Best time to visit · Chicago · United States
The best time to visit Chicago
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chris Rycroft from Madison, Wisconsin, United States, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
The best times to visit Chicago are May–June and September–October, when the lakefront is pleasant, outdoor dining and river cruises are running, and you avoid both the humid peak of summer and the deep cold of winter. July and August bring the free festivals, beaches and baseball but also the highest hotel prices. January and February are bitterly cold and the lowest-priced months, best for a museum-and-theatre trip.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–June and September–October
- Shoulder season
- April, July–August and November
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 29°C (84°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 0°C (32°F))
- Rainiest month
- April (~12 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January
Seasons
Chicago has a humid continental climate: long, cold and windy winters with snow, a short and changeable spring, warm and humid summers moderated near the lake, and crisp, often sunny autumns.
March–May
Spring
Changeable weather that can swing from snow to warm sunshine; baseball returns in April and cruises and outdoor terraces open fully by May.
June–August
Summer
Hot, humid and packed with free events: festivals in Grant Park, concerts at the Pritzker Pavilion, lakefront beaches and rooftop bars. Prices peak.
September–November
Autumn
Warm September days give way to crisp, colourful October; the marathon and Open House Chicago are highlights, and it turns grey by November.
December–February
Winter
Cold, windy and often snowy, with festive markets and skating in December and the lowest hotel rates in January and February.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0°C | -8°C | 11 | 9.4 h | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| February | 2°C | -6°C | 9 | 10.5 h | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 8°C | -1°C | 11 | 11.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 15°C | 4°C | 12 | 13.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 21°C | 10°C | 12 | 14.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| June | 27°C | 16°C | 11 | 15.2 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| July | 29°C | 19°C | 10 | 14.9 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 28°C | 18°C | 9 | 13.9 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| September | 24°C | 14°C | 9 | 12.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 17°C | 7°C | 10 | 11 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| November | 9°C | 1°C | 10 | 9.7 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 2°C | -5°C | 11 | 9.1 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Chicago Restaurant Week — prix-fixe menus across the city (usually late January into February) |
| February | Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place (usually February); Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown (January or February) |
| March | Chicago River dyed green and downtown St Patrick's Day parade (usually the Saturday before 17 March) |
| April | Cubs and White Sox home openers (usually early April) |
| May | Chicago beaches open for the season (usually Memorial Day weekend, late May) |
| June | Chicago Blues Festival — free concerts (usually June); Chicago Pride Parade (usually the last Sunday of June); Grant Park Music Festival — free classical concerts (usually June to August) |
| July | Independence Day fireworks along the lakefront (4 July); Lollapalooza in Grant Park (usually late July or early August) |
| August | Chicago Air and Water Show over North Avenue Beach (usually mid-August) |
| September | Chicago Jazz Festival — free, in Millennium Park (usually around Labor Day weekend) |
| October | Chicago Marathon (usually early-to-mid October); Open House Chicago — free access to normally closed buildings (usually mid-October) |
| November | Magnificent Mile Lights Festival (usually the Saturday before Thanksgiving); Christkindlmarket German Christmas market opens in Daley Plaza (usually mid-to-late November) |
| December | Christkindlmarket (until about Christmas Eve); ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo (usually late November to early January); New Year's Eve fireworks at Navy Pier |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January, and the sights are quietest in January–February.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | 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 |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Chicago?
The best times to visit Chicago are May–June and September–October, when the lakefront is pleasant, outdoor dining and river cruises are running, and you avoid both the humid peak of summer and the deep cold of winter. July and August bring the free festivals, beaches and baseball but also the highest hotel prices. January and February are bitterly cold and the lowest-priced months, best for a museum-and-theatre trip.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Chicago?
Usually in January. The coldest month, with wind off the lake pushing wind chills far below freezing; museums are quiet and hotel rates are among the lowest of the year.
+What is the rainiest month in Chicago?
April, with about 12 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Chicago get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 29°C (84°F) and lows of 19°C (66°F).