United States, North America
The best time to visit Chicago
A great summer city with a winter that has earned its reputation.
- Best months
- Jun and Sep
- Think twice
- Jan and Feb
- Quietest
- January
- Cheapest
- January
The straight answer
The best time to visit Chicago is late May through June or September through early October: warm lakefront days, the river and architecture tours running, and a packed festival calendar without the deep-winter cold.
Go from late May through June, or in September into early October. Chicago comes alive when it is warm: the Lakefront Trail fills, rooftop bars and beer gardens open, architecture boats run the river, and there is a neighborhood street festival nearly every weekend. September is the insider pick, with warm lake water, comfortable nights, and summer crowds gone.
July and August are peak season and still very good: Lollapalooza, beaches, Cubs games, and highs in the low to mid 80s F (about 28C), with some humid heat waves. Hotel rates climb, especially on festival and convention weekends, but the city is at full energy.
Winter is serious. From December through February, highs often stay near or below freezing, and wind off the lake pushes wind chills well below zero on the worst days. The museums, theater, and restaurants make it workable, and hotel rates hit their floor in January and February. Come in December for the lights and the Christkindlmarket; skip late January and February unless you truly love the cold.
Chicago, month by month
Every month gets a verdict. Tap one for its own page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
- 01JanuaryThink twiceFrigid, highs near 32F (0C), subzero wind chills possibleThe cheapest and coldest month. Museums and theater are quiet, but outdoor Chicago is effectively off the table.CrowdsPrice
- 02FebruaryThink twiceCold, highs near 36F (2C), snow and grayStill deep winter. Restaurant Week deals are the bright spot.CrowdsPrice
- 03MarchQuiet valueRaw, highs near 47F (8C), snow still possibleThe river turns green for the St. Patrick's Day parade weekend, the one big reason to come.CrowdsPrice
- 04AprilQuiet valueCool and changeable, highs near 59F (15C)Opening Day at Wrigley and Sox park, the first architecture boat tours, and tulips on Michigan Avenue. Pack for everything.CrowdsPrice
- 05MayGoodMild, highs near 70F (21C), cool by the lakeThe city wakes up. Late May is excellent; early May can still be chilly near the water.Hotels for May →CrowdsPrice
- 06JuneBestWarm, highs near 80F (27C)Beaches open, Blues Fest, Pride, and long light evenings. One of the two best months.Hotels for June →CrowdsPrice
- 07JulyGoodWarm to hot, highs near 84F (29C), humid spellsPeak summer. Fireworks at Navy Pier, beaches, and Lollapalooza at the end of the month.Hotels for July →CrowdsPrice
- 08AugustGoodWarm, highs near 82F (28C), thunderstormsLollapalooza often spills into early August, and the Air and Water Show brings huge lakefront crowds. Lake is at its warmest.Hotels for August →CrowdsPrice
- 09SeptemberBestPleasant, highs near 75F (24C)The best month. Warm days, cool nights, the Jazz Festival around Labor Day, and thinner crowds after school starts.Hotels for September →CrowdsPrice
- 10OctoberGoodCrisp, highs near 62F (17C), fall colorThe Chicago Marathon fills hotels one weekend. Otherwise beautiful early in the month, turning cold late.Hotels for October →CrowdsPrice
- 11NovemberQuiet valueCold and gray, highs near 48F (9C)The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival and Christkindlmarket open. Thanksgiving week is quiet.CrowdsPrice
- 12DecemberTradeoffsCold, highs near 36F (2C), snowFestive and cold: Christkindlmarket, ZooLights, and store windows. Dress for real winter.CrowdsPrice
Book Chicago for June.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for June
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in ChicagoOpens a hotel search for Chicago in June, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in ChicagoWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in ChicagoTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Chicago for June. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Why go to Chicago
The birthplace of the skyscraper
Chicago's architecture is its signature, from Louis Sullivan and the Rookery to Mies van der Rohe and the modern river towers. The architecture boat tour is the best-reviewed tour in the city for good reason.
World-class museums
The Art Institute, the Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Shedd Aquarium all rank among the best of their kind in the country.
A lakefront built for public use
Eighteen miles of beaches, parks, and the Lakefront Trail, open to everyone. In summer, the lake is the city's backyard.
Neighborhoods and food
Deep dish, Italian beef, tacos in Pilsen, Korean in Albany Park, and a restaurant scene as strong as any in the US.
Things to do, and when to do them
Chicago Architecture Center river cruise
Runs roughly spring through fall. The first and last departures of the day are the most comfortable in summer.
Art Institute of Chicago
One of the great museums anywhere. Go at opening and head straight to the Impressionists before the crowds.
