Season guide · Chicago · United States
Chicago in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Spatms, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Warm September days give way to crisp, colourful October; the marathon and Open House Chicago are highlights, and it turns grey by November. Expect highs up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 29 rainy days across September–November. September–October are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 1°C (34°F) to 24°C (75°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 29
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 24°C (75°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 9 | 12.4 h | 4/5 |
| October | 17°C (63°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 10 | 11 h | 4/5 |
| November | 9°C (48°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 10 | 9.7 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 17°C (63°F) against a yearly 15°C (59°F), and 29 of the year's roughly 125 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Chicago Jazz Festival — free, in Millennium Park (usually around Labor Day weekend)
- October: Chicago Marathon (usually early-to-mid October)
- October: Open House Chicago — free access to normally closed buildings (usually mid-October)
- November: Magnificent Mile Lights Festival (usually the Saturday before Thanksgiving)
- November: Christkindlmarket German Christmas market opens in Daley Plaza (usually mid-to-late November)
Good choices for autumn
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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
Museum · Pilsen
National Museum of Mexican Art
Combine it with lunch on 18th Street and a look at the murals inside the 18th Street Pink Line station.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · The Loop
Art Institute of Chicago
Guarded by two bronze lions on Michigan Avenue, the Art Institute is one of the great encyclopaedic museums of the US.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Day trips in autumn
- Milwaukee (About 1 hour 30 minutes by train) — Wisconsin's largest city has the Milwaukee Art Museum, whose Santiago Calatrava pavilion opens and closes its winged sunscreen, the Harley-Davidson Museum, the restored warehouses of the Historic Third Ward and a long brewing tradition.
- Chicago Botanic Garden (About 1 hour by train and a short walk) — Spread across islands in the northern suburb of Glencoe, the garden includes the Malott Japanese Garden, a rose garden, a fruit and vegetable garden and walking paths around the lagoons.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Chicago?
Yes: September–October are among the best months. Warm September days give way to crisp, colourful October; the marathon and Open House Chicago are highlights, and it turns grey by November.
+What is the weather like in Chicago in autumn?
Highs of up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 29 rainy days over the season.