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. When 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. But 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 Americans, the true problem is discovering real, T-shirt-and-sandals sunshine with out needing a full day of journey or a passport.
Here at Travel Off Path, we’re all about discovering that sensible, accessible various. We’ve carried out the analysis and crunched the numbers to search out the warmest, sunniest locations you’ll be able to 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
Average Winter High: 71°F (22°C)


Our checklist kicks off with a vacation spot that trades seashores for pure, unadulterated sunshine. Yuma, Arizona, holds the official Guinness World Record because the “Sunniest City on Earth,” boasting over 4,000 hours of solar yearly. While its desert location means the nights can get chilly, the winter days are characterised by clear blue skies and completely nice, spring-like highs.
This is the best “snowbird” escape for vacationers who wish to commerce their grey, overcast skies for assured solar. It’s a haven for {golfing}, mountaineering within the close by Kofa Mountains, or just studying a e book by the pool.
5. Orlando, Florida
Average Winter High: 73°F (23°C)


While most individuals affiliate Orlando with theme parks, its improbable winter climate is a big a part of its enchantment. Visiting in January or February is the last word “travel hack” for anybody planning a visit to Walt Disney World or Universal Studios. You get to discover the parks and wait in line without the brutal, oppressive 100-degree humidity of a Florida summer time.
While Central Florida is extra vulnerable to occasional chilly snaps than the southern coast, the typical every day excessive stays impressively delicate. You may have a light-weight jacket for cooler evenings, however the days are virtually all the time nice sufficient for a t-shirt, making it an ideal winter escape for households.
4. Brownsville, Texas
Average Winter High: 73°F (23°C)
This is probably the most “off the beaten path” vacation spot on our checklist, and it is a improbable secret for these within the know. Located 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 among the mildest winters on the mainland. It’s an exquisite, unpretentious various to Florida, providing miles of wide-open seashores, world-class birding, and a novel Tex-Mex tradition. For a warm-weather street journey, this “Texas Riviera” is a savvy and inexpensive alternative.
3. Key West, Florida
Average Winter High: 76°F (24°C)


If you are trying for a real “no passport needed” Caribbean vibe, Key West is your answer. As 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 delicate and tropical. But Key West is not simply heat; it is an entire vibe. From the quirky attraction of Duval Street and the historic houses to the legendary sundown celebrations at Mallory Square, that is the last word laid-back escape. It’s as shut as you may get to a Caribbean island with out leaving the nation.
2. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Average Winter High: 77°F (25°C)


Want the identical good climate as Miami however with a extra laid-back vibe and (usually) cheaper flights? Fort Lauderdale is the smart alternative. It shares the identical “Gold Coast” local weather however strikes at a barely slower, extra relaxed tempo.
Known because the “Venice of America,” you’ll be able to spend your days exploring town’s well-known inland canals, enjoyable on the gorgeous 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 probably the most accessible and inexpensive gateways to assured winter solar.
1. Miami, Florida
Average Winter High: 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 protect towards the chilly fronts that plague the remainder of the nation.
While different locations on this checklist are “mild,” Miami is genuinely heat. This is probably the most dependable place on the mainland to expertise true, lay-on-the-sand, go-for-a-swim “beach weather” in the course of January. Whether you are in it for the artwork deco glamour of South Beach, the colourful tradition of Little Havana, or the world-class meals scene, Miami is the undisputed champion for a sizzling winter getaway.
Sunny U.S. Destinations: The Winter Forecast
How heat is it, actually? Click on a vacation spot beneath to disclose the typical winter excessive temperature in Fahrenheit.
80°F (The undisputed champion for true tropical warmth)
78°F (The most dependable “beach weather” 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 delicate days, good for theme parks with out the humidity)
71°F (The “Sunniest City on Earth,” a haven for pure sunshine)
So whereas a visit to Hawaii is all the time a improbable concept, 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’ll be able to commerce the winter chilly for a sunny, 70-degree day, all without ever needing a passport.
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