As the times get shorter and the primary actual chill of the season hits, American vacationers all begin dreaming of 1 factor: a heat, sunny escape. After we consider a real tropical U.S. getaway, one place springs to thoughts: Hawaii.
And let’s be clear, with common winter highs persistently hitting the 80s, the Hawaiian islands are the undisputed champion of American winter heat. However let’s be actual—a 10-hour flight, a 6-hour time distinction, and peak-season airfare is not a fast or low-cost weekend getaway for many of the nation.
For tens of millions of Individuals, the true problem is discovering real, T-shirt-and-sandals sunshine with out needing a full day of journey or a passport.
Right here at Journey Off Path, we’re all about discovering that sensible, accessible various. We’ve executed the analysis and crunched the numbers to search out the warmest, sunniest locations you possibly can fly to on the U.S. mainland this winter. These are the 6 warmest locations within the continental U.S. to get your dose of sunshine.
6. Yuma, Arizona
Common Winter Excessive: 71°F (22°C)
Our listing kicks off with a vacation spot that trades seashores for pure, unadulterated sunshine. Yuma, Arizona, holds the official Guinness World Report because the “Sunniest Metropolis on Earth,” boasting over 4,000 hours of solar yearly. Whereas its desert location means the nights can get chilly, the winter days are characterised by clear blue skies and completely nice, spring-like highs.
That is the best “snowbird” escape for vacationers who wish to commerce their grey, overcast skies for assured solar. It is a haven {for golfing}, mountaineering within the close by Kofa Mountains, or just studying a e book by the pool.
5. Orlando, Florida
Common Winter Excessive: 73°F (23°C)
Whereas most individuals affiliate Orlando with theme parks, its unbelievable winter climate is a large a part of its attraction. Visiting in January or February is the last word “journey hack” for anybody planning a visit to Walt Disney World or Common Studios. You get to discover the parks and wait in line with out the brutal, oppressive 100-degree humidity of a Florida summer season.
Whereas Central Florida is extra prone to occasional chilly snaps than the southern coast, the common each day excessive stays impressively gentle. You might want a light-weight jacket for cooler evenings, however the days are nearly all the time nice sufficient for a t-shirt, making it an ideal winter escape for households.
4. Brownsville, Texas
Common Winter Excessive: 73°F (23°C)
That is probably the most “off the crushed path” vacation spot on our listing, and it is a unbelievable secret for these within the know. Situated within the deep Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville is the gateway to South Padre Island, Texas’s solely true tropical-ish vacation spot.
Sharing an identical latitude to Miami, this area enjoys a number of the mildest winters on the mainland. It’s a beautiful, unpretentious various to Florida, providing miles of wide-open seashores, world-class birding, and a novel Tex-Mex tradition. For a warm-weather highway journey, this “Texas Riviera” is a savvy and inexpensive selection.
3. Key West, Florida
Common Winter Excessive: 76°F (24°C)
Should you’re in search of a real “no passport wanted” Caribbean vibe, Key West is your reply. Because the southernmost level within the continental United States, it’s the solely metropolis within the decrease 48 that has by no means as soon as recorded a frost or a freeze.
The climate right here is virtually assured to be gentle and tropical. However Key West is not simply heat; it is a complete vibe. From the quirky attraction of Duval Road and the historic houses to the legendary sundown celebrations at Mallory Sq., that is the last word laid-back escape. It is as shut as you will get to a Caribbean island with out leaving the nation.
2. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Common Winter Excessive: 77°F (25°C)
Need the identical good climate as Miami however with a extra laid-back vibe and (typically) cheaper flights? Fort Lauderdale is the sensible various. It shares the identical “Gold Coast” local weather however strikes at a barely slower, extra relaxed tempo.
Generally known as the “Venice of America,” you possibly can spend your days exploring the town’s well-known inland canals, stress-free on the attractive and clear Fort Lauderdale seaside, or having fun with the upscale retailers and eating places of Las Olas Boulevard. As a serious hub for budget-friendly airways, it is also one of the accessible and inexpensive gateways to assured winter solar.
1. Miami, Florida
Common Winter Excessive: 78°F (26°C)
Welcome to the king of American winter solar. Miami is the one main metropolis on the U.S. mainland that boasts a real tropical local weather, and in winter, it really shines. Its far-south latitude and the warming affect of the Atlantic’s Gulf Stream act as a robust defend towards the chilly fronts that plague the remainder of the nation.
Whereas different locations on this listing are “gentle,” Miami is genuinely heat. That is probably the most dependable place on the mainland to expertise true, lay-on-the-sand, go-for-a-swim “seaside climate” in the course of January. Whether or not you are in it for the artwork deco glamour of South Seaside, the colourful tradition of Little Havana, or the world-class meals scene, Miami is the undisputed champion for a scorching winter getaway.
Sunny U.S. Locations: The Winter Forecast
How heat is it, actually? Click on on a vacation spot under to disclose the common winter excessive temperature in Fahrenheit.
80°F (The undisputed champion for true tropical warmth)
78°F (Essentially the most dependable “seaside climate” on the mainland)
77°F (Shares the identical good “Gold Coast” tropical local weather)
76°F (A real tropical vibe, because it’s by no means had a frost or freeze)
73°F (An underrated and inexpensive “Texas Riviera” escape)
73°F (Pleasantly gentle days, good for theme parks with out the humidity)
71°F (The “Sunniest Metropolis on Earth,” a haven for pure sunshine)
So whereas a visit to Hawaii is all the time a unbelievable thought, you do not have to interrupt the financial institution or spend 10 hours on a aircraft to discover a correct winter escape. These six mainland locations show you possibly can commerce the winter chilly for a sunny, 70-degree day, all with out ever needing a passport.
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