When Is the Best Time to Start Travel Nursing? A Month-by-Month Breakdown

If travel nursing has been sitting in the back of your mind lately, you’re not alone.

The holidays are over. Burnout is real. And many clinicians find themselves searching for when is the best time to start travel nursing. Not just out of curiosity, but because they’re seriously planning their next move.

The short answer: there isn’t one universal “best” time to start travel nursing.
The more useful answer: there are better times depending on your goals, experience level, and flexibility.

Let’s walk through it together.

Travel nursing follows patterns. Hospitals don’t hire travelers randomly; they bring people in when staffing gets tight, which happens around the same points every year.

That’s why timing matters.

Some months:

• Have more open jobs
• Move faster (sometimes too fast)
• Are easier for first-time travelers than others

Knowing how travel nursing seasons work helps you avoid jumping too quickly, or waiting so long that you miss good opportunities.

January–March: High Demand, Faster Decisions

Winter is busy. Really busy.

Flu season, respiratory illnesses, and post-holiday staffing gaps mean hospitals often need help quickly.

What this usually feels like as a traveler:

• Lots of job postings
• Faster interviews
• Less time to “think it over”

This can be great, or stressful, depending on where you’re at.

This time of year works best if you:

• Have travel experience
• Can move quickly
• Are flexible on location or unit details

If you’re brand new, this season can still work. You’ll just want extra support and clear communication.

April–May: A Really Good Time to Start (Especially If You’re New)

Spring doesn’t get enough credit.

Hospitals are starting to plan for summer PTO, but things aren’t urgent yet. That creates space. For questions, for better onboarding, and for thoughtful decisions.

Why many first-time travelers do well here:

• Recruiters have more time to walk you through the process
• Credentialing feels less rushed
• You can compare options instead of grabbing the first one

If you’re easing out of a staff role and want travel to feel manageable, not overwhelming. This is often a sweet spot.

June–August: Lots of Jobs, Lots of Competition

Summer is one of the most active travel nursing seasons.

Staff nurses take vacations, hospitals need coverage, and assignments turn over quickly.

What to expect:

• Plenty of openings
• Faster-moving offers
• More competition for popular locations

This season works best if you’re flexible and comfortable making decisions quickly. If you’re set on one city, one shift, one unit, it can be tougher.

September–October: Quietly One of the Best Times to Start

If we’re being honest, fall might be the most underrated travel nursing season.

Summer travelers roll off assignments, fewer new travelers enter the market, and hospitals start preparing for winter.

Why people love starting in the fall:

• Solid demand
• Less competition
• Better balance between choice and pay

If you like steady momentum without the chaos, this is often a really good window.

November–December: Fewer Starts, More Urgency

The end of the year slows things down, but it doesn’t stop.

Onboarding can be tricky around the holidays, and some facilities wait until January to bring people on. That said, certain specialties stay in demand.

This time works best if you:

• Have travel experience
• Don’t mind working through holidays
• Are open to urgent or short-notice needs

For newer travelers, it’s usually better as a planning phase than a starting line.

Instead of asking “What’s the best month?” try asking yourself a few more helpful questions:

If this is your first travel assignment

Late spring or early fall often feels more manageable. There’s more room to learn, ask questions, and get your footing.

If pay is your top priority

Winter and late summer can offer strong opportunities. Just know that flexibility matters more during these seasons.

If you’re burned out and need a change

Timing still matters, but so does support. The right recruiter and realistic expectations can make a bigger difference than the month on the calendar.

If you can, aim to start planning 60–90 days before you want to work.

That gives you time for:

• Licensing or compact verification
• Credentialing and health requirements
• Reviewing contracts without feeling rushed

And yes — January is a great time to plan, even if you don’t want to start right away.

The best time to start travel nursing isn’t about chasing the busiest season or the highest rate.

It’s about choosing a moment when you feel prepared, supported, and clear on what you want.

If you’re asking these questions now, that’s a good sign. It means you’re planning intentionally, and that usually leads to better experiences once you do make the leap.