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Entering the great American West, following in the footsteps of the 19th century pioneers who either went up to Oregon or went to the banks of the Californian rivers to extract gold, is like setting off on a grandiose adventure, discovering breathtaking great spaces. Two hundred years later, the megacities and small rural towns of the West Coast of the United States are still vibrant with this energy, that of these valiant migrants driven by a desire for success that is entirely rooted in the "do it yourself" formula. The cities bordering the Pacific Ocean, from Seattle to San Diego, Portland, San Francisco and of course Los Angeles, do not leave indifferent, immense and seductive by their ability to reinvent themselves. It is because between the skyscrapers of the West Coast cities, tolerance and freedom are the watchwords: as soon as you rush into them, you get the feeling that everything is possible, that a new life begins. But the tour guide for the West Coast of the United States also focuses on the wild and untamed landscapes of the Pacific coast, made up of plains and mountains, and pushes the journey inland, from Yellowstone Park, where nature has brought most of the world's landscapes together, to Utah's national parks like Zion or Bryce Canyon, not to mention the Mormon city of Salt Lake City and the crazy Las Vegas not far from the famous Valley of Death. Welcome to the West Coast of the United States, its legendary Far West, a destination as fascinating as ever, a portrait of a dream America
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When to go to sur la Côte Ouest Etats-Unis?
When to go to the West Coast of the United States? In California, the weather is fine all year round. Summer or fall is an ideal time to visit Oregon, Washington State and Idaho because the rest of the year, it rains quite a bit and temperatures can drop. In Arizona, Utah and Nevada, some areas may be snow-covered in winter.
In general, to the question of when to go to the West Coast of the United States, there is no single answer: it is quite possible to go at any time of the year, knowing that some roads and parks may be partially closed due to snow in the winter, or if they remain open, you will need a suitable vehicle to access them (such as in Crater Lake, for example). It is therefore better to find out about the state of roads and parks beforehand. Summer, which begins with Memorial Day (last Monday in May) and ends with Labour Day (first Monday in September) in the United States, is the holiday season. Prices are rising and the crowds are pouring in. However, the high season in one region is not necessarily the same in another. In July, the Pacific Northwest is wonderful. But further south, it's a furnace. In general, latitude and altitude help to predict the weather and seasons. The further north you go, the later the summer is and the earlier the winter arrives. So there is no better time to go to the West Coast of the United States!
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- Weather forecast
- Budget
- Procedures
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Weather at the moment
Weather all year round
The weather on the West Coast of the United States varies from one region to another. To the north, the Cascade Mountains divide the states of Washington and Oregon in two: in the east, the climate is dry; in the west, humid. California's climate is mild most of the year, although it is cold in the winter in the mountains and warm in the south all year round. In the interior plains, the climate is continental. Temperatures on the West Coast of the United States are highly variable.
- Jan.
- -3°C
- 3°C
- Feb.
- -2°C
- 4°C
- Mar.
- 1°C
- 9°C
- Apr.
- 6°C
- 15°C
- May
- 12°C
- 21°C
- June
- 17°C
- 26°C
- July
- 20°C
- 28°C
- Aug.
- 19°C
- 27°C
- Sept.
- 16°C
- 24°C
- Oct.
- 10°C
- 18°C
- Nov.
- 4°C
- 12°C
- Dec.
- -1°C
- 6°C
- Jan.
- 5°C
- 13°C
- Feb.
- 6°C
- 15°C
- Mar.
- 7°C
- 16°C
- Apr.
- 8°C
- 18°C
- May
- 10°C
- 19°C
- June
- 11°C
- 21°C
- July
- 12°C
- 22°C
- Aug.
- 12°C
- 22°C
- Sept.
- 12°C
- 23°C
- Oct.
- 10°C
- 21°C
- Nov.
- 8°C
- 18°C
- Dec.
- 6°C
- 14°C
- Jan.
- 14°C
- 24°C
- Feb.
- 15°C
- 25°C
- Mar.
- 16°C
- 27°C
- Apr.
- 19°C
- 28°C
- May
- 21°C
- 30°C
- June
- 23°C
- 31°C
- July
- 24°C
- 32°C
- Aug.
