Best time to visit Denver
The best time to visit Denver is September–October, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Denver, Colorado, 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 | 5.3 °C / 42 °F | -7.8 °C / 18 °F | 22 mm / 0.9 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 6.1 °C / 43 °F | -7.4 °C / 19 °F | 30 mm / 1.2 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 12.1 °C / 54 °F | -2.4 °C / 28 °F | 46 mm / 1.8 in | good month |
| April | 15.9 °C / 61 °F | 1.2 °C / 34 °F | 61 mm / 2.4 in | good month |
| May | 20.1 °C / 68 °F | 6.2 °C / 43 °F | 89 mm / 3.5 in | good month |
| June | 27.8 °C / 82 °F | 12.2 °C / 54 °F | 46 mm / 1.8 in | good month |
| July | 30.5 °C / 87 °F | 15.3 °C / 60 °F | 42 mm / 1.7 in | neither best nor good |
| August | 29.6 °C / 85 °F | 14.6 °C / 58 °F | 34 mm / 1.4 in | neither best nor good |
| September | 25.9 °C / 79 °F | 10.5 °C / 51 °F | 35 mm / 1.4 in | best month |
| October | 18.2 °C / 65 °F | 3.4 °C / 38 °F | 37 mm / 1.5 in | best month |
| November | 11.9 °C / 53 °F | -2.4 °C / 28 °F | 25 mm / 1 in | good month |
| December | 6.2 °C / 43 °F | -6.9 °C / 20 °F | 25 mm / 1 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: good
- AApril: good
- MMay: good
- JJune: good
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- September–October
- Good
- March–June, November
Denver is best in September and October, when warm, dry, sunny days suit walking and sightseeing well. Spring (March-June) is mild to warm and mostly dry but brings the year's heaviest, often afternoon, rain, peaking in May. Midsummer (July-August) turns hot with afternoon thunderstorms, and winter (November-February, plus December) is cold, if still sunny.
Why these months
March · good
In its favour: precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, wet days 7 days, relative humidity 52%.
Against: feels like (high) 8.6 °C / 47 °F, average daily high 12.1 °C / 54 °F, average daily low -2.4 °C / 28 °F.
Also on: Denver March Powwow, Denver Restaurant Week, Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade, Starz Global Lens Film Festival.
April · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 85%, average daily high 15.9 °C / 61 °F, feels like (high) 12.8 °C / 55 °F, relative humidity 51%.
Against: wet days 9.3 days, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, precipitation 61 mm / 2.4 in, average daily low 1.2 °C / 34 °F.
Also on: Colorado Rockies Home Opener, Denver Jazz Fest, KBCO Kinetics.
May · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 18.2 °C / 65 °F, average daily high 20.1 °C / 68 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, relative humidity 57%, average daily low 6.2 °C / 43 °F.
Against: wet days 12.2 days, precipitation 89 mm / 3.5 in, days with heavy rain 3 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 41%.
Also on: Cinco de Mayo Festival and Parade, Colorado Colfax Marathon, Denver Arts Festival, Denver Day of Rock, Denver's Navy Week, Downtown Denver Festival of the Arts, Old South Gaylord Street Festival, Outside Festival, Tesoro Indian Market and Powwow.
June · good
In its favour: precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 12.2 °C / 54 °F, relative humidity 49%.
Against: average daily high 27.8 °C / 82 °F, wet days 8.2 days, feels like (high) 26.8 °C / 80 °F, share of rain falling in the daytime 49%.
Also on: Cherry Blossom Festival, Colorado Renaissance Festival, Comcast La Piazza dell’Arte, Denver Chalk Art Festival, Denver Pride, Do At The Zoo, Highland Street Fair, Juneteenth Music Festival, Red Rocks summer concerts, The People's Fair.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 23.8 °C / 75 °F, average daily high 25.9 °C / 79 °F, precipitation 35 mm / 1.4 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, wet days 5.2 days, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, average daily low 10.5 °C / 51 °F, relative humidity 48%.
Also on: A Taste of Colorado, Apple orchard and pumpkin patch harvest, Brew At The Zoo, Denver Beer Fest, Denver Food & Wine Festival, Denver Oktoberfest, Doors Open Denver, Fall colours, Festival Italiano.
October · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 14.6 °C / 58 °F, average daily high 18.2 °C / 65 °F, precipitation 37 mm / 1.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, wet days 6.1 days, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, relative humidity 52%.