Millennium Park
Cloud Gate (the Bean), Crown Fountain, and free summer concerts at the Pritzker Pavilion. Early morning for photos.
Field Museum
Home of SUE, one of the most complete T. rex skeletons ever found. Plan at least half a day.
Museum of Science and Industry
A real U-boat, a coal mine, and a huge model railroad. Best on weekdays outside school field trip season.
Wrigley Field
A Cubs day game in summer is the classic Chicago afternoon. Tour days run when the team is away.
Navy Pier and the Lakefront Trail
Walk or bike the trail for skyline views; Navy Pier's summer fireworks run on select nights.
Events and seasons worth planning around
St. Patrick's Day parade and river dyeing
The Saturday before or around March 17
The Chicago River turns bright green in the morning, then the parade runs downtown. Huge crowds.
Chicago Blues Festival
June
Free blues on multiple stages in Millennium Park. Billed as the largest free blues festival in the world.
Lollapalooza
Late July or early August, four days
Grant Park takes over downtown. Hotel rates jump across the Loop.
Chicago Air and Water Show
A weekend in August
Free air shows over the lakefront, best seen from North Avenue Beach. Very crowded.
Chicago Jazz Festival
Around Labor Day weekend
Free jazz in Millennium Park and around the city.
Chicago Marathon
A Sunday in early to mid October
One of the world's major marathons. Book hotels early if your trip overlaps.
Christkindlmarket
Mid November through late December
A German-style Christmas market in Daley Plaza. Weekday afternoons are least crowded.
Beat the crowds
- Check the convention calendar at McCormick Place. Big shows can double hotel rates for a week.
- Buy museum tickets online and arrive at opening. The Field, Shedd, and MSI fill fast on summer weekends and during school breaks.
- Stay in a neighborhood like Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, or the West Loop and ride the L downtown. Rates are often better than the Loop and River North.
- September gives you summer weather with far fewer visitors. It is the best-value warm month.
Open or closed
- Architecture boat tours and many river cruises run roughly spring through fall and pause in winter.
- Beaches are officially open with lifeguards from about Memorial Day to Labor Day. Outside that window, swimming is not supervised.
- Winter never shuts the city down. Museums, theater, and restaurants run full schedules, and the L keeps moving in all but the worst storms.
- Wrigley Field and Sox park tours depend on the baseball schedule; check game days before you plan.
With kids in tow
- Chicago is a top-tier kid city: the Field Museum, MSI, the Shedd Aquarium, the free Lincoln Park Zoo, and Maggie Daley Park's playground are all within easy reach of downtown.
- Summer beaches like North Avenue and Oak Street are easy with kids, and the lake is calmer and warmer by August.
- For homeschool families: architecture, the Great Chicago Fire, and industrial history make a great unit, and weekday museum visits in September and October are quiet once local field trips taper.
Getting there
- O'Hare (ORD) is one of the most connected airports in the world; Midway (MDW) is closer to downtown and a Southwest hub. Both have nonstops from Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
- The CTA Blue Line runs from O'Hare to the Loop in about 45 minutes; the Orange Line from Midway takes about 25.
- You do not need a car. The L, buses, Divvy bikes, and walking cover nearly everything.
Packing? Packing cubes and the airport kit.
Chicago for the holidays
Holiday and school-break weeks where Chicago makes our ranked list.
Memorial Day Weekend
May
The unofficial start of summer, and the first weekend the national parks and beach towns fill up. Pick a place that is fully open but not yet full.
Labor Day Weekend
August, September
Summer's last long weekend, and the first week of the best travel season of the year. Just keep an eye on the tropics.
Chicago timing, quick answers
What is the best month to visit Chicago?
September. Warm days near 75F (24C), a warm lake, a full events calendar, and fewer crowds than July and August. June is a close second.
What is the cheapest time to visit Chicago?
January and February. Hotel rates hit their annual lows, but expect highs near freezing and bitter wind. Museums and theater make it workable.
How cold is Chicago in winter?
Highs average near 32F (0C) in January, and cold snaps with subzero temperatures and wind chills well below zero happen most winters. Dress in real winter layers.
When does the Chicago River turn green?
On the St. Patrick's Day parade Saturday, usually the Saturday before or closest to March 17. The dyeing happens in the morning near the Michigan Avenue bridge.
When is Lollapalooza?
Late July or early August, over four days in Grant Park. Check the official site each year for dates, and book hotels early.
Is Chicago crowded in summer?
Yes, especially on festival weekends and around July 4. The lakefront and big museums are busiest, but the city is large enough that neighborhoods stay easy.
Weighing alternatives
Similar trips, with their best months.
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