Month guide · Chicago · United States
Chicago in January
What January is really like in Chicago: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 0°C (32°F), lows of -8°C (18°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 9.4 hours of daylight. 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.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 0°C (32°F) / -8°C (18°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 9.4 hours
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Chicago: days average 0°C (32°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about -8°C (18°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with December (2°C (36°F)), January is cooler; by February highs climb to around 2°C (36°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:15
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 16:44
- Daylight
- About 9.4 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold, windy and often snowy, with festive markets and skating in December and the lowest hotel rates in January and February.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 1 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 1 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Chicago Restaurant Week — prix-fixe menus across the city (usually late January into February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · The Loop
Art Institute of Chicago
Start with the Impressionists on the second floor before tour groups arrive, then take the Modern Wing's Nichols Bridgeway straight into Millennium Park.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Museum Campus
Field Museum
One of the world's major natural-history museums, the Field holds Sue, one of the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons ever found, a cast of the giant titanosaur Máximo in the main hall, a walk-through Egyptian tomb and the Evolving Planet fossil galleries.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
- Iconic
Aquarium · Museum Campus
Shedd Aquarium
Walk the lakefront path from the Shedd to the Adler Planetarium afterwards for the classic skyline photo.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · Museum Campus
Adler Planetarium
America's first planetarium opened in 1930 at the end of the Museum Campus peninsula.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Views
- Rainy day
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 0°C, lows near -8°C and 11 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Chicago?
A quieter month with trade-offs, 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 January a good time to visit Chicago?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. 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.
+How warm is Chicago in January?
Average highs are around 0°C (32°F) and lows around -8°C (18°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Chicago in January?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.