Compare USA holidays

The USA’s size and diversity mean there are endless possibilities to stay busy on your holiday, whether you fancy family theme park thrills or getting back to nature in the great outdoors.

Family fun

Travelling with young kids? You can’t beat the theme park magic of Disney in Florida and California. For adults and older kids, the nation’s 25 Six Flags theme parks are always a winner.

And then there are the beaches – California alone has more than 400 to choose from. Explore secret Pacific coves hidden in Washington state, or go full all-inclusive beach holiday on the tropical Florida Keys. Meanwhile, the windswept New England beaches and dunes sit next to pretty, artsy towns rich in history.

Outdoor adventures

The USA’s vast outdoors are the stuff of legend. Its national parks – think Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion – cover a total area larger than Italy, and you’ll find everything from awesome hiking trails to world-class skiing, depending on the time of year.

Wherever you go, there’s something epic to experience. Cowboy horse treks and cattle ranching, alligator spotting and volcano hiking, white-water rafting and glacier climbing, wine tasting and dipping into hot springs… when it comes to adventure, America is hard to beat.

Arts and culture

The USA’s big cities are best for arts and culture – think the Art Institute of Chicago, the Getty in LA or a Broadway musical in Manhattan – but don’t skip the smaller towns. In Santa Fe, New Mexico, there’s tons of Native American art; the sultry sounds of jazz are best discovered in a Chattanooga, Tennessee nightclub; or swing by Marfa, Texas on a road trip to see the Prada Marfa art installation on a deserted roadside.

To dive into the USA’s complex social and cultural history, head to Atlanta’s ​​Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, or the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama: both settings for important moments in the US Civil Rights Movement.

Eating and drinking

Barbecue is a right of passage for any USA holiday. Whether it's beef brisket in Texas or burnt ends in Kansas City, the homestyle fare of the Deep South or Louisiana’s cajun cooking, there’s always something on the grill.

Lesser known, New Mexico’s cuisine blends Spanish, Mexican and Native American traditions and chilli sauces. For a tipple, head to wine regions such as Napa and Sonoma or the craft breweries in Portland and Denver.

The USA’s vast size means the weather varies a lot, and there is something to see, whatever the season. In winter, snow sports rock the Rocky Mountains, and Florida’s beaches steam in the winter sunshine. Visit in summer for music and culture festivals, forest hiking and biking, and once-in-a-lifetime road trips. Autumn is best for New England’s fiery foliage.

May to July is tornado season in the Midwest, and August to October is hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico and the East Coast. Summer heat can be extreme across the south, and winters can be harsh in the north.

When is the cheapest time to go on a USA holiday?

The shoulder seasons in spring and autumn offer cheap holidays in many states. The high season runs over the summer, while for many January is usually the cheapest time to fly to the USA. Whenever you’re looking to visit the USA, be sure to compare and book your holiday in advance for the best chance of finding a good deal.

When should I go for the best weather?

Seasons differ regionally across the USA. Your best bet for reliable weather almost anywhere is in April, May, September and October. For example, California hovers around the low 20s in May and similar in September. New York can get up to 25C in September and 18C in October.