April is a fantastic time to go to the USA. It is a shoulder season, that means all the nation is in its transition section — be that squeezing in its final month of ski slopes or bursting with freshly bloomed wildflowers. Early April sometimes falls underneath Spring Break dates, however mid-April by to the tip of the month has fewer folks. This is unquestionably one of many causes that we have a tendency to go to the US throughout the spring months it means you possibly can actually select your ambiance when choosing locations to go to throughout this time of the yr. One factor we observed after visiting these locations in April is that, relying on the particular dates you select, you both be a part of the crowds or get pleasure from a quiet interval earlier than busy summer time dates.
Table of Contents
Best Places to Visit in April in the USA1. Oahu, HI2. Zion National Park, UT3. Sedona, AZ4. Anchorage, AK5. Washington DC6. Ennis, TX7. Door County, WI8. Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, CA9. Seattle, WA10. Blue Ridge Parkway National Park, NC11. Miami, FL12. Palm Springs, CA13. Santa Catalina Island, CA14. Sun Valley, ID15. Jackson County, NC16. North Cascades National Park, WA17. Big Sky, MT18. Napa Valley, CA19. Skagit Valley, WA20. Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TXBest Places to Visit in April: FAQsWhy We Recommend These Places To Visit in April
Best Places to Visit in April in the USA
In this information, we’ll discover the perfect locations to go to in April in the USA. Whether you wish to chase wildflowers in the Texas Hill Country or reside it up at Coachella, we’ll discover the candy spot for you. Here are our hottest takes on the place to go to this April.
1. Oahu, HI
Oahu is the capital of Hawaii, so it shouldn’t come as a shock that it runs most of its occasions and festivities. This is likely one of the essential causes we propose Oahu on your April journey. You have the Hawaiian Scottish Festival & Highland Games (fairly incongruous, proper?), arts and craft gala’s, reside music performances, culinary and beer occasions, and Hapalua – Hawaii’s half marathon. Oahu is basically in its prime in spring, particularly in April.
Aside from these seasonal occasions, you’ve bought the gorgeous Diamond Head State Monument, Lana’i Lookout, and all of the sightseeing in the capital, Honolulu. You can hike, go sightseeing at locations just like the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, and have fun; Oahu simply has a lot to do. Oahu is well one of many greatest islands in Hawaii, and that’s earlier than factoring in its April festivities. Once Spring Break is over, you additionally enter a fast shoulder season earlier than the summer time season begins from May till October. Who doesn’t love fewer crowds?
In April, Oahu’s climate ranges from the mid-60s to only touching the 80s, and winter rainfall is a factor of the previous. It’s an excellent time to go to for good climate and even higher vibes.
2. Zion National Park, UT
We love Zion National Park. It is likely one of the nationwide parks we most often advocate, simply due to its iconic climbing trails like Angels Landing and the way lovely it’s to drive. We beloved visiting in April for a lot of causes, together with driving the encompassing roads, passing by tunnels minimize into purple sandstone cliffs, and pausing at attractive overlooks.
April can be an optimum time to deal with a few of these difficult trails in milder temperatures, which hover round 70 levels Fahrenheit all through the month. You can hike to the Emerald Pools and stroll to the Temple of Sinewava. If you’re feeling courageous, you possibly can even deal with Angels Landing; it’s a lot easier with out the ice however equally higher earlier than the dizzying warmth of the summer time months.
The solely path you’ll must keep watch over is the Narrows. This path may be closed at any time as a result of rising ranges from snow soften, so in spring, you should still see some closures. In our opinion, it’s a small worth to pay. Thanks to its Angels Landing lottery system, Zion is a “see what you can hike” kind of vacation spot. For additional tips about lodging logistics, we’ll hyperlink our information on the place to remain in Zion right here. Zion is a good place to go to in spring. Mid to late April has fewer folks so you possibly can get pleasure from trails in simpler situations.
