Month guide · Chicago · United States
Chicago in September
What September is really like in Chicago: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Skvader, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
September is one of the best months to visit Chicago. Expect average highs of 24°C (75°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 12.4 hours of daylight. Often the best month: warm, sunny and less humid, with outdoor dining still going and summer crowds thinning.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 24°C (75°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 12.4 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in September
September is the 4th-warmest month in Chicago: days average 24°C (75°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about 14°C (57°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 30 days. Compared with August (28°C (82°F)), September is cooler; by October highs drop to around 17°C (63°F).
- Sunrise (15 September)
- About 06:30
- Sunset (15 September)
- About 19:01
- Daylight
- About 12.4 hours
Autumn (September–November). Warm September days give way to crisp, colourful October; the marathon and Open House Chicago are highlights, and it turns grey by November.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, September rates 4 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in June). Book accommodation early: September is one of the pricier months.
Events in September
- Chicago Jazz Festival — free, in Millennium Park (usually around Labor Day weekend)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in September
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Park · The Loop
Millennium Park and Cloud Gate
See the Bean early in the morning before the crowds, then cross Gehry's winding BP Bridge to Maggie Daley Park.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Experience · Chicago River
Chicago Architecture Center river cruise
Chicago rebuilt itself after the Great Fire of 1871 and became the birthplace of the skyscraper, and the clearest way to read the skyline is from the river.
- Time needed
- About 75–90 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · The Loop
Willis Tower Skydeck
Check the visibility before buying; low cloud can hide the view completely, and a late-afternoon visit gives you daylight and sunset in one ticket.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
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Viewpoint · Streeterville
360 Chicago observation deck
The observation deck on the 94th floor of 875 North Michigan Avenue, the tapering black tower long known as the John Hancock Center, looks straight up the lakefront over Oak Street Beach and the Gold Coast.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
What to pack
For highs near 24°C, lows near 14°C and 9 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is September a good time to visit Chicago?
One of the best months to visit Chicago, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are May–June and October. Compare every month.
Chicago in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is September a good time to visit Chicago?
It is one of the best months to visit Chicago. Often the best month: warm, sunny and less humid, with outdoor dining still going and summer crowds thinning.
+How warm is Chicago in September?
Average highs are around 24°C (75°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Chicago in September?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.