From the intoxicating vibrancy of New Orleans to the laid-back living of Nashville, America’s Deep South is a region of contrasts.
Covering vast swathes of the country, the southern states offer a hugely diverse landscape to explore, with visual delights including the cotton fields of Mississippi and Louisiana’s moss-covered bayous.
Similar to the UK, the Deep South enjoys four clear seasons: spring (March to May), summer (June to August), fall/autumn (September to November) and winter (December to February). Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit the Deep South, with pleasantly warm days and cool nights offering perfect conditions for sightseeing. Summer, with its oppressive heat and – over 40°C – and intense humidity is generally best avoided for travel. Due to the location of the Deep South, hurricanes and tropical storms are possible throughout June to November, particularly in coastal areas.
Everything was done perfectly. From the moment we landed to the day we took off, everything was so well organised that it made it so easy for us, ensuring that we enjoyed our holiday.
What to expect from Deep South USA in January
While winter in the Deep South is relatively mild – with average highs in New Orleans of 18°C and 9°C in Nashville, it can experience increased rainfall. In some areas of the Deep South, like northern Tennessee, you can even expect to see a little bit of snowfall and ice on the coldest days.
Festivals and events
- Martin Luther King Jr. Grand Parade
- Traditionally held on the closest Saturday to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 20th January
- Parade in Houston to celebrate the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr.
What to expect from Deep South USA in February
Despite still being officially winter in the Deep South, February enjoys pleasant temperatures, particularly around the Gulf Coast – New Orleans can see a high of 19°C. February is typically the month when crowds flock to the city for the annual New Orleans Mardi Gras. Naturally prices increase during this busy time, but it’s worth it to experience this once-in-a-lifetime party.
Festivals and events
- Houston Mardi Gras
- This Texan city hosts a one-day Mardi Gras celebration
- Features parades, decorated floats, live music and dancing in the streets
- New Orleans Mardi Gras
- Held annually, starting on Twelfth Night (6th January) and running until ‘Fat Tuesday’ the day before Ash Wednesday
- Streets comes alive with music, art, and great food. Revellers are encouraged to wear elaborate costumes or dress in purple, green and gold
- The end of Mardi Gras is marked with a huge parade through the city
- Texas Luna Festival
- Marking Lunar New Year
- Celebrates the Asian community in Houston, with cultural events across the city, culminating in a colourful parade
- San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo
- Two-week event in San Antonio
- Features rodeo events, fairground, concerts and livestock events, welcoming 1.5 million visitors each year
- San Antonio Alamo Commemoration (February-March)
- Commemorating the Battle of the Alamo in Texas
- The 12-day event includes historical re-enactments, period costume, live music and theatrical performances
What to expect from Deep South USA in March
March marks the start of spring in Deep South USA, with temperatures rising significantly across the states. Memphis enjoys an average daytime temperature of 16°C, with Baton Rouge and New Orleans both seeing an average of 22°C. Rainfall has started to decrease, and March is still a good distance away from the summer humidity and hurricane season.
Festivals and events
- Tin Pan South
- Three-day music festival in Nashville
- Hundreds of songwriters perform across numerous music venues in the city
- Treme Creole Gumbo & Congo Square Rhythms Festival
- Free two-day music festival in New Orleans
- Features an eclectic mix of music including African, brass bands, jazz and more
- Open-air event also includes an arts and crafts market
- Houston Holi
- Largest public Holi celebration on the Deep South
- The Festival of Colours marks the popular Hindu festival
- Expect the traditional colour play, alongside Indian pop concerts, Bollywood dancing, street food and fairground rides
- Houston Rodeo
- Huge annual family-friendly agricultural event
- Showcases Western heritage through rodeos, horse shows and livestock exhibits
- St Patrick’s Day Parade, Dallas
- Free Irish festival with food trucks, live music and events, finishing off with a huge street parade
What to expect from Deep South USA in April
April is one of the best times of year to visit the Deep South. Warm sunny days and pleasantly cool nights make it a great month to get outside and explore everything these fascinating states have to offer. With average daytime temperatures across the Deep South states sitting comfortably in the low to mid 20°Cs, make the most of the beautiful weather with a boat ride on the Mississippi or by exploring the bustling streets of New Orleans.
Festivals and events in April
- French Quarter Fest
- Free annual music festival in New Orleans’ French Quarter
- Thousands of musicians, from a variety of musical genres, play on over 20 stages throughout the French Quarter
- New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (April-May)
- World famous 10-day music festival in New Orleans, also known as Jazz Fest
- Celebrates the music, art, culture and heritage of the city
- Expect plenty of jazz music alongside blues, Cajun, rock, bluegrass and more
- Via Colori
- Free outdoor street painting festival in Houston
- Held on the first weekend in April
- Community event showcasing the work of chalk artists of all ages
- 404 Day
- Held on the 4th April (4.04) each year in Atlanta
- Free cultural event celebrating the cities creative community through music, visual art and dance
What to expect from Deep South USA in May
With temperatures continuing to climb, a visit to the Deep South of America in May promises plenty of sunshine without the blazing heat of summer. With most of the states enjoying average temperatures in the high 20°Cs, it’s comfortable enough to enjoy walking tours of some of the iconic cities like New Orleans and Nashville.