3. Sedona, AZ
Sedona is one other one in all our agency favorites. We’ve truly listed it as one in all our prime romantic locations in the entire of the USA. The Arizona desert city is movie set worthy, with dramatic red-rock buttes and aromatic pine forests. And in April, you possibly can go to in that excellent shoulder season between winter, with its heavy snowfall and busy snowboarding, and summer time, with heavy crowds and warmth. Instead, you get simply accessible climbing trails with the choice to ski at close by Flagstaff, the place the ski season sometimes ends on the finish of April.
You will dodge not one however two peak seasons whereas truly seeing the city in a greater mild. You’ll be in the right season for climbing trails just like the Devil’s Bridge and UNESCO World Heritage Site points of interest like Montezuma Castle. However, you’ll additionally nonetheless be capable to get pleasure from snow actions simply an hour’s drive north. Sedona is ideal for an April journey.
4. Anchorage, AK
April is the right excuse to go to Anchorage, the most important metropolis in Alaska. The metropolis sits on the Cook Inlet and is greatest accessed by air or water. In April, you’ll be capable to catch occasions just like the Anchorage Folk Festival and see town in its final shoulder season.
And why do you have to care about Alaska’s greatest shoulder season? Well, April’s shoulder actions embody the ultimate month of the Anchorage ski season, the return of the gray whales, the final month of the auroras, and cheaper exercise offers – like sightseeing flights. It is the right time to get the final bucket checklist experiences of the Alaskan winter whereas bagging seasonal transition experiences like whale recognizing.
Anchorage is likely one of the greatest locations to go to in April for nature lovers who additionally need an accessible metropolis break. It provides a few of Alaska’s greatest actions, corresponding to snowboarding and eating.
5. Washington DC
This metropolis is the nation’s capital, and evidently, it has lots of issues to do and see. You might stroll the National Mall and discover all of Washington DC’s museums. You can go to the White House and embrace all of the political and social historical past born and instigated in this poignant metropolis. However, most significantly, for these visiting in April, you must attend the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
From late March to April, town celebrates the blooming of its cherry blossoms. The 3,000-plus cherry blossom bushes are unfold throughout the Tidal Basin and had been gifted to the USA in 1912 by the then Prime Minister of Japan. Each yr, Washington DC now celebrates their blooming and this historic reward between international locations. Plenty of actions and occasions are lined up, together with parades, artwork occasions and workshops, and meals stands.
We’d positively advocate visiting Washington, DC, to anybody, however in April, it’s undoubtedly much more particular. You have the awe issue of seeing hundreds of pink bushes, with scenic parks lined in hundreds of thousands of soppy petals.
6. Ennis, TX
If you need spring flowers, Ennis is our prime suggestion. This lovely metropolis is definitely dubbed the ‘Official Bluebonnet City and Trail of Texas’ as it’s surrounded by such a excessive quantity of vibrant fields of electrical blue-purple flowers. It is absolutely the crown of Texas Hill Country, and when you go to in April, you’ll catch it in full bloom; it’s the right time to schedule a visit to Texas.
The bluebonnets begin to bloom in late March and final till early May, so April is a stunning time to expertise the flowers in full bloom. It can be when the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival runs. The Festival options over 40 miles of mapped driving trails and showcases a pure wildflower present. It is a superb technique to have the comfort of an organized expertise and a pleasant time to affix a way of group celebration and pleasure.
Needless to say, Ennis can be blessed by heat climate in April. You’ve bought to like Texas for a little bit of early sunshine. The metropolis positively will get our vote; apart from, the flowers shall be passed by the summer time months. Ennis is a vacation spot the place you’ve bought to e-book now or endlessly maintain your peace.
7. Door County, WI
Door County is a fantastic addition to the USA’s tourism scene, and we find it irresistible. The area sits between Green Bay and Lake Michigan. It has one of many highest concentrations of lighthouses alongside its miles of rugged shoreline. Door County can be lined in parks like Peninsula State Park and Newport State Park; it truly has 5 state parks in whole, which is spectacular for such a small space. In April, it has gentle climate, and its structure makes it the right place for hikes alongside the waterfront – recognizing lighthouses as you go.
