Best time to visit · New Orleans · United States
The best time to visit New Orleans
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The best times to visit New Orleans are February to May and October to November, when the weather is warm but not oppressive and the big festivals — Mardi Gras, French Quarter Festival and Jazz Fest — take place. Those festival weeks also bring the highest hotel prices, so book early. August and September are hot, humid and the peak of hurricane season, though prices are at their lowest.
Key facts
- Best months
- February–April and October–November
- Shoulder season
- May and December–January
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 33°C (91°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 17°C (63°F))
- Rainiest month
- July (~15 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- August–September
Seasons
New Orleans has a humid subtropical climate: long, hot and very humid summers with near-daily thunderstorms, mild winters with only occasional freezes, and pleasant springs and autumns. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November and peaks from mid-August to early October.
March–May
Spring
Warm, bright weather, azaleas and crawfish season, with French Quarter Festival and Jazz Fest drawing big crowds in April and early May.
June–August
Summer
Very hot and humid with daily thunderstorms and the start of hurricane season; prices drop and festivals such as Essence Fest fill some weekends.
September–November
Autumn
Hurricane risk and heat linger in September, then October and November turn dry and pleasant, with Halloween parades and a busy convention season.
December–February
Winter
Mild with occasional cold snaps; Réveillon dinners in December, king cake from January and Mardi Gras, which falls in February or early March.
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 | 17°C | 7°C | 9 | 10.4 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 19°C | 9°C | 8 | 11.1 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| March | 23°C | 12°C | 8 | 11.9 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| April | 26°C | 15°C | 7 | 12.9 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| May | 30°C | 20°C | 8 | 13.6 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| June | 32°C | 23°C | 13 | 14.1 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| July | 33°C | 24°C | 15 | 13.9 h | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| August | 33°C | 24°C | 14 | 13.2 h | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| September | 31°C | 22°C | 10 | 12.3 h | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| October | 27°C | 17°C | 7 | 11.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| November | 22°C | 11°C | 7 | 10.6 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| December | 18°C | 8°C | 9 | 10.2 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Carnival season opens on Twelfth Night (6 January); Sugar Bowl college football game (usually around New Year) |
| February | Mardi Gras parades and Fat Tuesday (dates vary, between early February and early March) |
| March | St Joseph's Day altars (around 19 March); Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival (usually late March) |
| April | French Quarter Festival — free music stages (usually mid-April); New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (usually the last weekend of April and first of May) |
| May | Jazz Fest second weekend (usually early May) |
| June | Creole Tomato Festival at the French Market (usually June) |
| July | Essence Festival of Culture (usually Fourth of July weekend); Tales of the Cocktail (usually July) |
| August | Satchmo SummerFest celebrating Louis Armstrong (usually early August) |
| September | Southern Decadence, an LGBTQ+ festival (usually Labor Day weekend) |
| October | Krewe of Boo Halloween parade (usually mid-to-late October); Halloween in the French Quarter and Marigny (31 October) |
| November | Oak Street Po-Boy Festival (usually November); Celebration in the Oaks lights in City Park (usually late November to early January) |
| December | Réveillon dinner menus at restaurants (throughout December); New Year's Eve fireworks over the Mississippi |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in August–September, and the sights are quietest in January, June and August–September. Many visitors avoid August–September.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit New Orleans?
The best times to visit New Orleans are February to May and October to November, when the weather is warm but not oppressive and the big festivals — Mardi Gras, French Quarter Festival and Jazz Fest — take place. Those festival weeks also bring the highest hotel prices, so book early. August and September are hot, humid and the peak of hurricane season, though prices are at their lowest.
+When are hotel prices lowest in New Orleans?
Usually in August–September. Oppressive heat and humidity at the start of peak hurricane season, but the lowest hotel prices of the year.
+What is the rainiest month in New Orleans?
July, with about 15 days of rain on average.
+How hot does New Orleans get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 33°C (91°F) and lows of 24°C (75°F).