Season guide · New Orleans · United States
New Orleans in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Very hot and humid with daily thunderstorms and the start of hurricane season; prices drop and festivals such as Essence Fest fill some weekends. Expect highs up to 33°C (91°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F), with about 42 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 23°C (73°F) to 33°C (91°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 42
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 32°C (90°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 13 | 14.1 h | 2/5 |
| July | 33°C (91°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 15 | 13.9 h | 3/5 |
| August | 33°C (91°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 14 | 13.2 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 33°C (91°F) against a yearly 26°C (79°F), and 42 of the year's roughly 115 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Creole Tomato Festival at the French Market (usually June)
- July: Essence Festival of Culture (usually Fourth of July weekend)
- July: Tales of the Cocktail (usually July)
- August: Satchmo SummerFest celebrating Louis Armstrong (usually early August)
Good choices for summer
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Aquarium · Riverfront
Audubon Aquarium
Combine it with the riverfront walk and the Canal Street ferry to Algiers Point.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Experience · Warehouse District
Mardi Gras World
In riverfront warehouses near the Convention Center, Mardi Gras World is where Kern Studios builds and stores giant floats for many Carnival krewes.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Art
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Gallery · Warehouse District
Ogden Museum of Southern Art
Combine it with the WWII Museum and the Contemporary Arts Center, all within a few blocks.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · French Quarter
The Historic New Orleans Collection
This free museum and research centre on Royal Street presents the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South through rotating exhibitions of maps, paintings, photographs and documents, spread across restored French Quarter buildings with quiet courtyards.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · French Quarter
New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint
Check the museum's calendar for concerts and talks, then walk across Esplanade Avenue to Frenchmen Street.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Day trips in summer
- Oak Alley Plantation (About 1 hour by car) — A Greek Revival mansion at the end of an avenue of 28 live oaks nearly 300 years old, with exhibits on the enslaved people who lived and worked on the estate.
- Barataria Preserve (About 30 minutes by car) — Part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Barataria has boardwalk trails through cypress swamp, bayou and marsh where you can see alligators, turtles and wading birds without joining a boat tour.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit New Orleans?
It is a trade-off: Very hot and humid with daily thunderstorms and the start of hurricane season; prices drop and festivals such as Essence Fest fill some weekends. The best months overall are February–April and October–November.
+What is the weather like in New Orleans in summer?
Highs of up to 33°C (91°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F), with about 42 rainy days over the season.