- 24°C
- 32°C
- Sept.
- 24°C
- 31°C
- Oct.
- 22°C
- 29°C
- Nov.
- 18°C
- 27°C
- Dec.
- 15°C
- 25°C
- Jan.
- -15°C
- -6°C
- Feb.
- -12°C
- -3°C
- Mar.
- -10°C
- 1°C
- Apr.
- -3°C
- 7°C
- May
- 3°C
- 13°C
- June
- 7°C
- 17°C
- July
- 10°C
- 19°C
- Aug.
- 9°C
- 18°C
- Sept.
- 4°C
- 13°C
- Oct.
- -2°C
- 6°C
- Nov.
- -9°C
- -2°C
- Dec.
- -14°C
- -7°C
Budget
A stay on the West Coast of the United States can be very expensive or reasonable (outside the price of the flight of course). It all depends on the period, knowing that summer is the high season. It is difficult to go below 130 US$ per day, unless you prefer camping or youth hostels, although their rates are increasing. A dormitory bed costs between 15 and 25 US$, a camping site between 10 and 20 US$ or more depending on the park and the season.
Procedures
Valid passports in the United States: biometric passports, issued since 2009, and e-passports issued since May 2006. However, not all machine-readable passports are accepted in the United States.
For stays of less than 90 days: French nationals are allowed to enter the United States without a visa for a maximum stay of 90 days. In addition to the passport, the traveller must be in possession of a non-refundable round-trip ticket to the United States and must have completed the ESTA form 72 hours before departure and paid the US$14 tax (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov).
If you have been to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen between March 2011 and today, regardless of the duration or purpose of your trip (tourism or business), and plan to come to the United States for less than 90 days, you will now need a visa as of January 2017.
Health
No special precautions to take: the vaccines required on the West Coast of the United States are the same as in Europe. On the spot, beware of the desert heat and the cold of the mountains: glasses, hat and water to avoid sunstroke and dehydration are recommended. Water is safe to drink in some areas of the West Coast of the United States. Check with the locals to see if you can drink tap water. Otherwise, prefer bottled water
How to go to sur la Côte Ouest Etats-Unis? Our advice & tips
- Organised trips
- Going alone
- Moving around
The West Coast of the United States is a very large region that allows for a wide variety of stays. Many French-speaking travel agencies work with the area. Whether you want to organise a tailor-made tour, a family holiday, a honeymoon, a sports or cultural holiday, a nature tour or even an all-inclusive holiday, you will certainly find the formula best suited to your desires in the catalogues of these agencies.
To get to the West Coast of the United States, the most appropriate way is by plane. The price variation depends on the company borrowed, but above all, on the booking time. To get the best rates in high season (between €700 and €1,200), buy your tickets six months in advance. As for the shorter periods, a shorter period should not prevent you from getting an attractive price (between 500 and 800 €).
To travel on the West Coast of the United States, it's all about time. The Amtrak train company is a picturesque way to travel (not very cheap). Renting a car is the best option to enjoy full autonomy. To connect large cities together, buses can also be a good solution (see www.greyhound.com). Finally, the plane is often cheap in the end, compared to the distance travelled (Seattle - San Francisco for about a hundred dollars).
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Practical information
When to travel?
When to go to the West Coast of the United States? In California, the weather is fine all year round. Summer or fall...
Read more about it
Weather forecast
The weather on the West Coast of the United States varies from one region to another. To the north, the Cascade Mount...
Read more about it
Budget
A stay on the West Coast of the United States can be very expensive or reasonable (outside the price of the flight of...
Read more about it
Formalities
Valid passports in the United States: biometric passports, issued since 2009, and e-passports issued since May...
Read more about it
Health
No special precautions to take: the vaccines required on the West Coast of the United States are the same as in Europ...
Read more about it
How to travel by yourself?
To get to the West Coast of the United States, the most appropriate way is by plane. The price variation depends on t...
Read more about it
How to get organized?
The West Coast of the United States is a very large region that allows for a wide variety of stays. Many French-speak...
Read more about it
Getting around
To travel on the West Coast of the United States, it's all about time. The Amtrak train company is a picturesque way...
Read more about it
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