Countries / United States / Packing guides / West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii

Packing for the West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii

California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii. Milder than most of the country, but varied. 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: California, Oregon and Washington, with notes for Alaska and Hawaii

General information only. Weather varies a lot within each region and from year to year. Check your city’s forecast on weather.gov before you pack.

Your packing checklist

Tick items as you pack, then share, copy or print the list, or add reminders to your calendar.

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 grey winters

Safety

A few N95 masks for wildfire smoke
Small emergency kit: water, torch, power bank, document copies

Alaska or Hawaii

Alaska: serious winter gear (buy it 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 all year in Southern California.
A warmer jacket for San Francisco summers and mountain winters.

Oregon and Washington

A waterproof jacket with a hood and water-resistant shoes. From autumn to spring rain is frequent, usually light and steady.
Warm layers for cool, grey winters. Snow is uncommon in Seattle and Portland but common in the mountains.

Wildfires and earthquakes

Wildfire smoke can affect the air in summer and autumn. Check AirNow and keep a few N95 masks.
Earthquakes come without warning. Keep a small kit with water, a torch, 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 proper winter gear locally.
Hawaii: warm all year. Pack light clothes, rain gear for the wetter side of each island, and reef-safe sunscreen.

Documents, medicines, electronics, food and cash rules are the same everywhere: see the newcomer basics. For a tick-off list for a trip, try the packing list maker.

Other regions

Official sources

Last checked October 2026.