Season guide · Phoenix · United States
Phoenix in summer
June–September: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kirs10 at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Quick answer
Extreme heat, monsoon storms and dust storms; best for discounted resort pool stays and early-morning activities only. Expect highs up to 41°C (106°F) and lows around 26°C (79°F), with about 13 rainy days across June–September.
Key facts
- Months
- June–September
- Temperatures
- 26°C (79°F) to 41°C (106°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 13
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 40°C (104°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 1 | 14.4 h | 1/5 |
| July | 41°C (106°F) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 | 14.2 h | 1/5 |
| August | 41°C (106°F) | 29°C (84°F) | 5 | 13.4 h | 1/5 |
| September | 38°C (100°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 3 | 12.3 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 40°C (104°F) against a yearly 31°C (88°F), and 13 of the year's roughly 37 rainy days fall in these 4 months. Crowds rate 1/5 and hotel prices 1/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Monsoon season officially begins (15 June)
- September: Monsoon season officially ends (30 September)
Make the most of the weather
Nature · Phoenix Mountains Preserve
Piestewa Peak
Go at sunrise on a weekday; parking at the main trailhead fills early on weekends.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
Park · South Phoenix
South Mountain Park and Preserve
One of the largest city parks in the country, covering about 6,500 hectares of desert ridges with more than 80 km of trails.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- History
- After dark
Park · Papago Park
Papago Park and Hole-in-the-Rock
Combine an early-evening climb to Hole-in-the-Rock with dinner nearby after a day at the zoo or Desert Botanical Garden.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Views
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Zoo · Papago Park
Phoenix Zoo
A large, non-profit zoo in Papago Park with an Arizona Trail of native wildlife, an African savanna, orangutans and a children's area.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Experience · North Phoenix
Sunrise hot-air balloon flight
Book for early in your trip so there is time to rebook if wind cancels the flight.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours including transfers
- Cost
- Expensive
- Couples
- Views
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Day trips in summer
- Grand Canyon South Rim (About 3 hours 45 minutes each way by car) — The South Rim's viewpoints, such as Mather Point and Yavapai Point, look into the canyon's layered walls.
- Tucson (About 1 hour 45 minutes by car) — Tucson combines Saguaro National Park's cactus forests, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's outdoor zoo and garden, and the white 18th-century Mission San Xavier del Bac.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Phoenix?
It is a trade-off: Extreme heat, monsoon storms and dust storms; best for discounted resort pool stays and early-morning activities only. The best months overall are November–April.
+What is the weather like in Phoenix in summer?
Highs of up to 41°C (106°F) and lows around 26°C (79°F), with about 13 rainy days over the season.