Festivals and events
- The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
- Annual foodie event in Memphis each May
- A four-day grill-off, where cooking pros battle it out to BBQ the best ribs, chicken, seafood and everything in between
- Bayou Boogaloo
- Three-day community music and arts festival in New Orleans
- This ticketed event celebrates Louisiana culture
- Many visitors take to the water in boats, floats, canoes and kayaks
- Highlights include the hotly contested Crawfish Eating Contest
- Mayfest
- Large community festival in Fort Worth, held on the first weekend of May each year
- Four days of live music, festival food, fairground rides, markets and arts performances
- Tucker Day
- Annual street festival in downtown Tucker, Atlanta, every May
- “Human-powered parade” with prizes for the best costumes, all-day scavenger hunt, live music and local food stalls
What to expect from Deep South USA in June
While temperatures in June generally sit in the 27°C to 32°C range it’s still comfortable enough to sightsee around the Deep South if warmer temperatures don’t bother you. The humidity is rising, but it hasn’t yet reached the stifling levels of July and August.
Festivals and events
- Memphis Juneteenth
- Federal holiday on June 19th commemorating the end of slavery in America
- Free weekend event held in Memphis featuring live music, events and food trucks
What to expect from Deep South USA in July
Southern summers can get very hot and humid, with temperatures averaging 30°C with highs of over 40°C. The high humidity can feel unbearably sticky so take your lead from the locals and head to the coast to enjoy the breeze. Despite the heat and humidity, July is a busy month for festivals across the Deep South, with Independence Day celebrations held across the southern states.
Festivals and events
- Essence Music Festival
- New Orleans annual music festival
- Largest African-American culture and music event in the US, featuring live performances from a range of musical genres including reggae, hip-hop, R&B, gospel and blues
Independence Day
- Fair Park Fourth
- Independence Day celebration in Dallas on 4th July
- A free, public event with live music, entertainment, food trucks and fireworks display
- Freedom Fest
- San Antonio three-day Independence Day festival
- Features live music, local food stalls and family entertainment
What to expect from Deep South USA in August
The sticky summer heat continues into August, making it a difficult month for travelling unless you’re comfortable with high humidity. There’s also the possibility of hurricanes or tropical storms throughout August in the Deep South, particularly along the coast.
Festivals and events
- Elvis Week
- An unmissable event for fans of the King, this week-long event celebrates Elvis’ life, music and legacy
- This Memphis festival includes live music, the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Competition and a candlelight vigil for the singer on August 15th
- Tennessee State Fair
- 10-day agricultural fair held in Wilson County, mid-August
- Includes everything from monster truck shows and fairground rides to livestock competitions and farm-to-table dining
What to expect from Deep South USA in September
September sees the start of fall in the Deep South, with a welcome drop in temperature and decreasing humidity. Any of the fall months are a perfect time to visit these southern states, with September offering balmy days and pleasant nights. Explore the Deep South on a classic American road trip, and head as far as the Grand Canyon, when the peak summer crowds are thinning. Just be aware that along the coast of the Deep South there is still a chance of hurricanes.
Festivals and events
- African Street Festival
- Free three-day festival in Nashville, celebrating African culture
- Live music, performances and artisan market to explore
- Cooper-Young Festival
- Free annual open-air festival in Memphis
- Celebrates Memphis’ heritage and culture through live musical performances, art and crafts
- National Fried Chicken Festival (September-October)
- Two-day outdoor food festival in New Orleans
- Restaurants from across the US showcase their best dishes, competing for the ‘Best Fried Chicken’ award.
- Four stages featuring cooking demonstrations and live music
- State Fair of Texas (September-October)
- This huge annual event in Dallas celebrates all things Texan
- Expect the usual rodeo, livestock exhibits and horse show, alongside arts and crafts, live music and food stalls
What to expect from Deep South USA in October
October is a fantastic month to visit Deep South USA, with warm temperatures averaging 23°C in Atlanta, 24°C in Memphis and 27°C in New Orleans. Humidity is back to normal levels and it’s one of the driest months across the region. Fall foliage dazzles this month, with vibrant reds, oranges and yellows providing a visual treat, particularly in Tennessee.
Festivals and events
- Halloween
- The USA goes all out for Halloween, 31st October, and the Deep South is no exception
- Houses and gardens are decorated, and families head out trick or treating in the evening
- Dia de los Muertos (October-November)
- San Antonio is home to the biggest ‘Day of the Dead’ celebrations in the United States
- A traditional Mexican holiday where families remember and pay homage to loved ones who have died
- San Antonio celebrations include a river parade featuring decorated barges, street parade and musical concerts
What to expect from Deep South USA in November
This month sees a noticeable drop in temperatures, particularly in cities like Nashville and Memphis, which have an average daytime temperate of 16°C in November. Evenings can get quite chilly, so make sure you pack plenty of layers to keep warm, and don’t forget a raincoat as showers occur across the states. With many Americans celebrating Thanksgiving this month, it can be an expensive and popular time of year to visit, so do try and book in advance.
