Kosher Travel Finder est. 5786

Pesach programs in the United States

The American market is built on one large advantage: for most families it is a drive or a short domestic flight, which removes the most expensive and most stressful part of a Pesach program before anything else is decided.

Pesach 5787 dates
21–29 April 2027
Typical cost
$6,000–$18,000 per adult
Main regions
Catskills, Florida, Arizona, Colorado, California
Flights
domestic, often drive-to
Book by
January for family rooms
Children
usually 40–60% of adult rate
ProgramDestinationKashrutDatesFrom
Luxury Alpine Passover at The ArrabelleThe Arrabelle at Vail Square · by Pesach on the MountainVail, Colorado, United States
Non-gebroktsNon-kitniyotGlatt MehadrinCholov YisroelKids' club
21–29 Apr$12,800–18,500PER ADULTView →

The case for staying in the country

The honest argument for an American program is arithmetic. A family of six flying to Greece over Pesach is buying six peak-season international tickets before anyone has eaten anything. The same family driving to the Catskills is not. That difference is frequently larger than the gap between two programs' headline rates, which is why a "cheaper program abroad" often is not cheaper at all.

The secondary argument is logistics: no passports, no connections, no lost luggage two days before yom tov, and the ability to bring what you want in the car rather than what an airline allows.

The regions

The Catskills and the Poconos

The traditional centre of the American market and the easiest drive from the tri-state community. Expect large programs, deep children's programming, and the strongest sense of a crowd you already know — for many families that familiarity is the entire appeal.

April weather is a genuine gamble. Programs here sell on the food, the shiurim and the community rather than on the outdoors.

Florida

The largest warm-weather concentration. Orlando for families who want the parks on Chol Hamoed, Miami and the Gulf coast for beach resorts. Reliable weather is the draw, and Orlando programs in particular sell heavily on organised Chol Hamoed excursions — ask what is included in the rate and what is charged extra, because park tickets for a large family are a significant line item.

Arizona and Palm Springs

Desert resorts with dependable spring weather, spas and golf. Generally quieter and more adult in feel than the Florida programs, though the larger ones run full children's clubs. April is close to ideal here — warm without the summer extremes.

Colorado and Utah

Vail, Beaver Creek and Park City. Late-season skiing over Pesach is a real niche and the properties are strong. Best for families who ski; expensive for families who do not.

California

Coastal and Los Angeles-area programs, fewer in number, close to a large established community and to year-round kosher infrastructure.

What to check on a US program specifically

  • Whether it is a full buyout or a program sharing the resort with regular guests. Both are fine; you should know which.
  • Drive time honestly measured. "Two hours from the city" on the Sunday before Pesach with the whole community travelling is not two hours.
  • The children's programme in detail — hours, age bands, and whether it runs on yom tov and Chol Hamoed, not just on weekdays.
  • What happens if the weather does not cooperate, particularly in the Northeast, where a large part of the facilities are outdoors.
  • Whether excursions are included, especially at the Orlando programs.

Comparing the USA against overseas

Do not compare a US rate against an overseas rate. Get both totals for your actual family, flights and all, and compare those. Our cost guide sets out exactly what is and is not usually included, and every listing here publishes a real price band before you click — so you can rule programs out before you spend an afternoon on the phone.

Common questions

How much does a Pesach program in the USA cost in 2027?

American programs generally run $6,000 to $18,000 per adult for the full eight days, with mountain and desert resorts at the top and drive-to Catskills properties at the lower end. Children are typically 40 to 60 percent of the adult rate. The total trip cost is often lower than the rate suggests because domestic travel replaces four to six international flights at peak season.

Where are the main Pesach programs in America?

The Catskills and the Poconos remain the traditional heartland and the easiest drive from the New York and New Jersey communities. Florida — Orlando, Miami and the Gulf coast — is the largest warm-weather concentration. Arizona and Palm Springs offer desert resorts, and Colorado and Utah run ski-season programs at Vail, Beaver Creek and Park City.

Are drive-to Pesach programs cheaper overall?

Usually yes, once you count the whole trip rather than the program rate. For a family of six, four to six peak-season international tickets plus baggage frequently adds a five-figure sum. A program you can load the car for removes that entirely, which is why a US program that looks more expensive per adult often is not.

What kashrut supervision do American Pesach programs carry?

It varies by program and region rather than by country. You will see national agencies alongside local vaadim such as the Vaad of Denver, Scroll K, or regional batei din. The useful question is always the name of the rav hamachshir for this program at this property, not the reputation of the country or the agency in general.

What is the weather like for Pesach in America in April?

It is the single largest difference between the regions. Late April in the Catskills and Poconos is unpredictable and can be cold and wet. Florida is reliably warm. Arizona and Palm Springs are dependably dry and hot. Colorado and Utah still have snow, which is the point of those programs. If outdoor facilities are a large part of what you are paying for, this matters more than the star rating.

Do American Pesach programs take over the whole hotel?

Frequently not. American resorts often host a Pesach program alongside regular guests, which is perfectly workable and worth knowing in advance. Full buyouts do exist but are less common than in Greece or the Caribbean, so ask directly rather than reading it into the marketing copy.

Are there Pesach programs with skiing in the USA?

Yes. Vail, Beaver Creek and Park City run late-season ski programs over Pesach, and the properties are generally excellent. The trade-off is that the mountain is the point — a family that does not ski is paying for a view and a location rather than for facilities they will use.

How good are the children's programmes on American Pesach programs?

This is where US programs compete hardest, and the best of them are genuinely excellent — full-day supervised programming split by age, with separate teen tracks. Ask for the hours, the exact age bands, the staff-to-child ratio, and whether it runs on yom tov itself and on Chol Hamoed, since those are the days it matters most.