April is a particular shoulder season, with Door County at its busiest from May till October. Because of this, it’s a unbelievable time to leap in and luxuriate in its trails with fewer crowds. We’d notably advocate seeing Eagle Bluff Lighthouse at Peninsula State Park. But when you get a blustery day, take a look at the waves at Cave Point Country Park, which overlooks Lake Michigan.
If you want extra concepts for exploring Door County, take a look at its wineries. It has a stunning expertise for wine manufacturing. In abstract, Door County is good for walks alongside the lakes, with lighthouses to identify and wineries to drink at—all with fewer crowds in April.
8. Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, CA
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve is a visit to start out planning when you love seeing attractive flora. Get able to see poppies galore at this Californian state reserve. April marks the height bloom of waves of vivid orange-red poppy fields. The nature reserve is likely one of the prettiest locations for vacationers to see wildflowers in all the USA, and April is the perfect month to see them lively.
The reserve is simply outdoors of Los Angeles, making it a brilliant accessible place to go to in April if you set up a automobile rental. It is located simply outdoors the small metropolis of Lancaster, generally known as the gateway to the Mojave Desert.
We’d recommend hiring a automobile and driving the 1.5 hours to the reserve, which isn’t in any other case reachable by public transport. The quick drive takes you inland and thru the Castaic Lake State Recreation Area, so it’s well worth the quick highway journey simply on your views. As you get shut, you’ll see the flower fields on the horizon and poppies build up alongside the roadside.
9. Seattle, WA
Seattle completely strolled its manner onto this information, as it’s simply top-of-the-line cities to go to in April. The metropolis sits tucked away in northern Washington, proper underneath the Canada border and on the Puget Sound. It’s surrounded by water, mountains, and forests and is a simple day journey from Olympic National Park. It is mainly the perfect metropolis in order for you a base for outside adventures. And whereas March continues to be a bit drizzly and chilly, April brings the best heat climate to benefit from all of the close by pure magnificence earlier than the crowds of the summer time months.
You can go on a day journey to the Olympic National Park and hike the Hall of Mosses or Hurricane Hill. You might head south and go to Mount Rainier National Park or west for Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. You might even head additional northwest and see North Cascades National Park. Or you might cruise the Puget Sound and spot wildlife like whales.
Of course, there’s additionally the Space Needle, Museum of Flight, and Freemont Troll to go to. The metropolis has many sightseeing alternatives which might be a lot quieter once you go to from mid to late April. It’s a good time to dodge the vacationers.
10. Blue Ridge Parkway National Park, NC
Blue Ridge Parkway is the longest linear park in the USA and stretches 469 miles from North Carolina to Virginia. It is likely one of the most well-known highway journeys to take in the nation and is famed for its stops alongside the best way, with loads of cities with farm-to-table eating places and climbing trails for outside journey. Blue Ridge Parkway will get busy from May onwards all through summer time and once more in fall due to its fall foliage, so go to in April to get the park in a quiet spell. Crisp and quiet, April is a very serene time to expertise Blue Ridge.
Wrap up a bit hotter to deal with the dropping temperatures with elevation, and keep watch over the climate forecast, as at first of April, you possibly can nonetheless see snow in some components. But in any other case, simply embrace quieter roads and famously lovely surroundings. You can cease at points of interest just like the Blue Ridge Music Center, Crabtree Falls, and Linn Cove Viaduct. You’ll need a minimal of two to 3 days to drive the route, and when you get pleasure from tenting and climbing trails, then you might spend so long as per week finishing the drive. Blue Ridge Parkway is a good spring highway journey for April.
11. Miami, FL
Miami is likely one of the greatest locations to go to in April, and we didn’t wish to penalize it simply due to its recognition. The metropolis is a little bit of a sufferer of its personal success. But it’s positively well worth the hype, and the sunny climate speaks for itself. The pristine seashores in close by state parks like John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park scream “beach holiday” – simply take a look at these greatest seashores in and round Miami when you don’t imagine us. You can strut down artwork deco South Beach or take a look at downtown artwork galleries. And that’s earlier than you get a style of Miami’s get together tradition and all of the day journeys to locations just like the Everglades.
