Month guide · Boston · United States
Boston in August
What August is really like in Boston: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Qworkqwork, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
August is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 27°C (81°F), lows of 18°C (64°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 13.9 hours of daylight. Warm and relaxed, with the sea at its warmest; students are away until the end of the month.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 27°C (81°F) / 18°C (64°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 13.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 20°C (68°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in August
August is the 2nd-warmest month in Boston: days average 27°C (81°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about 18°C (64°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with July (28°C (82°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs drop to around 23°C (73°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 05:52
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 19:46
- Daylight
- About 13.9 hours
- Sea
- 20°C (68°F)
Summer (June–August). Warm days cooled by sea breezes, outdoor dining, harbour cruises, island ferries and Red Sox games; busy but less hectic than the big autumn weeks.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 4 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in May). Book accommodation early: August is one of the pricier months.
Events in August
- Saint Anthony's Feast in the North End (usually the last weekend of August)
- Dine Out Boston restaurant week (usually August)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in August
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Religious site · Back Bay
Trinity Church
H.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
- Art
Museum · Charles River
Museum of Science
Book planetarium and Omni shows when you buy entry; the lightning show is included with admission.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · Fort Point
Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum
A floating museum at the Congress Street Bridge, with replica 18th-century ships and costumed actors who re-create the night of 16 December 1773, when colonists dumped British tea into the harbour.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- History
Neighbourhood · Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill and Acorn Street
Acorn Street is a private residential lane; come early, take photos quietly and move on.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Couples
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 27°C, lows near 18°C and 9 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Boston?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Boston in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Boston?
It is a shoulder-season month. Warm and relaxed, with the sea at its warmest; students are away until the end of the month.
+How warm is Boston in August?
Average highs are around 27°C (81°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Boston in August?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.