What is shoulder season?
Shoulder season is the time of year at a travel destination when visitation is lower than at the peaks, but conditions are still good for travel. Shoulder season often falls before and after the high season—hence, the period is like “shoulders” on either side of the peak.
For many destinations, shoulder season falls during mid-to-late spring (with the exception of spring break) and early fall when the weather is still warm, but families aren’t yet on summer vacation for school break. When people refer generally to shoulder season, that’s usually what they mean.
The timing of shoulder season can shift depending on the climate and events, though. For example, the high season in New Orleans is usually considered to be February through May, when the weather is cooler and Mardi Gras and other festivals take place. September through January is shoulder season since it offers the same cooler weather without festival crowds. The city’s hot and humid summers round out the calendar as the low season.