Packing guide for the West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii
The West Coast is mild compared with the rest of the country, but it varies a lot. Southern California is warm and dry most of the year. San Francisco and the coast are cool, with fog even in summer. Oregon and Washington have cool, rainy winters and dry, pleasant summers. Inland valleys and deserts get much hotter.
States in this guide: California, Oregon and Washington, with notes for Alaska and Hawaii.
General information only. Weather varies a lot inside each region and from year to year. Check the forecast for your city on weather.gov before you pack, and follow the official travel rules linked below.
Your packing checklist
Tick items as you pack. Your ticks stay on this device only. Share the list, print it, or set reminders below.
California
- Layers for cool mornings and evenings
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Warmer jacket for San Francisco or the mountains
Oregon and Washington
- Waterproof rain jacket with a hood
- Water-resistant shoes
- Warm layers for gray winters
Safety
- A few N95 masks for wildfire smoke
- Small emergency kit: water, flashlight, power bank, document copies
Alaska or Hawaii
- Alaska: serious winter gear (buy locally)
- Hawaii: light clothes, a rain jacket and reef-safe sunscreen
California
- Layers: mornings and evenings can be cool even when afternoons are warm, especially near the coast.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses in Southern California all year.
- A warmer jacket for San Francisco summers and for the mountains in winter.
Oregon and Washington (Pacific Northwest)
- A waterproof rain jacket with a hood and water-resistant shoes. Rain is frequent from fall to spring, usually light and steady.
- Warm layers for cool, gray winters. Snow is uncommon in Seattle and Portland but common in the mountains.
Wildfires and earthquakes
- Wildfire smoke can affect air quality in summer and fall. Check AirNow.gov and keep a few N95 masks.
- Earthquakes can happen without warning. Keep a small emergency kit with water, a flashlight, a power bank and copies of your documents.
Alaska and Hawaii
- Alaska: long, very cold winters with short days, especially inland and in the north. Buy serious winter gear locally.
- Hawaii: warm all year. Pack light clothes, rain gear for the wetter side of each island, and reef-safe sunscreen.
For documents, medicines, electronics, food and money, see our general packing guide for newcomers. It applies to every region.