Month guide · Chicago · United States
Chicago in August
What August is really like in Chicago: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
August is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 28°C (82°F), lows of 18°C (64°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 13.9 hours of daylight. Warm and humid, with the lake at its warmest for swimming; hotel prices climb around major festival weekends.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 28°C (82°F) / 18°C (64°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 13.9 hours
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in August
August is the 2nd-warmest month in Chicago: days average 28°C (82°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 (29°C (84°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs drop to around 24°C (75°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 05:59
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 19:52
- Daylight
- About 13.9 hours
Summer (June–August). Hot, humid and packed with free events: festivals in Grant Park, concerts at the Pritzker Pavilion, lakefront beaches and rooftop bars. Prices peak.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 5 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in June). Book accommodation early: August is one of the pricier months.
Events in August
- Chicago Air and Water Show over North Avenue Beach (usually mid-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.
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Museum · Hyde Park
Museum of Science and Industry
Housed in the Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, this is one of the largest science museums in the Americas.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
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Architecture · The Loop
Chicago Cultural Center
Go up to Preston Bradley Hall on the third floor first; lunchtime concerts are often held under the dome.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- History
Garden · East Garfield Park
Garfield Park Conservatory
Designed by landscape architect Jens Jensen and opened in 1908, this is one of the largest conservatories in the US, with a Fern Room laid out to evoke a prehistoric Illinois landscape, a palm house, a desert house and a children's garden.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
Architecture · Hyde Park
Frederick C. Robie House
Combine it with a walk through the University of Chicago quadrangles and Rockefeller Chapel, a few minutes away.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- History
- Art
What to pack
For highs near 28°C, lows near 18°C and 9 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Chicago?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Chicago in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Chicago?
It is a shoulder-season month. Warm and humid, with the lake at its warmest for swimming; hotel prices climb around major festival weekends.
+How warm is Chicago in August?
Average highs are around 28°C (82°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Chicago in August?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.