Month guide · Houston · United States
Houston in January
What January is really like in Houston: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bry0909, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 17°C (63°F), lows of 6°C (43°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 10.4 hours of daylight. Mild, often grey, with occasional cold fronts; comfortable for museums and outdoor walks.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 17°C (63°F) / 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 10.4 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Houston: days average 17°C (63°F) against a yearly average high of 26°C (79°F), and nights fall to about 6°C (43°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with December (18°C (64°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs climb to around 19°C (66°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:17
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:44
- Daylight
- About 10.4 hours
Winter (December–February). Mild with occasional cold fronts and rare freezes; good value and comfortable for sightseeing.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is March at 4) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in March). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Houston Marathon (usually mid-January)
- Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatown (January or February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Clear Lake
Space Center Houston
Head straight for the tram tours when you arrive; queues build quickly from late morning.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Kids
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Museum District
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
One of the largest art museums in the country spreads across three gallery buildings, including a Mies van der Rohe wing and the 2020 Kinder Building for modern and contemporary art.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Iconic
Museum · Museum District
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Book butterfly centre and planetarium add-ons with your main ticket to avoid queuing twice.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Museum · Montrose
Menil Collection
Dominique and John de Menil's collection of Surrealist, modern, ancient and Byzantine art is shown free in a calm, naturally lit Renzo Piano building set among grey bungalows and lawns.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 17°C, lows near 6°C and 10 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Houston?
A good-value shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, March–April and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Houston in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Houston?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Mild, often grey, with occasional cold fronts; comfortable for museums and outdoor walks.
+How warm is Houston in January?
Average highs are around 17°C (63°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Houston in January?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.