In April, you will have two selections: be a part of the crowds or beat them. You can keep away from the March crowds and Spring Breaker’s fever by visiting after the tail finish of Spring Break for fewer folks. You may embrace the sociable ambiance of Spring Break in Miami, assembly new folks and partying. Just resolve which finish of April most accurately fits you primarily based on what you need from Miami. We like how clear-cut it’s.
Miami has almost year-round sunshine, however April provides an ideal expertise earlier than the super-hot and busy summer time. To summarize, early April is greatest for partygoers wanting a busy Miami expertise for Spring Break, whereas mid to late April is greatest for these wanting shoulder season Miami with loads of seashores and good climate.
12. Palm Springs, CA
Palm Springs is a captivating metropolis in the Sonoran Desert, inland of Los Angeles, recognized for fashionable buying alternatives, high-end golf programs, and luxurious spas. If you need a luxurious getaway this April, we’d advocate attempting Palm Springs. The glitzy desert getaway is a sublime alternative and positively one for buying lovers wanting a slight variation on the usual metropolis break.
Of course, mentioning Palm Springs and never Coachella could be remiss. For these residing underneath a rock, Coachella is likely one of the largest reside music festivals in the world. It is held in the city of Indio, which is basically adjoined to Palm Springs – like a smaller metropolis suburb. Coachella runs someday from mid to the tip of April, with precise dates switching annually. It runs over two separate weekends, with two plenty of three days of performances and celebrations. It has all the pieces from indie music to the most recent pop artists. In 2023, the Coachella levels noticed everybody from Bad Bunny to Post Malone and Blink 182.
If Coachella or Palm Springs sounds up your alley, we’d positively recommend combining the 2. It is a dreamy technique to spend per week or two. And in order for you a pageant expertise this April, you must begin ticket buying.
13. Santa Catalina Island, CA
Santa Catalina Island is attractive and situated simply 22 miles off the shoreline of California. As far as islands go, this little magnificence is about as accessible as they arrive, simply reached by air or sea. Unsurprisingly, the island does get busy with heaps of excited vacationers; phrase travels quick about unimaginable vacation locations in the USA. Luckily, that’s the place April comes in.
April is the primary correct month you possibly can get pleasure from outside actions on Santa Catalina Island since winter, with gentle temperatures between 60 and 70 levels Fahrenheit. It additionally has manner much less rain than February or March, which once more is great for climbing. Finally, April is a primary time to go to Santa Catalina as a result of most individuals descend on the island in summer time. You don’t wish to really feel overrun by vacationers when visiting islands, and Santa Catalina Island isn’t any completely different.
Spring Break undoubtedly brings the vacationer numbers up a bit (though nowhere close to as excessive as in summer time nonetheless), so we’d recommend aiming to go to in the second half of the month. You can get pleasure from sightseeing points of interest just like the Catalina Chimes Tower, the Catalina Museum For Art & History, and the Wrigley Memorial. The Garden to Sky Summit can be a fantastic hike you must strive, main you as much as a hill summit for beautiful island views. April is the right month to get pleasure from Santa Catalina’s trails once more.
14. Sun Valley, ID
Sun Valley is the place to go for ski slopes and wildflower meadows, and if that isn’t the right mixture, we don’t know what’s. The resort city is located in central Idaho, on the outskirts of the Boise National Forest. It is flanked by Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain, two main ski areas that stay open till April. You can head there throughout Spring Break for a buzzier ambiance or take advantage of the quiet in the final couple of weeks earlier than ski slope closures.
When you aren’t having fun with the final of the snowboarding, you possibly can benefit from the meadows at decrease elevations, which have shaken off their snow and are beginning to showcase lovely wildflowers. Croy Canyon is at all times a sensible choice and is likely one of the earliest areas to bloom. Sawtooth Botanical Garden is an effective non-natural place to embrace flora, too. You can at all times go on a day journey to the Boise National Forest for scenic trails or to the Craters of the Moon National Park to see the unimaginable dormant lava fields.
