Month guide · Philadelphia · United States
Philadelphia in April
What April is really like in Philadelphia: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: sashafatcat, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
April is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 18°C (64°F), lows of 7°C (45°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 13.2 hours of daylight. Cherry blossom and magnolias on the Parkway and in Fairmount Park; school groups return to the Independence sites.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 18°C (64°F) / 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 13.2 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in April
April is the 7th-warmest month in Philadelphia: days average 18°C (64°F) against a yearly average high of 18°C (64°F), and nights fall to about 7°C (45°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 30 days. Compared with March (12°C (54°F)), April is warmer; by May highs climb to around 24°C (75°F).
- Sunrise (15 April)
- About 06:23
- Sunset (15 April)
- About 19:39
- Daylight
- About 13.2 hours
Spring (March–May). Blossom on the Parkway and in Fairmount Park, the Flower Show and Penn Relays; weather is changeable and school groups crowd the Independence sites.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, April rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in May). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in April
- Penn Relays — historic track meet at Franklin Field (usually late April)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in April
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Religious site · Old City
Christ Church and Burial Ground
George Washington and Benjamin Franklin worshipped at Christ Church on 2nd Street, and its burial ground at 5th and Arch holds Franklin's grave, where visitors toss pennies in a nod to 'a penny saved is a penny earned'.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
Zoo · Fairmount Park
Philadelphia Zoo
Visit in spring or autumn mornings when the animals are most active and the paths are shaded.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Park · Rittenhouse Square
Rittenhouse Square
One of the five squares in William Penn's 1682 plan, Rittenhouse is the city's favourite park for people-watching, with bronze animal sculptures that children climb, a reflecting pool and benches under plane trees.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
Waterfront · Penn's Landing
Spruce Street Harbor Park and Penn's Landing
Go around dusk on a summer evening, when the lights come on over the water.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Couples
- Kids
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 18°C, lows near 7°C and 11 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is April a good time to visit Philadelphia?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Philadelphia in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is April a good time to visit Philadelphia?
It is a shoulder-season month. Cherry blossom and magnolias on the Parkway and in Fairmount Park; school groups return to the Independence sites.
+How warm is Philadelphia in April?
Average highs are around 18°C (64°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Philadelphia in April?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.