The state of New York provides an endless stream of fun activities: sightseeing, nightlife, winter sports, sports matches, and more! No matter what time of year you visit, most of these things and more await you.
The best months to visit New York are March, April, and May. If you’re searching for good weather and low prices, this period has the perfect ratio of the two!
However, when is the best time to visit for nice weather? Luckily, New York’s weather is quite dependable. You know when to expect it to be hot or cold, and even the rain and snow are somewhat predictable.
Crowds can be tough to cope with. Don’t expect to be the only tourist in town. Huge masses of tour groups and families pour into the state in the summer and Christmas seasons. Travel costs skyrocket during these times. Book your trip in the wrong month and you’ll pay a hefty amount for room and board.
It may seem impossible to find a time to visit New York when the crowds die down. Does such a period even exist?
This article assesses the average weather and tourist season trends to determine the best month to visit New York State for good weather and low prices. To do this, we will look at three cities: New York City, Albany, and Buffalo. Additionally, we analyze tourism trends in these areas to determine how traffic reflects in pricing.
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Average Temperature In New York
New York gets all four seasons, and there’s no major deviation from this pattern. You can expect heat if traveling in the summer and freezing temperatures in the winter. Temperatures are reliable when planning your trip!
New York City gets the most intense summer heat with average highs of 84°F and lows of 71°F in July. However, be aware that, in recent years, the summer temperatures often surpass this mark and extend well into the mid-90s. Albany is just behind NYC with July temperatures ranging from 82°F to 63°F. Buffalo gets the coolest summers with highs of 79°F and lows of 64°F.
Mid-January sees the coldest weather statewide. Albany has some of the lowest temperatures, ranging from 31°F to 18°F. Buffalo isn’t far behind- its high is also 31°F and it drops to 21°F at night. New York City has the mildest winters with highs of 40°F and lows of 29°F.
However, as in the summer, the city is prone to winter storms that bring the temperature much lower than average, and this type of weather is becoming more common. Fall and Spring have the mildest temperatures for visiting New York. You’re unlikely to experience freezing weather or blistering heat if you visit in March, April, September, or October.
Daily Chance Of Precipitation In New York
New York gets its fair share of rain year-round, but some seasons are drier than others! The daily chance of precipitation is always at least 17% and it never exceeds 39%.
The three cities experience a peak in precipitation in July and August when each city expects more than 10 wet days per month.
New York City and Albany are tied for the heaviest rainfall. The former receives an average of 3.7 inches in April and the latter gets the same amount in June. However, both states get over 3 inches of precipitation per month from April through October. Buffalo is slightly drier, only receiving a maximum of 2.9 inches of rainfall in September, its rainiest month.
Snowfall is common in New York winters and Albany receives copious amounts of it! Its 10.7 inches of average January snowfall dwarfs that of New York City, which only gets 6.1. Buffalo also gets snow and peaks later in February with a maximum of 5.1 inches on average. The snowy season typically lasts from late November through the end of March.
Humidity Comfort Levels In New York
The state has a short but heavy humid season that coincides with the summer. The rest of the seasons, on the other hand, are calm with over six months of 0% humidity.
If muggy weather bothers you, then New York City’s summers will be difficult to cope with. The city has a 54% average chance of humidity in July and August. That combined with increasingly high temperatures makes the place feel sauna-like.
Citizens of Albany and Buffalo suffer lower levels of humidity. They only have about 9 days of humidity each in July while NYC gets 15. With lower average temperatures, these two cities feel much more comfortable in the summertime.
Best Time Of Year To New York For Great Weather
New York’s weather is fairly reliable, meaning you know when to expect cold and hot weather. However, other factors like blizzards and thunderstorms can come unexpectedly. When is the best time to visit New York for good weather?
There are two factors used to decide the best months for weather called the “tourism score” and the “beach/pool score,” respectively. The first is used to determine how pleasurable outdoor activities like sightseeing tours are in a given month. Clear skies and temperatures between 65°F and 80°F are the criteria here.
According to the tourism score, the best months to visit New York for great weather are June, July, August, and September. This applies to all three cities. Buffalo scores the highest in this period with a score of 7.1. NYC is right behind at 7.0 and Albany is close with 6.5. Though heat, humidity, and rain can prove problematic in this period, the chance of clear skies is also highest in the summer. Prepare for the chance of rainfall, but it rarely pours all day long!
The beach/pool score says that the best months to visit New York are July and August. NYC leads here with 6.5 and the other two are close behind at 5.3. This is the ideal time to take advantage of one of the many waterparks across the state, such as Six Flags Darien Lake outside Buffalo. In New York City, the Atlantic beaches like Rockaway and Brighton are popular summertime getaways for locals.
