Best time to visit Boston
The best time to visit Boston is May and September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2.9 °C / 37 °F | -3.9 °C / 25 °F | 97 mm / 3.8 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 3.8 °C / 39 °F | -3.7 °C / 25 °F | 91 mm / 3.6 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 7.5 °C / 46 °F | 0.1 °C / 32 °F | 111 mm / 4.4 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 12.8 °C / 55 °F | 5.3 °C / 42 °F | 101 mm / 4 in | good month |
| May | 18.4 °C / 65 °F | 10.7 °C / 51 °F | 86 mm / 3.4 in | best month |
| June | 23 °C / 73 °F | 15.5 °C / 60 °F | 93 mm / 3.6 in | good month |
| July | 26.7 °C / 80 °F | 19.3 °C / 67 °F | 90 mm / 3.6 in | good month |
| August | 25.9 °C / 79 °F | 18.4 °C / 65 °F | 83 mm / 3.3 in | good month |
| September | 22.2 °C / 72 °F | 14.9 °C / 59 °F | 84 mm / 3.3 in | best month |
| October | 16.7 °C / 62 °F | 9.4 °C / 49 °F | 106 mm / 4.2 in | good month |
| November | 10.8 °C / 51 °F | 3.5 °C / 38 °F | 87 mm / 3.4 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 5.7 °C / 42 °F | -0.9 °C / 30 °F | 120 mm / 4.7 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: good
- MMay: best
- JJune: good
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May, September
- Good
- April, June–August, October
Boston's cold, dim winters (Dec-Mar) are too cold for comfortable exploring, while May and September are the standout months with mild, bright, drier weather. Summer (Jun-Aug) stays warm and sunny for walking but turns muggy with rain that tends to fall on the afternoon, and April/October are pleasant but noticeably wetter shoulder months.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 68%, relative humidity 65%, average daily low 5.3 °C / 42 °F.
Against: wet days 11.6 days, precipitation 101 mm / 4 in, days with heavy rain 3.5 days, feels like (high) 9.8 °C / 50 °F, average daily high 12.8 °C / 55 °F.
Also on: Boston Marathon (Patriot's Day).
May · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.3 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 18.4 °C / 65 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 69%, precipitation 86 mm / 3.4 in, days with heavy rain 2.8 days, average daily low 10.7 °C / 51 °F, relative humidity 70%.
Against: wet days 10.7 days.
Also on: Boston Calling, Together Boston.
Watch out for: College graduations.
June · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 23.8 °C / 75 °F, average daily high 23 °C / 73 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 71%, precipitation 93 mm / 3.6 in, days with heavy rain 2.9 days, average daily low 15.5 °C / 60 °F.
Against: wet days 10.7 days, relative humidity 74%, share of rain falling in the daytime 45%.
Also on: Porchfest.
July · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 29 °C / 84 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 77%, average daily high 26.7 °C / 80 °F, precipitation 90 mm / 3.6 in, days with heavy rain 2.8 days, average daily low 19.3 °C / 67 °F.
Against: wet days 10.7 days, relative humidity 75%, share of rain falling in the daytime 47%.
Also on: Boston Summer Arts Weekend, Harborfest, Independence Day fireworks and concert, Outside The Box, Porchfest.
Watch out for: Independence Day crowds and closures.
August · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 27.6 °C / 82 °F, average daily high 25.9 °C / 79 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, precipitation 83 mm / 3.3 in, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, wet days 9.2 days, average daily low 18.4 °C / 65 °F.
Against: relative humidity 75%, share of rain falling in the daytime 49%.
Also on: Dine Out Boston, Porchfest.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 22.4 °C / 72 °F, average daily high 22.2 °C / 72 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 73%, precipitation 84 mm / 3.3 in, wet days 8.3 days, days with heavy rain 3.1 days, average daily low 14.9 °C / 59 °F.
Against: relative humidity 76%.
Also on: Oktoberfest festivities.
Watch out for: Back-to-school move-in.
October · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 14.6 °C / 58 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 69%, average daily high 16.7 °C / 62 °F, wet days 9.9 days, average daily low 9.4 °C / 49 °F, relative humidity 74%.
Against: precipitation 106 mm / 4.2 in, days with heavy rain 3.5 days.
Also on: Head of the Charles Regatta.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Gunstock Recreation Area, 132 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | -1.9 °C | -1 °C | 3.3 °C | 9.8 °C | 17.3 °C | 23.8 °C | 29 °C | 27.6 °C | 22.4 °C | 14.6 °C | 7.3 °C | 1.4 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 3.4 days | 3.2 days | 3.5 days | 3.5 days | 2.8 days | 2.9 days | 2.8 days | 2.5 days | 3.1 days | 3.5 days | 2.8 days | 4 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 7 am | 4 pm | 5 am | 5 pm | 6 am | 3 pm | 2 pm | 3 pm | 3 pm | 3 am | 7 pm | 12 am |
| Sunshine per day | 6.5 h | 7.2 h | 8.3 h | 9 h | 10 h | 10.9 h | 11.5 h | 11 h | 9.1 h | 7.6 h | 6.5 h | 5.7 h |
| Relative humidity | 66% | 65% | 63% | 65% | 70% | 74% | 75% | 75% | 76% | 74% | 69% | 70% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 9.7 µg/m³ | 10.9 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | 9.1 µg/m³ | 9.6 µg/m³ | 14 µg/m³ | 13.1 µg/m³ | 12 µg/m³ | 10.9 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | 7.7 µg/m³ | 9 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 18.5 µg/m³ | 22.6 µg/m³ | 18.2 µg/m³ | 15.7 µg/m³ | 16.4 µg/m³ | 24 µg/m³ | 21.1 µg/m³ | 20.3 µg/m³ | 19 µg/m³ | 15.4 µg/m³ | 15.7 µg/m³ | 17.9 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Boston Wine & Food Festival
1 January–31 March
- Beanpot hockey tournament
1–14 February, dates vary from year to year
- St. Patrick's Day Parade (Evacuation Day)
17 March
- Boston Marathon (Patriot's Day)
15–21 April, dates vary from year to year
- Boston Calling
24–31 May, dates vary from year to year
- Together Boston
May, dates vary from year to year
- Porchfest
June, July and August, dates vary from year to year
- Independence Day fireworks and concert
4 July
- Harborfest
July
- Outside The Box
11–20 July, dates vary from year to year
- Boston Summer Arts Weekend
24–31 July, dates vary from year to year
- Dine Out Boston
August
- Oktoberfest festivities
September
- Head of the Charles Regatta
15–21 October, dates vary from year to year
- First Night (New Year's Eve)
31 December
Worth knowing before you go
- College graduations
May, dates vary from year to year
- Independence Day crowds and closures
4 July
- Back-to-school move-in
1–7 September
- Thanksgiving travel crush
22–29 November, dates vary from year to year
- Holiday season travel rush
26 November–31 December, dates vary from year to year
- Christmas closures
24–25 December