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Best time to visit Chicago: month by month
Short answer
May to October is best, with summer highs of about 27°C, lake beaches, festivals and baseball; September and early October are often the most pleasant. Winter is very cold (around -6°C lows in January and February) but hotels are cheapest and museums quiet.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1°C | -6°C | 10 | low |
| Feb | 1°C | -7°C | 9 | low |
| Mar | 9°C | 0°C | 11 | low |
| Apr | 15°C | 5°C | 14 | medium |
| May | 20°C | 11°C | 10 | medium |
| Jun | 27°C | 17°C | 10 | high |
| Jul | 27°C | 19°C | 12 | very high |
| Aug | 27°C | 19°C | 12 | very high |
| Sep | 24°C | 16°C | 10 | high |
| Oct | 17°C | 10°C | 15 | medium |
| Nov | 10°C | 2°C | 5 | medium |
| Dec | 5°C | -1°C | 11 | medium |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Variable: about 9°C highs in March, 15°C in April and 20°C in May, with rain and a cool wind off the lake.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Warm to hot, about 27°C highs and 17–19°C lows, humid with storms; beaches, festivals and high hotel prices.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
September (about 24°C) and October (17°C) are lovely; November drops to about 10°C with grey skies.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cold, highs around 1–5°C and lows around -6 to -7°C, with snow and wind chill; cheapest hotels.
Events worth planning around
- St Patrick's Day, when the Chicago River is dyed green (around 17 March)
- Chicago Blues Festival (June)
- Lollapalooza in Grant Park (late July or early August)
- Chicago Marathon (October)
When to avoid
Avoid January and February unless you are prepared for serious cold. Avoid Lollapalooza and big convention weeks if you want cheap hotels.
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Common questions
What is the best time to visit Chicago?
May to October; September and early October often have the best weather.
How cold is Chicago in winter?
Highs around 1–5°C and lows near -6°C, with wind chill making it feel much colder.
When are the big summer festivals?
June to August, including the Blues Festival and Lollapalooza.