Best Time Of Year To Visit New York For Low Prices
With events, festivals, and holidays happening every month, there’s always a reason to visit New York. People come from around the world to celebrate Christmas or New Year’s in Times Square and spend time in the Catskill mountains. Others make their pilgrimage in the summer for Central Park concerts or Yankees games. Even the fall and spring are full of people watching Broadway shows or going to a cozy cabin upstate.
With all of these fun events come millions of visitors who want to partake in them. As a result, traveling to the state can prove expensive. What is the cheapest month to visit New York?
Luckily for those traveling domestically, the rise of budget airlines allows for cheap travel to the state year-round. New York City’s JFK and LaGuardia airports have the highest number of connections, and you can fly both ways for as little as $50 if you book in advance. Albany and Buffalo, though with fewer connections, also have budget carriers like Allegiant and Frontier servicing them.
Foreign guests don’t have the luxury of taking Spirit Air. Deals do exist on trans-Atlantic flights, though! Flying in the winter months is the cheapest, with tickets for as cheap as $375 from western Europe. Flying in the summer? Expect to pay at least double.
Thanks to cheap airfare, you can focus your efforts on finding affordable accommodations. They fluctuate most in New York City. The average price of a mid-range Manhattan hotel room soars to $230 per night in July. Compare that with $200 in March and $125 in January and February.
Buffalo and Albany rooms vary by season but are significantly cheaper than in NYC. Expect to pay about $150 per night in the summer and between $75 and $100 in the winter.
The abundance of flight connections to New York state means that deals are available all year. However, due to unstable room prices, the best months to visit New York for low prices are January, February, and March.
Peak Travel Season In New York
With constant crowds filling places like Times Square and Ellis Island, one would think that New York’s peak season never ends. On the contrary, other cities experience smaller crowds, and even New York City goes through lulls.
June, July, August, and December are the state’s busiest months. Besides the usual tour groups coming in from abroad, hundreds of thousands of American families visit the city on summer vacation and the holiday season. Some New Yorkers leave the cities for the mountains upstate. Hiking trails and mountain shelters are full in the summer.
The weather is hot and often humid. Rain is possible, but not too frequent. Pack a raincoat and with some luck, you may not need it!
Attractions are busy and have long lines, and sporting event tickets sell out. Cheap rooms in NYC, but they’re for the early birds who planned their trip months ahead. If sleeping in Manhattan, don’t be surprised to pay $230 per night for your hotel.
Flight prices spike at this time, too. Even if flying with budget airlines, it’s wise to book far ahead of time to secure a low rate. Those $50 tickets may jump to $150 or more if you wait until the month of your journey to buy.
Shoulder Travel Season In New York
Spring and autumn are New York’s shoulder seasons, and visiting the state in these months offers a unique opportunity to get nice weather and save a bit on travel costs.
New York City is hardly less busy in these months. However, visit in the shoulder season and you’ll enjoy fairly warm temperatures minus the humidity. Plus, these months aren’t terribly wet. Bring a coat or umbrella, but don’t expect precipitation to ruin your trip.
You can get a room in the city for about $200 per night on average in March, April, May, and October. You can find better deals if you look in advance, though. If traveling in September, many options still reflect peak season prices.
Though the crowds die down as schools start back up, you might still have to pay $230 or more per night at the same hotels that were $200 in the spring. Though the shoulder season has fewer famous events than the summer or winter, you still get plenty of unique experiences.
Enjoy Central Park’s fall foliage in October or watch the place bloom in April. You’ll miss baseball season, but why not catch a Knicks or Mets game? Broadway show tickets are widely available throughout the period too.
Low Travel Season In New York
Right after the holiday season, New york’s busiest month, comes the off-season running from January to February. Crowds may still linger for the first few weeks, but they’re considerably smaller than in December.
New York City will still be abuzz with tourists. Many come for the Rockefeller Center Christmas display which stays open for some time after the holidays end.
The state is at its coldest, but it’s not always so cold and grim! Snowfall is still the norm, making cities into winter wonderlands. Outdoor ice skating rinks are still open and are a popular attraction for locals and visitors.
You’ll find the cheapest rooms if traveling in these months. The average price of a mid-range Manhattan hotel costs about $125 per night. However, you can find some budget options for as little as $50 per night.
Flights are also cheap. The budget connections are as cheap as any season. International travelers have the greatest opportunity for savings in this period with the potential for trans-Atlantic flights as cheap as $375!
Best Months For Travel To New York
Each season presents an opportunity for an unforgettable visit to New York! There’s no shortage of excitement, and fun events and festivals are always around the corner. However, if good weather and deals are your mission, then it’s crucial to book the right season.
Sure, you can find even cheaper deals in the winter, but you’ll have to cope with the cold! On the other hand, visiting in the summer will guarantee you warm, sunny days, but along with them comes bigger crowds and inflated prices. Traveling to New York in the springtime helps you save some money and makes for a more peaceful adventure, as you don’t have to compete with as many fellow tourists.
