North America Packing Lists

North America has more climate variety than any other hub here. A January trip to Chicago requires almost the opposite of a February trip to Miami, and a summer visit to Denver is different from a summer visit to New Orleans in ways that matter when you are packing. The city-level guides below are the real source of truth.

Climate at a glance

The northern half (New England, Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Mountain West) has real four-season weather with cold winters. The south (Southeast, South Central, Southwest) is warm year-round with short mild winters and intense humid summers. The Pacific Coast is mild and dry most of the year, and the Caribbean plus Central America stay tropical with a distinct hurricane season from June through November.

What to pack for North America

• Layers always — American buildings are air-conditioned to survival temperatures even in summer.
• A rain shell for the Pacific Northwest, Northeast, and Southeast in any month.
• US Type A plugs, no adapter needed if you are coming from Canada or Mexico. Europeans and Australians need one.
• One neat, presentable outfit for nicer restaurants, which are more casual than Europe but not completely.
• Comfortable walking shoes — tourism distances in most US cities are bigger than they look on a map.