Season guide · Kansas City · United States
Kansas City in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: User:Charvex, Public domain
Quick answer
Hot, humid weather, festivals, fountains running and Royals home games; plan indoor museums for the afternoons. Expect highs up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F), with about 26 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 18°C (64°F) to 32°C (90°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 26
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 29°C (84°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 | 14.9 h | 4/5 |
| July | 32°C (90°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 8 | 14.7 h | 4/5 |
| August | 31°C (88°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 8 | 13.7 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 31°C (88°F) against a yearly 18°C (64°F), and 26 of the year's roughly 98 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Juneteenth celebrations at 18th & Vine (usually mid-June)
- July: Independence Day fireworks (4 July)
- August: Chiefs preseason games (usually August)
Good choices for summer
Museum · 18th & Vine Jazz District
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Buy the combined ticket with the American Jazz Museum, which shares the same building.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · 18th & Vine Jazz District
American Jazz Museum and the Blue Room
Kansas City jazz — Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Mary Lou Williams — grew up in the clubs around 18th and Vine in the 1930s.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours, plus a show
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- After dark
- Art
- Rainy day
Architecture · Crown Center
Union Station and Science City
Walking through the Grand Hall is free; pair it with the WWI Museum across Pershing Road.
- Time needed
- 1 hour; 3 hours with Science City
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Kids
- History
- Rainy day
- Photo spot
Museum · River Market
Arabia Steamboat Museum
The steamboat Arabia sank in the Missouri River in 1856 carrying 200 tons of frontier supplies.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Gallery · Country Club Plaza
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
It is a ten-minute walk from the Nelson-Atkins; do both in one art-focused afternoon.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Day trips in summer
- Lawrence, Kansas (About 45 minutes by car) — The University of Kansas town has a lively main street, Massachusetts Street, lined with independent shops, bars and restaurants.
- Weston, Missouri (About 45 minutes by car) — A preserved 19th-century river town north of the airport with antique shops, a historic brewery with underground cellars and wineries in the surrounding hills.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Kansas City?
It is a trade-off: Hot, humid weather, festivals, fountains running and Royals home games; plan indoor museums for the afternoons. The best months overall are April–May and September–October.
+What is the weather like in Kansas City in summer?
Highs of up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F), with about 26 rainy days over the season.