Sun Valley is a unbelievable place to go to in April to see the again finish of the ski season. It additionally has different enjoyable choices, like wildflowers beginning to emerge and the lava fields in close by Craters of the Moon.
15. Jackson County, NC
Jackson County is gorgeous, bordering 45 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, nevertheless it additionally provides its personal magnificence. The county has a choice of actually serene mountain cities, together with Cashiers, Cherokee, and Slyva. It has its personal Forest Therapy Trail, which spans 1,500 acres in Sylva. It additionally has cultural points of interest just like the Appalachian Women’s Museum and the Museum of the Cherokee People. Jackson County is stuffed with greenery and pure magnificence, from Indian Creek Falls to Soco Falls and climbing trails galore.
Jackson County in North Carolina is comparatively sleepy and an underdog in the tourism scene. While most individuals rush to the close by Great Smoky Mountains or the Appalachian Mountains, we’d recommend slowing it down and staying in this pastoral area. You can actually unplug and expertise a brand new facet of North Carolina. In April, it’s an ideal alternative if you wish to journey earlier in the month whereas nonetheless avoiding Spring Break crowds.
We advocate Jackson County as an off-the-beaten-track expertise in North Carolina, and we predict you’ll love this under-sung area. It has quiet points of interest, loads of tradition, and pure magnificence galore.
16. North Cascades National Park, WA
North Cascades is a fantastic park close to the Canadian border in northern Washington. In April, a few of the areas should still have snow lingering, and the temperatures soar as much as above freezing, which makes it higher and extra pleasurable to hike. Given that it’s a glacial area too, that little bit of lingering snow makes for even prettier surroundings. You’ll have hikes to lakes with mountains nonetheless dusted with snow at their peaks. It’s the primary month you possibly can conveniently go to North Cascades once more and get pleasure from clear trails with snow views. Could you ask for a greater mixture?
As if all that wasn’t sufficient, North Cascades is claimed to have one of many main flora diversities of the USA and all its nationwide parks. In spring, you’ll discover these flora coming into full bloom. It’s a shocking time to be in the realm.
You can hike to Diablo Lake, Desolation Peak, or Baker Lake. North Cascades is only a ridiculously scenic place to get pleasure from in April. It’s ideally suited for individuals who love outside adventures and climbing, and it’s excellent when you nonetheless wish to expertise glacial terrain with ornamental snow.
17. Big Sky, MT
Big Sky is a giant title in the US ski trade. It is just about the place to move for excellent slopes, has a stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, and is near Yellowstone National Park. On the times you select to relaxation from the slopes, you possibly can take a day journey to see bison and geysers erupting at Yellowstone. Amazing, proper?
Big Sky understandably will get busy throughout Spring Break. However, when you go to after mid-April, you possibly can catch the area at its quietest earlier than it closes for summer time. The group’s most well-known ski spot is Big Sky Resort. You can both keep there on your total keep or simply e-book slope passes, which is a versatile contact. It is thought for its number of runs, and also you’ll have a ton of choices to check out once you hit the slopes.
Apart from simply tactical snowboarding, you’ll be capable to get pleasure from close by Yellowstone in April, too. April is a magical time to remain close to Yellowstone, the place you possibly can witness bison births and bears rising from hibernation. It’s a particular time to go to Big Sky, from which you’ll be able to simply hire a automobile or e-book a Yellowstone tour.
18. Napa Valley, CA
Napa Valley shouldn’t take a lot persuading when you like your Californian wines. The famed area is thought for its scrumptious wines and is situated only a quick drive from San Francisco. It is accessible and peaceable, with rolling vineyards and loads of sunshine. And in April, you will have the bonus of fewer crowds and fairly spring wildflowers.
Visiting in April, you additionally are likely to seize cheaper excursions and experiences, because the area continues to be sleepy and attempting to entice tourism earlier than the summer time rush. It is a good time to get essentially the most worth for cash. It goes with out saying that visiting some of the well-known wine areas in the USA can include a heavy price ticket.
