North America

The USA spans six time zones and every climate on earth, so ‘best time to visit’ depends entirely on where you’re going. This guide breaks it down region by region — from the Northeast’s coloured autumn leaves to Florida’s winter escape season to the Pacific Coast’s narrow dry window.

New York is worth visiting in any season — the city never stops. But May and September are when it’s best: warm enough for the parks and rooftops, cool enough for walking, and not priced at its July or December peaks. Here’s what each season actually looks like.