Season guide · Boston · United States

Boston in spring

March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.

Updated 23 October 2026By the AMZBooking editorial team

Quick answer

A slow, chilly start, then blossom in Back Bay, the marathon in April and graduation crowds in late May. Expect highs up to 19°C (66°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F), with about 34 rainy days across March–May. May is among the best months of the year to visit.

Months: March–May
Temperatures: -1°C (30°F) to 19°C (66°F)
Rainy days in the season: About 34
Sea: 4°C (39°F) to 11°C (52°F)
Crowds: Moderate
Hotel prices: High

Weather in spring

Boston in spring: month by month
Month	High	Low	Rainy days	Daylight	Crowds
March	8°C (46°F)	-1°C (30°F)	11	11.8 h	2/5
April	13°C (55°F)	4°C (39°F)	11	13.3 h	4/5
May	19°C (66°F)	10°C (50°F)	12	14.6 h	4/5

Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 13°C (55°F) against a yearly 15°C (59°F), and 34 of the year's roughly 123 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.

What's on in spring

Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.

March: South Boston St Patrick's Day Parade (usually the Sunday nearest 17 March)
March: Dine Out Boston restaurant week (usually March)
April: Boston Marathon (Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April)
April: Red Sox home opener at Fenway Park (usually early April)
May: Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum (usually Mother's Day, mid-May)
May: University commencements (mid-to-late May)

Good choices for spring

Museum · Fenway–Kenmore

Museum of Fine Arts

One of the largest art museums in the US, the MFA's Art of the Americas wing holds John Singleton Copley's portraits, Paul Revere's silver Sons of Liberty Bowl and John Singer Sargent's The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit.

Time needed: 3 hours
Cost: Mid-priced

Art
Rainy day
Iconic

Museum · Fenway–Kenmore

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Anyone named Isabella gets in free, as does everyone on their birthday.

Time needed: 1.5–2 hours
Cost: Mid-priced

Art
Couples
Rainy day
Off the beaten path

Aquarium · Downtown and the Waterfront

New England Aquarium

On Central Wharf, the aquarium's four-storey Giant Ocean Tank holds sea turtles, sharks and a Caribbean coral reef, with a ramp spiralling around it and a penguin colony at its base.

Time needed: 2–3 hours
Cost: Mid-priced

Kids
Rainy day
Nature

Architecture · Back Bay

Boston Public Library, Central Library

Sit in the courtyard on a sunny day; it is one of the calmest spots in Back Bay.

Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Free

Free
Architecture
Rainy day
Off the beaten path
History

Museum · Charles River

Museum of Science

Built on a dam across the Charles River, the Museum of Science has hands-on galleries ranging from dinosaurs to engineering, the Theater of Electricity, where a giant Van de Graaff generator makes indoor lightning, the Charles Hayden Planetarium and the domed Mugar Omni Theater.

Time needed: 3–4 hours
Cost: Mid-priced

Kids
Rainy day

Day trips in spring

Salem (About 30 minutes by train) — Known for the witch trials of 1692, Salem has the Witch Trials Memorial, the House of the Seven Gables that inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne, a historic maritime waterfront and the Peabody Essex Museum, one of the oldest continuously operating museums in the US.
Lexington and Concord (About 40 minutes by car) — The first battles of the American Revolution were fought here on 19 April 1775.

What to pack

Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
Comfortable walking shoes

Other times of year

Questions travellers ask

+Is spring a good time to visit Boston?

Yes: May is among the best months. A slow, chilly start, then blossom in Back Bay, the marathon in April and graduation crowds in late May.

+What is the weather like in Boston in spring?

Highs of up to 19°C (66°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F), with about 34 rainy days over the season.