The USA is massive, and that means you really can find all four seasons happening in just one month! As an American born and raised in Connecticut, January has always been associated with freezing temps and snow.
But down in Florida (where I moved to for college), the summer beach vibes don’t shut off. And it’s not just those extremes – you can also find destinations that give off both spring and fall vibes during this typically “cold” month.
It all depends on what you’re looking for – because the US is here to provide with tropical islands, world class ski towns, and ethereal, never-ending deserts.
To help you decide where to go, I’ve handpicked the 10 BEST places to visit in January in the USA, with ideas for each and every type of traveler.
Let’s get ito them:
Photo: @amandaadraper
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Top Places to Visit in January in The USA: Round-Up
Here’s a quick breakdown of the best spots if you’re short on time 🙂
- Best Overall: Florida
- Best for Beaches: Hawaii
- Best Mountain Town: Breckenridge, Colorado
- Most Unique City to Visit in January: Moab, Utah
- Best Desert Trip: Death Valley National Park
- Best Culture: Puerto Rico
- Best Winter Hiking: Lake Tahoe
- Best Natural Beauty: White Sands National Park
- Most Instagrammable: Palm Springs, California
- Best Sunsets: Arizona
The Best Places to Visit in January in The USA
Whether your US trip is about forgetting snow even exists or your goal is to spend a week skiing down it, these are the very best places to visit in January, handpicked by me – TBB’s resident American editor!
1) Florida
I’ve personally spent six consecutive January’s in Florida, and for most people, it’s got to be the best place to visit in the US during this frigid month, or even in December.
Photo: @intentionaldetours
It’s typically sunny and dry, and while the water might be a *bit* chilly, you’re still looking at perfect tanning temps. While the whole of the state is warm compared to the rest of the nation, I highly recommend heading to SoFlo to fully experience summer vibes in winter.
I lived in Miami, and you really can’t go wrong with the Magic City’s weather or the nightlife. But if you’re looking for something a little more laid back, these are some other fab options to look into for January:
Weather
- Temperatures range from 60°F to 75°F (15-24°C) and 52°F to 57°F (11-13.8°C) at night
- Snow possible – NO!
2) Hawaii
Coming in hot at #2 is none other than an adventure in Hawaii, the most exotic US state with the best beaches in the country. Instead of freezing in your hometown, why not tan, swim, snorkel, and hike in this tropical paradise?
The archipelago is made up of several islands, and I recommend basing your trip on just one unless you have tons of time. Oahu is where you’ll find Honolulu, Waikiki, and the North Shore. It also tends to be the most expensive.
For the cheapest experience, look toward the Big Island, where you can find volcanoes as well as the jungle vibes of your dreams. Maui is another stunning option, but given that I’m talking about Hawaii here, you really can’t go wrong no matter where you go!
Weather
- Temperatures range from 70°F to 80°F (21-26°C) and 65°F to 70°F (18-21°C) at night
- Snow possible – NO!
3) Breckenridge, Colorado
Traveling in the US in January isn’t JUST about lazing on the beach! It’s also the very best time of year to get back into all the best winter sports, and a Breckenridge stay is the perfect way to do just that.
Photo: evelynquek (Flickr)
The cute lil’ mountain town is home to a world-class alpine ski resort that draws most of its wintertime visitors. Here you’ll find many acres of routes to ski, snowboard, or enjoy family-friendly activities like the chair lift and gondola ride.
As this is one of the most popular resort towns in the entire county, don’t expect to have the trails to yourself. But I promise the clear skies and overall “snowglobe” vibes will make up for it. There’s even an EPIC International Snow Sculpture Championship that takes place at the end of January every year!
Weather
- Temperatures range from 12°F to 48°F (-11 – 9°C) and -5°F to 19°F (-21- -7°C) at night
- Snow possible – YES!
4) Moab, Utah
Moab in Eastern Utah is one of the coolest places in the states, but during peak season, it honestly looks like a zoo. Not exactly a great vibe for hiking if you ask me…
But that’s exactly why January is the IDEAL time to visit this incredibly special part of the country. You may even find you have what seems like all of Arches National Park to yourself! While you’ll still need some winter gear, it won’t be as cold as the likes of the Northeast and Midwest.
Aside from Arches, you can visit Canyonland National Park, and Deadhorse State Park where you truly might be the very only person in at this time of year. Things also tend to be a lot cheaper – from accommodation to car rentals, get ready to score some deals. Moab as a whole is a super cute town, with plenty of incredible restaurants and cafes to choose from.
Weather
- Temperatures range from 28°F to 57°F (-2 – 14°C) and 10°F to 32°F (-12- 0°C) at night
- Snow possible – YES!
5) Death Valley National Park, California + Nevada
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that one of the hottest places in the entire world is also one of the best places to visit in January in the USA! The views are almost extraterrestrial, and the cool part is that this massive park spans two states, California and Nevada.
Death Valley summer temps can easily exceed 120 degrees, but in the first month of a year, it’s a bit chilly and utterly stunning. There’s something about a seemingly never-ending desertscape that gets me… it’s just so different from the scenery I’m used to.
Get on the trail to do the Golden Canyon hike, and check out Dante’s View which is an absolute must for any trip to the area. There are a few resorts to stay at inside the national park itself, in addition to plenty of cool spots nearby in both states.
Weather
- Temperatures range from 55°F to 77°F (13 – 25°C) and 32°F to 55°F (0- 13°C) at night
- Snow possible – NO!
