Season guide · Philadelphia · United States

Philadelphia in spring

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

Updated 23 October 2026By the AMZBooking editorial team

Quick answer

Blossom on the Parkway and in Fairmount Park, the Flower Show and Penn Relays; weather is changeable and school groups crowd the Independence sites. Expect highs up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 33 rainy days across March–May. May is among the best months of the year to visit.

Months: March–May
Temperatures: 2°C (36°F) to 24°C (75°F)
Rainy days in the season: About 33
Crowds: Moderate
Hotel prices: Average

Weather in spring

Philadelphia in spring: month by month
Month	High	Low	Rainy days	Daylight	Crowds
March	12°C (54°F)	2°C (36°F)	11	11.8 h	2/5
April	18°C (64°F)	7°C (45°F)	11	13.2 h	3/5
May	24°C (75°F)	12°C (54°F)	11	14.4 h	4/5

Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 18°C (64°F) against a yearly 18°C (64°F), and 33 of the year's roughly 121 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.

What's on in spring

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

March: Philadelphia Flower Show — large indoor horticultural show (usually early March)
March: St. Patrick's Day Parade (usually the Sunday before 17 March)
April: Penn Relays — historic track meet at Franklin Field (usually late April)
May: Broad Street Run — 10-mile road race (usually early May)

Good choices for spring

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

Museum · Fairmount

Philadelphia Art Museum and the Rocky Steps

Run the steps and take the photo with the Rocky statue at the bottom right early in the morning, before the queue forms.

Time needed: 2–4 hours
Cost: Mid-priced

Iconic
Art
Views
Rainy day

Market · Center City

Reading Terminal Market

Opened in 1893 beneath the Reading Railroad's train shed at 12th and Arch Streets, the market has dozens of vendors selling roast pork sandwiches, Pennsylvania Dutch baked goods, scrapple, cheesesteaks and Bassetts ice cream.

Time needed: 1–1.5 hours
Cost: Low cost

Food
Iconic
Rainy day
Shopping

Gallery · Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Barnes Foundation

Allow time to look at each wall as a composition; the pairings were Barnes's whole point.

Time needed: 2 hours
Cost: Mid-priced

Art
Rainy day
Couples

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

Day trips in spring

Valley Forge National Historical Park (About 40 minutes by car) — The site of the Continental Army's hard winter encampment of 1777–1778, with reconstructed log huts, Washington's stone headquarters house and the National Memorial Arch.
Longwood Gardens (About 1 hour by car) — Pierre S.

What to pack

Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
A packable rain jacket for showers
Comfortable walking shoes

Other times of year

Questions travellers ask

+Is spring a good time to visit Philadelphia?

Yes: May is among the best months. Blossom on the Parkway and in Fairmount Park, the Flower Show and Penn Relays; weather is changeable and school groups crowd the Independence sites.

+What is the weather like in Philadelphia in spring?

Highs of up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 33 rainy days over the season.