Season guide · Pittsburgh · United States
Pittsburgh in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Crisp, colourful September and October and the heart of Steelers season; grey and chilly by November. Expect highs up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 33 rainy days across September–November. September–October are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 2°C (36°F) to 24°C (75°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 33
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 24°C (75°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 10 | 12.4 h | 4/5 |
| October | 18°C (64°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 11 | 11 h | 3/5 |
| November | 11°C (52°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 12 | 9.9 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 18°C (64°F) against a yearly 16°C (61°F), and 33 of the year's roughly 152 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Steelers home games at Acrisure Stadium (September to January)
- November: Light Up Night — downtown holiday lights and fireworks (usually late November)
Good choices for autumn
Museum · Strip District
Senator John Heinz History Center
Western Pennsylvania's history museum, a Smithsonian affiliate in a former ice warehouse, covers steel, glass and the Heinz company, and holds set pieces from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, filmed in Pittsburgh.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · North Shore
Carnegie Science Center
Allow time for the Requin tour and the Miniature Railroad and Village, and check planetarium show times on arrival.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Point Breeze
The Frick Pittsburgh
Industrialist Henry Clay Frick's family home, Clayton, is preserved with its original furnishings, alongside a small art museum, a greenhouse and the Car and Carriage Museum, which displays vintage automobiles including a 1914 Rolls-Royce.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Gallery · Central Northside
Mattress Factory
Visit the separate row-house galleries on Sampsonia Way as well as the main building; many visitors miss them.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Zoo · North Side
National Aviary
In Allegheny Commons Park, the National Aviary houses hundreds of birds, many in free-flight rooms where you walk among them, including a tropical rainforest, a wetlands room and an outdoor area for Andean condors.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Rainy day
Day trips in autumn
- Flight 93 National Memorial (About 1.5 hours) — Near Shanksville, the memorial marks the field where United Flight 93 crashed on 11 September 2001.
- Ligonier (About 1 hour) — A small Laurel Highlands town with a traditional town square, shops and Fort Ligonier, a reconstruction of a 1758 British fort.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Pittsburgh?
Yes: September–October are among the best months. Crisp, colourful September and October and the heart of Steelers season; grey and chilly by November.
+What is the weather like in Pittsburgh in autumn?
Highs of up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 33 rainy days over the season.