Season guide · Philadelphia · United States
Philadelphia in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Hot, humid days with thunderstorms, long evenings on the waterfront and the big Fourth of July celebrations, when the historic sites are busiest. Expect highs up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F), with about 29 rainy days across June–August. June is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 18°C (64°F) to 31°C (88°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 29
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 29°C (84°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 | 15 h | 4/5 |
| July | 31°C (88°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 | 14.7 h | 5/5 |
| August | 30°C (86°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 9 | 13.7 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 30°C (86°F) against a yearly 18°C (64°F), and 29 of the year's roughly 121 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Odunde Festival — African American street festival on South Street (usually second Sunday of June)
- June: Wawa Welcome America — free events building up to 4 July (usually from mid/late June)
- July: Independence Day concert and fireworks on the Parkway (4 July)
Good choices for summer
Market · Center City
Reading Terminal Market
Arrive before noon on weekdays; at weekend lunchtime the aisles and the DiNic's queue get very crowded.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Shopping
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Gallery · Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Barnes Foundation
Albert C.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Couples
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Museum · Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Rodin Museum
Even if you skip the galleries, the garden and gateway make a calm stop on a walk up the Parkway.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Couples
- Outdoors
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Museum · Benjamin Franklin Parkway
The Franklin Institute
One of the oldest science museums in the country, with a giant walk-through heart, a full-size Baldwin steam locomotive, the Fels Planetarium and hands-on halls on electricity, flight and the brain.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
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Museum · Logan Square
Academy of Natural Sciences
Younger children love the fossil dig in the Dinosaur Hall; arrive early in the day to have it to yourselves.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Day trips in summer
- Longwood Gardens (About 1 hour by car) — Pierre S.
- 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.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Philadelphia?
Yes: June is among the best months. Hot, humid days with thunderstorms, long evenings on the waterfront and the big Fourth of July celebrations, when the historic sites are busiest.
+What is the weather like in Philadelphia in summer?
Highs of up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F), with about 29 rainy days over the season.