Month guide · Washington, D.C. · United States
Washington, D.C. in January
What January is really like in Washington, D.C.: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 7°C (45°F), lows of -1°C (30°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 9.7 hours of daylight. Cold and grey with the occasional snowfall, but the museums are quiet and hotel rates are low outside inauguration years.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 7°C (45°F) / -1°C (30°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 9.7 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Washington, D.C.: days average 7°C (45°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about -1°C (30°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with December (9°C (48°F)), January is cooler; by February highs climb to around 9°C (48°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:25
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:09
- Daylight
- About 9.7 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold with occasional snow, festive lights in December and the quietest museums and lowest hotel rates of the year.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in April). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorations (third Monday)
- Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week (usually January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Architecture · Capitol Hill
United States Capitol
After the tour, use the tunnel from the Visitor Center to the Library of Congress's Jefferson Building instead of going back through security outside.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Architecture · Capitol Hill
Library of Congress (Jefferson Building)
Opened in 1897, the Thomas Jefferson Building is one of the most ornate interiors in the US: a Great Hall of marble, mosaics and murals, an overlook into the domed Main Reading Room, a Gutenberg Bible and a recreation of Thomas Jefferson's own library.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
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Museum · National Mall
National Air and Space Museum
Pair it with the Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport if you want to see the very large aircraft, including Space Shuttle Discovery.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- Iconic
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Museum · National Mall
National Museum of Natural History
Under the rotunda's African bush elephant, the Smithsonian's natural-history museum holds the 45-carat Hope Diamond, the David H.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- Iconic
What to pack
For highs near 7°C, lows near -1°C and 10 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Washington, D.C.?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Washington, D.C. in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Washington, D.C.?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold and grey with the occasional snowfall, but the museums are quiet and hotel rates are low outside inauguration years.
+How warm is Washington, D.C. in January?
Average highs are around 7°C (45°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Washington, D.C. in January?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.