Festivals and events in November
- Oak Street Po-Boy Festival
- Fun festival celebrating New Orleans’ most iconic sandwich
- A po’ boy is a traditional Louisiana sandwich made using toasted French bread, stuffed with fried meat (roast beef, ham or fried seafood like shrimp), then dressed with tomatoes, romaine lettuce, pickles, mayonnaise and hot sauce
- Lone Star Rally
- Large bike and car show held in Houston
- A vibrant, noisy festival featuring the largest motorcycle rally in Texas, and even a tattoo contest
- Ford Holiday River Parade and Lighting Ceremony (November-December)
- Held the day after Thanksgiving in San Antonio
- Features 28 decorated floats and over 100,000 lights illuminating the River Walk
- The lights are turned on from sundown to sunrise every day until New Year’s Day
What to expect from Deep South USA in December
While December weather can be changeable at times, it’s typically mild with occasional rain showers or rare light snow in areas where the temperature really drops. Even in December, New Orleans enjoys an average temperature of 28°C, while Memphis is around 11°C. The Deep South is an excellent Christmas destination, with cities decorated with twinkling lights and streets buzzing with festive cheer.
Festivals and events in December
- Dallas Holiday Parade
- Seen as the official start to the holiday season, this annual parade draws over 700,000 spectators from all over Texas
- A two-hour parade featuring marching bands, dancing, music and larger-than-life decorated floats
- New Year’s Eve at Jackson Square
- Free event in New Orleans’ French Quarter
- Enjoy lots of live music, an end-of-year countdown and fireworks over the Mississippi
This is our third holiday with Riviera and you are so well looked after. Everything is done for you - you just have to sit back and enjoy your holiday. The locations are very good, some iconic. Attention to detail is everything with this company.
Our holidays to the Deep South USA
Frequently asked questions
- While the whole of the Deep South enjoys a temperate or subtropical climate, with long hot summers and short, mild winters, due to the sheer size of the area and the variation in landscape, each state’s climate differs slightly.
- Because Tennessee is at the northern edge of the Deep South, winters tend to be cooler, with the possibility of a little snow.
- Louisiana’s Gulf Coast position creates very hot, humid and sticky summers with the chance of tropical storms or hurricanes.
- Georgia’s climate is fairly moderate, with a mild, rainy spring, hot summer, pleasant fall and chillier winter.
- While temperatures are high in June, it’s still bearable for many travellers.
- If you want to avoid the heat in America’s Deep South, it’s wise not to travel during July or August.
- Over these two months it’s very hot, sticky and incredibly humid, making sightseeing or outdoor excursions unpleasant.
- America’s Deep South has four distinct seasons, with fall/autumn and spring the best weather-wise for travelling.
- Spring runs from March to May, while summer lasts from June to August.
- Much like the UK, fall or autumn runs from September to November, and winter stretches from December to February.
Average temperatures by month
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Atlanta | 7°C | 10°C | 13°C | 17°C | 21°C | 26°C | 27°C | 26°C | 23°C | 18°C | 13°C | 8°C |
| Austin | 12°C | 13°C | 17°C | 21°C | 24°C | 27°C | 30°C | 30°C | 27°C | 22°C | 16°C | 13°C |
| Jackson | 8°C | 10°C | 14°C | 18°C | 23°C | 26°C | 27°C | 27°C | 25°C | 19°C | 13°C | 9°C |
| Montgomery | 8°C | 10°C | 15°C | 19°C | 23°C | 26°C | 28°C | 27°C | 25°C | 19°C | 14°C | 10°C |
| Nashville | 4°C | 6°C | 11°C | 16°C | 20°C | 25°C | 27°C | 26°C | 22°C | 16°C | 10°C | 6°C |
| New Orleans | 13°C | 14°C | 18°C | 22°C | 26°C | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 27°C | 23°C | 18°C | 14°C |
Average rainfall by month
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Atlanta | 110mm | 130mm | 130mm | 120mm | 120mm | 100mm | 130mm | 100mm | 110mm | 80mm | 100mm | 90mm |
| Austin | 50mm | 60mm | 60mm | 60mm | 140mm | 110mm | 50mm | 40mm | 70mm | 90mm | 70mm | 70mm |
| Jackson | 123mm | 135mm | 131mm | 125mm | 104mm | 90mm | 89mm | 77m | 75mm | 87mm | 111mm | 125mm |
| Montgomery | 115mm | 132mm | 135mm | 105mm | 84mm | 96mm | 99mm | 82mm | 79mm | 69mm | 100mm | 117mm |
| Nashville | 88mm | 101mm | 103mm | 110mm | 112mm | 89mm | 84mm | 68mm | 77mm | 78mm | 101mm | 110mm |
| New Orleans | 121mm | 121mm | 120mm | 118mm | 112mm | 137mm | 138mm | 132mm | 116mm | 83mm | 92mm | 106mm |