Are you thinking of planning a trip in the US in Spring but aren’t sure where to go? Keep scrolling to check out my top 9 picks for the best cities in the USA to visit in Spring!
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Even though summer is the time of the year when most people choose to travel, there’s something about exploring cities during the springtime that brings in a whole new layer to places you may already know well.
Spring tends to bring in lower prices, fewer crowds, and milder weather, all of which create the perfect recipe for traveling.
Moreover, this time of the year tends to be magical, with flowers blooming all over, festivals taking place, and locals feeling generally happy now that winter is gone.
If you want to plan an escape somewhere new but don’t know where to go yet, here’s a list of some of the best cities in the United States to visit in spring.
The Best Cities in the USA to Visit in Spring
1. New York City, New York
Even though it likely won’t be that warm, the Big Apple is another great city in the USA to visit in spring.
For one, you’ll be able to enjoy the city’s major attractions without having to deal with the summer crowds. We recently spent a week in NYC and it was incredible!
Walking around Central Park during the spring has a much more local feel to it.
Plus, museums are significantly quieter at this time of the year. My top picks include the American Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa), The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met), and others.
Aside from that, cherry blossoms begin to bloom all over the city once spring creeps in.
Lovely places to see them include Central Park, Prospect Park, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, New York Botanical Garden, Roosevelt Island, Sakura Park, Washington Square Park, and Green-Wood Cemetery, to name just a few!
If you’re thinking about doing a family trip, here are our top kid-friendly NYC hotels!
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2. Portland, Oregon
As the largest city in Oregon, Portland is one of the most unique cities in the United States and a wonderful spring destination if you don’t mind somewhat chilly temperatures.
Located right between the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is a place where you’ll find culture all over.
The city is known for its incredible coffee culture, delicious craft beer, artsy vibes, and quirky establishments. It’s also a symbol of eco-friendly and sustainable cities.
Moreover, Portland is a wonderful hub to explore some of the best Oregon has to offer in terms of nature, making it a wonderful place to visit if you want to mix nature and city for your next getaway.
It’s a great jumping-off point to see some small towns in Oregon, the Seven Wonders of Oregon, or even some amazing Oregon Coast towns!
3. Chicago, Illinois
Warm weather shouldn’t be expected on a spring getaway to Chicago. But, it’s the biggest city in the Midwest and the third largest in the United States. It’s glorious to visit if you love humongous concrete jungles.
Famed for its skyscraper-lined skyline, baseball, and delicious food, the Windy City has a whole lot more to offer visitors on its menu. There are tons of Chicago tours for families!
A couple of days should be enough to experience the main highlights if you only have a weekend to spend, but if you have more time, you’ll never really run out of things to do during your visit! There are tons of kid-friendly things to do in Chicago!
During the spring, cherry blossoms bloom up all over Jackson Park, colorful tulips blanket Michigan Avenue, and the entire city seems to turn green.
Outdoor restaurants and parks start seeing life again, and the entire vibe around the city bursts to life now that sunny days are back.
4. Monterey, California
Warm weather, beautiful parks, beach goodness, and a whole lot of marine life are the staples of this stunning city in California.
Located on the Pacific Coast, Monterey is a city known for its relaxing vibes. It’s pretty much the capital of marine life in the United States thanks to the vibrant ecosystems that live under its waves.
It’s also home to an incredible aquarium (Monterey Bay Aquarium). This is where thousands of species live. Visitors can enjoy educational opportunities through exhibits and fun interactive activities.
Moreover, Monterey is also a wonderful place to explore some of the best the California coast has to offer, with plenty of easy day trips available.
For a quiet day spent exploring quaint streets, head over to Carmel-by-the-Sea to enjoy its charming European feel.
Or if you want nature, you can drive over to Point Lobos State Park or Pfeiffer Beach State park to get a taste of the best the Big Sur area has to offer in terms of scenery!
5. St. Augustine, Florida
This is the oldest city in the United States and a true gem to visit any time of the year thanks to its year-round warm temperatures.
As you walk its charming streets, you’ll feel as though you’re walking amid a city in Europe. This is all thanks to its lovely colonial architecture and historical landmarks that date back 500 years ago when settlers founded St. Augustine.
Aside from simply gawking at its architecture, there’s a whole lot more to do here, including lounging at the beach, enjoying water activities, visiting its incredible zoo, tasting craft beer, and much more.
Spring is a wonderful time to check out St. Augustine because the weather isn’t as hot in comparison to summer.
Moreover, you’ll see significantly fewer crowds just as long as you don’t visit during Spring Break!
6. Miami, Florida
Another glorious spring destination if beaches and warm weather are what you’re after is Miami.
This is where you’ll enjoy golden beaches, shallow waters, multicolored neighborhoods, a plethora of nature activities, and some of the most exciting parties in the country.
Miami has a little something to offer everyone no matter their travel styles and interests.
Here, you can spend days on end lounging by the beach, enjoying water sports, exploring streets lined by Art Deco buildings and striking wall murals.
Or spend the day enjoying the variety of multicultural gastronomy you’ll find all over the city.
Heading out to nature is also an option, with places like Everglades National Park being just a stone’s throw away.
Granted, if you’re not into crowds and big parties, you may want to avoid visiting Miami during the week of Spring Break. Any other time, though, you should be treated to emptier streets compared to the summer!
7. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commonly known as the Steel City, Pittsburgh is another wonderful spring destination if warm weather isn’t at the top of your priorities list.
The city was made famous for its production of steel, but these days, you’ll find it’s actually a pretty interesting place to visit.
A lively nightlife, plenty of shopping options, and a huge variety of museums are all part of what makes Pittsburgh an amazing choice.
The Andy Warhol Museum, the Cathedral of Learning, the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden, the Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Museum of Natural History are all places you don’t want to miss out on visiting while in Pittsburgh.
Spring also means plenty of colors start popping up all over the city. Cherry blossoms blanket the streets of Pittsburgh, and tons of wildflowers start blooming at the top of Mount Washington this time of the year!
8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is another gorgeous spring destination if arts and history are your thing.
The city is filled with some of the most important historical landmarks in the United States. There are also plenty of incredible museums and some of the most iconic buildings in the country like Independence Hall.
The best part of Philly lies in its Historic District, a place that played an important role in the history of the United States as an independent country.
These historic landmarks and incredible museums are perfect to take a respite if the weather gets too chilly. Other wonderful things to do include checking out the Drexel University Academy of Natural Sciences, Sesame Place, and the Philadelphia Zoo.
As a tip, you can combine a spring trip to Philadelphia with a visit to New York City since they’re just a short train ride away from each other and can easily be combined into a single visit!
9. San Juan, Puerto Rico
The United States covers so much territory that visiting the Caribbean on a quick getaway is very much possible without even needing a passport!
San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, is a place as colorful as it gets and a wonderful spring destination for sun-worshippers who don’t want to deal with the crowds of winter and summer.
Moreover, temperatures are milder at this time of the year and are perfect for walking around Old San Juan’s multicolored streets.
Enjoying drinks at beach clubs, snorkeling in crystal clear waters, visiting historical sites that date back to the Spanish colonization, and tasting Caribbean food as delicious as it gets are all part of what makes a trip to San Juan an absolute dream.
There are also lots of things to do in Puerto Rico with kids!
If you’re into nature, you can also take a day trip out to El Yunque National Forest, which is the only tropical rainforest in the entire United States.
Best Places to Visit in Spring in the US Wrap Up
Have you ever visited any of these cities during the spring? If so, which ones did you enjoy the most and why?
If you have any other recommendations for cool cities to visit during the springtime in the United States, please feel free to drop them in the comment section below!