If you keep in Napa itself, you’ll have dozens of wineries simply inside simple strolling distance. You even have points of interest like Oxbow Public Market and quite a few scenic parks alongside the Napa River. It is a peaceable getaway in April. And you’ll have tons of possibilities to indulge.
19. Skagit Valley, WA
Skagit Valley is a fantastic area of fields on the financial institution of the Skagit River in northern Washington, just under the Canada border. It is well top-of-the-line locations to go to in the USA in April, and there’s one purpose why: the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. This pageant lasts all through April, when hundreds of thousands of tulips burst into life. If you like flowers in springtime, the valley is a mesmerizing spot for a go to. You’ll see colours of white, yellow, purple, pink, and extra. The valley transforms into waves of vivid, bobbing flower heads.
During the pageant, you possibly can go to completely different farms and personal lands that open up, particularly for the event. A number of favorites are Tulip Town and Tulip Valley Farms. And once you aren’t visiting the tulips, you possibly can get pleasure from climbing and chicken watching – migratory birds love the agricultural lands and peaceable, protected areas. Make positive to pattern loads of natural farm produce as effectively.
Skagit Valley is the place you notice flowers in their peak season and luxuriate in a slower tempo of life. What’s to not love? It’s an excellent alternative this April and simply over an hour’s drive from Seattle.
20. Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TX
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is ideal for an April journey. Honestly, it’s just like the park was made for this month; it has gentle temperatures and barely any rain. And for a nationwide park that principally provides attractive climbing trails, that’s an enormous win. You can go to throughout Spring Break for security in numbers on trails, or you possibly can dodge the crowds after mid-April.
The Guadalupe Mountains are most famed for its Permian fossil reef, which is essentially the most intensive in all the world. You may hike up Guadalupe Peak and Devil’s Hall, which is way more pleasurable in spring than summer time. McKittrick Canyon can be a fantastic spot to hike by, with loads of flora erupting in April. We’d recommend permitting not less than two to 3 days to expertise the park or per week to take it sluggish and get underneath its pores and skin. The park covers almost 90,000 acres, so there’s so much to see and do.
It is situated on the border with New Mexico, so enable your self a while to succeed in the park, too. You’ll admire these decrease temperatures when driving by southern surroundings, and when you get an opportunity, detour to Carlsbad Caverns close by.
Best Places to Visit in April: FAQs
Now that you’re educated about all the perfect locations to go to in April, let’s get sensible. In this part, we’ll briefly stroll you thru essentially the most generally requested FAQs. Hopefully, this can clear up any doubts or follow-up queries you’ve bought brewing.
Where is the perfect place to trip in April in the US?
We have a mushy spot for California, Texas, and Utah. However, you must also contemplate locations like Door County in Wisconsin and Anchorage in Alaska. There are nonetheless some lovely, cooler locations to go to in April.
Which state is greatest to go to in April?
Utah and California are two nice states to go to in April. Utah has its nationwide parks beginning to get up, with roads extra accessible, and California has highway journeys galore and occasions like Coachella.
Which vacation spot is greatest for April?
We’d say that Ennis is the perfect vacation spot for April, together with Texas Hill Country as a complete. The sheer variety of bluebonnets is simply beautiful, and the scenic drives in heat climate are dreamy.
Where in the US is it heat in April?
Florida, Texas, and Southern California are all good selections in order for you scorching climate in April.
Why We Recommend These Places To Visit in April
It’s simple to see why touring to the USA in April is such a good suggestion. You’ve bought lingering snowboarding alternatives, blooming flowers, and the prospect to choose in or out of Spring Break celebrations and crowds. Visiting the USA in April comes with a unique degree of flexibility; we find it irresistible, and so will you.
Are you on the lookout for extra inspiration on visiting the USA? Or are you in the perfect issues to do in April? Check out our information on the greatest Spring Break locations for 2024. You must also take a look at our guides on the perfect 2024 nationwide parks and highway journeys – as a result of who doesn’t love outside journey? Have a tremendous time adventuring, partying, and sightseeing in the USA in April.