Travel ideas · Best places to visit in North America in January
Best places to visit in North America in January
Where to go in North America in January: destinations at their best that month.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Top picks for January: Orlando, Miami and Phoenix. Orlando averages 22°C (72°F); Miami averages 24°C (75°F); Phoenix averages 19°C (66°F). All 5 destinations below list January among their best months or have reliably pleasant weather then.
Key facts
- Destinations
- 5
- Warmest
- Miami (24°C (75°F))
- Driest
- Phoenix (4 rainy days)
North America
United States · 22°C (72°F) · 6 rainy days
Orlando
Theme parks, spring-fed rivers and rocket launches an hour away. Mild days and cool nights; crowds are among the lowest of the year outside holiday weekends, though some water parks close for refurbishment.
United States · 24°C (75°F) · 7 rainy days
Miami
Art Deco beaches, Cuban coffee windows and street art in winter sun. Dry, sunny and warm, with occasional cool fronts; high season, so book hotels and restaurants early.
United States · 19°C (66°F) · 4 rainy days
Phoenix
Desert mountain hikes, saguaro gardens, resort pools and Sonoran food. Sunny and mild by day, cold at night; peak resort season begins.
United States · 3°C (37°F) · 9 rainy days
Salt Lake City
Temple Square, mountain canyons and powder skiing 40 minutes from downtown. Cold, with prime ski conditions in the canyons; valley inversions can trap smog for days, while the mountains above are sunny.
United States · 24°C (75°F) · 6 rainy days
Key West
Sunset at Mallory Square, Hemingway's house and reef trips at the end of US-1. Dry, sunny and warm; peak season as winter visitors arrive, with occasional cooler, windy days after cold fronts.
Beach, city or budget: January picks by trip type
| Trip type | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Beach trips | Miami, Key West |
| City breaks | Orlando, Phoenix, Salt Lake City |
What's on in January
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- Orlando: Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (usually January)
- Miami: Art Deco Weekend festival on Ocean Drive (usually mid-January)
- Phoenix: Barrett-Jackson collector car auction in Scottsdale (usually late January)
- Key West: Key West Food and Wine Festival (usually late January)
Daylight in January
Day length on these trips ranges from about 9.6 hours in Salt Lake City to 10.8 hours in Key West (sunrise to sunset on 15 January). Longer days mean more sightseeing time; shorter ones favour museums, food and evenings.
January weather compared
| Destination | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | 22°C (72°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 6 | 3/5 |
| Miami | 24°C (75°F) | 16°C (61°F) | 7 | 5/5 |
| Phoenix | 19°C (66°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 4 | 4/5 |
| Salt Lake City | 3°C (37°F) | -6°C (21°F) | 9 | 4/5 |
| Key West | 24°C (75°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 6 | 5/5 |
Questions travellers ask
+Where is good to travel in January?
Orlando, Miami, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Key West are all at or near their best in January.