Season guide · Philadelphia · United States

Philadelphia in autumn

September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.

Updated 23 October 2026By the AMZBooking editorial team

Quick answer

Sunny, crisp days, autumn colour, Fringe Festival theatre and Halloween Nights at Eastern State; hotel prices stay fairly high. Expect highs up to 26°C (79°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F), with about 27 rainy days across September–November. September–October are among the best months of the year to visit.

Months: September–November
Temperatures: 4°C (39°F) to 26°C (79°F)
Rainy days in the season: About 27
Crowds: Moderate
Hotel prices: High

Weather in autumn

Philadelphia in autumn: month by month
Month	High	Low	Rainy days	Daylight	Crowds
September	26°C (79°F)	16°C (61°F)	9	12.4 h	3/5
October	19°C (66°F)	9°C (48°F)	9	11.1 h	3/5
November	13°C (55°F)	4°C (39°F)	9	9.9 h	2/5

Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 19°C (66°F) against a yearly 18°C (64°F), and 27 of the year's roughly 121 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.

What's on in autumn

Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.

September: Philadelphia Fringe Festival — experimental theatre and performance (usually September)
September: Eastern State Penitentiary's Halloween Nights begin (usually late September)
October: Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary (weekends through October)
November: Philadelphia Marathon (usually the Sunday before Thanksgiving)
November: Thanksgiving Day Parade along the Parkway (Thanksgiving morning)
November: Christmas Village at City Hall and LOVE Park (usually from late November)

Good choices for autumn

Museum · Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Rodin Museum

Opened in 1929, this small Beaux-Arts museum and garden holds one of the largest Rodin collections outside Paris.

Time needed: 45 minutes
Cost: Low cost

Art
Couples
Outdoors

Museum · Benjamin Franklin Parkway

The Franklin Institute

Go on a weekday afternoon after school groups have left, and pair it with the Academy of Natural Sciences across Logan Square.

Time needed: 3 hours
Cost: Mid-priced

Kids
Rainy day

Museum · Logan Square

Academy of Natural Sciences

Founded in 1812, the Academy has a Dinosaur Hall with a towering Tyrannosaurus and Hadrosaurus foulkii, the first nearly complete dinosaur skeleton found in North America.

Time needed: 2 hours
Cost: Mid-priced

Kids
Rainy day
Nature

Gallery · South Street

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

Book a morning slot; the narrow passages feel crowded by mid-afternoon on weekends.

Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Low cost

Art
Photo spot
Couples

Museum · Old City

Museum of the American Revolution

A modern museum at 3rd and Chestnut Streets that tells the story of the Revolution through weapons, letters and immersive galleries, including a replica Boston street and a privateer ship children can board.

Time needed: 2–3 hours
Cost: Mid-priced

History
Rainy day
Kids

Day trips in autumn

Lancaster County (About 1 hour 30 minutes by car) — Pennsylvania Dutch country, where Amish and Mennonite farms, horse-drawn buggies and covered bridges surround villages such as Intercourse and Bird-in-Hand.
New York City (About 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by Amtrak) — Fast trains make a day in Manhattan practical: arrive mid-morning for a walk through Midtown, the High Line or a single big museum, and return in the evening.

What to pack

Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
A packable rain jacket for showers
Comfortable walking shoes

Other times of year

Questions travellers ask

+Is autumn a good time to visit Philadelphia?

Yes: September–October are among the best months. Sunny, crisp days, autumn colour, Fringe Festival theatre and Halloween Nights at Eastern State; hotel prices stay fairly high.

+What is the weather like in Philadelphia in autumn?

Highs of up to 26°C (79°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F), with about 27 rainy days over the season.