliage each offer an added touch of natural beauty in these periods. But for colder and higher-altitude regions (like the Rocky Mountains or Yellowstone National Park), you might find summer a better time to go to avoid freezing conditions or road closures due to snow and ice.
• Canada: Canada is massive, ranging from Arctic tundra to warmer temperature deciduous and Mediterranean climates. Spring and fall are mild weather seasons in most of Canada, bringing cool-to-warm temperatures, lots of sunshine, and a little rainfall. These are the best seasons to visit the Canadian Rockies, Toronto and nearby Niagara Falls, Quebec, and Montreal. Fall and winter are excellent times to witness the Northern Lights!
• Mexico: The deliciously mild temperatures and limited rainfall during the spring and fall in Mexico make it an ideal time to visit. From touring Mayan and Aztec ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula or outside Mexico City to enjoying moderate, pleasant days on the beaches of Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, you can’t beat the balmy days of spring and fall in Mexico.

While there are some exceptions, the general rule is that spring and fall visits to North America are the most well-rounded choice for nice weather, affordable prices, and smaller crowds.

Average Temperatures by Month

Climate in North America

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