The USA is blisteringly beautiful. It’s also blisteringly expensive! Visiting two national parks in day can run you $70+ in entry fees.
Orrrr… you kick those entry fees to the curb, buy an annual ‘America the Beautiful Pass’ for $79.99, and get unlimited access to ALL 2000+ federally managed sites in the States totally FREE!
You do the math. 😉
Buy the Pass!6) Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico isn’t a state, but you can visit passport-free as an American citizen or with any valid US visa! The Caribbean Island is perhaps my favorite because, unlike many others that have essentially become massive resorts, PR has managed to maintain its culture and heritage.
Head to Vieques for some of the most beautiful beaches you’ve ever seen, and strut around San Juan when you arrive to get a feel for this unique island. With so many beaches to choose from, I have no doubt you’ll find your very favorite.
If you happen to be in the right place at the right time, you may even be able to see some bioluminescence on a clear night! It sure beats January just about anywhere else in the Lower 48!
Weather
- Temperatures range from 78°F to 89°F (26 – 32°C) and 71°F to 77°F (22- 25°C) at night
- Snow possible – NO!
7) Lake Tahoe, California + Nevada
You might think of Lake Tahoe as a summer destination, but this magical place has just as much to offer in the depths of January. For those who love snow sports, this is somewhat of a paradise come winter. You can ski, snowboard, snowmobile, ice skate, and snowshoe to your heart’s content!
Another USA January destination that’s shared between two states, Lake Tahoe is again in California and Nevada, so it’s up to you where you base yourself. While North Tahoe is less developed and more peaceful overall, South Tahoe has the ski amenities and restaurants you might need, especially if you’re visiting with family.
Just keep in mind that it WILL be cold, so this definitely isn’t a destination for January travelers seeking mild or warm temps. But if you’ve got the right gear, you can ride the slopes all day and even get into a local hike or two. There are also various indoor and wild ice skating opportunities – do be sure to check with locals on the latter though!
Weather
- Temperatures range from 30°F to 57°F (-1 – 14°C) and -2°F to 32°F (-19- 0°C) at night
- Snow possible – YES!
8) White Sands National Park, New Mexico
Fellow off-the-beaten-path travel enthusiasts, this one’s for you! Most have never even heard of White Sands NP, and even fewer make the trek there in January. So basically – you may very well have the entire place to yourself!
As the world’s largest gypsum sand dune, you’ll feel like you’re floating in a sea of white that seems to go on forever. While I did pop another desert on this list, rest assured that the scenery to be found here is exclusive to White Sands. There’s nowhere else in the country quite like it.
The nearest town, Alamogordo, has various accommodation options to choose from, and none are too far from the entrance. While you may be enticed to visit at sunrise, I personally think sunset popped off a bit more. The colors and lighting on the dunes felt like something out of a movie, a sky show you shouldn’t miss!
Weather
- Temperatures range from 42°F to 66°F (-1 – 14°C) and 15°F to 46°F (-9 – 8°C) at night
- Snow possible – Not likely!
9) Palm Springs, California
This Sonoran Desert city, complete with palm trees and impeccable January weather, is an underrated part of California that’s just about magical come winter.
Palm Springs is usually sunny, and there’s always some hike or other outdoor activity to get into. While you won’t be near the coast, the shores of San Diego are only a two-hour drive away. The super small city is famous for its golf resorts, spas, and mid-century modern architecture.
But what I loved most was the relaxed vibe, incredible green spaces, and its proximity to Joshua Tree National Park, which you can get to in just about an hour!
Weather
- Temperatures range from 59°F to 80°F (15 – 27°C) and 37°F to 57°F (3 – 14°C) at night
- Snow possible – No!
10) Arizona
A lot of places have sunsets that travelers refer to as “setting the sky on fire”. But in my humble opinion, there’s nowhere on this list that does that quite as well as Arizona.
Photo: @audyscala
This Southwestern beauty is another perfect US destination to travel to in January – we’re talking comfortable spring-like temps in most places with even a bit of snow up north in Flagstaff.
Known for its cacti and desert vistas, just like Death Valley, the time to enjoy that all is right now. The Painted Desert and Petrified Forest are two of my fave places to visit this time of year, but you also can’t go wrong with a spiritual getaway in Sedona or a sunset chase in Tucson.
Weather
- Temperatures range from 40°F to 70°F (4 – 21°C) and 20°F to 40°F (-6 – 4°C) at night
- Snow possible – No!
Getting Insured BEFORE Visiting the USA
Good travel insurance is an absolute must – US healthcare is NOT cheap.
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Final Thoughts on the Best Places to Visit in January in the USA
And there you have it – the top 10 best places to visit in the US in January!
I love how you can really experience all four seasons in just one month in this country. From peak snow winters in the high mountains of Colorado, to tropical island paradise in Hawaii. Traveling in the first month of the year really gives you a ton of terrain and climate options to choose from.
While I deff hope you’re close to making a decision, you really can’t go wrong with Florida for an easy beach vacay, and for desert vibes, Arizona has got you covered. No matter what you end up going with, I hope you have the best time on your USA January trip!
What a way to start the year!
Photo: @amandaadraper
- Check out our USA hostel guide for a vibing place to stay.
- Our ultimate Backpacking in the USA guide is an essential read before you travel.
- Grab your International sim card for USA without the hassle.
- Don’t forget the essentials with our in-depth backpacking packing list.
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