Against: average daily low 3.4 °C / 38 °F.
Also on: 13th Floor Haunted House, Apple orchard and pumpkin patch harvest, Denver Marathon, Denver Mariachi Festival, Doors Open Denver, Fall colours, Fright Fest, Great American Beer Festival.
November · good
In its favour: precipitation 25 mm / 1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, wet days 5 days, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, relative humidity 54%.
Against: feels like (high) 7.9 °C / 46 °F, average daily high 11.9 °C / 53 °F, average daily low -2.4 °C / 28 °F.
Also on: Denver Arts Week, Denver Film Festival, Denver International Wine Festival, Grand Illumination, Holiday pop-up bars, Ice skating at Skyline Park, Starz International Film Festival.
Watch out for: Holiday season crowding, Ski traffic busy season, Thanksgiving travel and closures.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Black Mountain (formerly Evergreen Basin, now private), 41 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) | 1.3 °C | 2.1 °C | 8.6 °C | 12.8 °C | 18.2 °C | 26.8 °C | 30.4 °C | 29 °C | 23.8 °C | 14.6 °C | 7.9 °C | 2.1 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 0.3 days | 0.3 days | 1.1 days | 1.6 days | 3 days | 1.4 days | 1.1 days | 1.1 days | 1.1 days | 1.1 days | 0.5 days | 0.4 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 9 am | 9 pm | 10 pm | 4 pm | 6 pm | 5 pm | 5 pm | 4 pm | 5 pm | 6 pm | 2 am | 11 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 8.5 h | 9.4 h | 10.6 h | 11.4 h | 12.1 h | 13.1 h | 13.1 h | 12.6 h | 11.2 h | 9.8 h | 8.8 h | 8.1 h |
| Relative humidity | 61% | 59% | 52% | 51% | 57% | 49% | 50% | 49% | 48% | 52% | 54% | 59% |
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 | 13 µg/m³ | 11.7 µg/m³ | 10.4 µg/m³ | 9.3 µg/m³ | 10 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ | 9.6 µg/m³ | 8.3 µg/m³ | 7.3 µg/m³ | 6.4 µg/m³ | 8.4 µg/m³ | 9.4 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 23.7 µg/m³ | 21.3 µg/m³ | 18 µg/m³ | 16.4 µg/m³ | 16.2 µg/m³ | 14.3 µg/m³ | 15 µg/m³ | 12.7 µg/m³ | 11.8 µg/m³ | 11 µg/m³ | 14.9 µg/m³ | 17.1 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
- Ice skating at Skyline Park
24 November–15 February
- National Western Stock Show
January
- Blossoms of Light
January and December
- Martin Luther King Parade
January
- Indian Market
January
- Mile High Snowfest
January
- Colorado Motorcycle Expo
February
- Orchid Showcase at Denver Botanic Gardens
February
- Colorado Garden and Home Show
February
- Buffalo Bill's Birthday Party
February
- Denver Restaurant Week
March
- Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade
March
- Denver March Powwow
March
- Starz Global Lens Film Festival
March
- Denver Jazz Fest
April
- Colorado Rockies Home Opener
April
- KBCO Kinetics
April
- Denver Arts Festival
May
- Cinco de Mayo Festival and Parade
May
- Outside Festival
May
- Tesoro Indian Market and Powwow
May
- Downtown Denver Festival of the Arts
May
- Denver Day of Rock
May
- Colorado Colfax Marathon
May
- Denver's Navy Week
May
- Old South Gaylord Street Festival
25–31 May
- Red Rocks summer concerts
June, July and August
- Denver Pride
June
- Juneteenth Music Festival
June
- Denver Chalk Art Festival
June
- Colorado Renaissance Festival
June
- Cherry Blossom Festival
June
- Comcast La Piazza dell’Arte
June
- Do At The Zoo
June
- The People's Fair
June
- Highland Street Fair
June
- Underground Music Showcase
July
- Cherry Creek Arts Festival
1–7 July
- Colorado Irish Festival
July
- Dragon Boat Festival
July
- Global Dance Festival
July
- Denver BrunchFest
August
- Colorado Wine Walk
August
- Fall colours
September and October
- Apple orchard and pumpkin patch harvest
September and October
- Denver Food & Wine Festival
September
- Denver Oktoberfest
September
- Doors Open Denver
September and October
- A Taste of Colorado
September
- Brew At The Zoo
September
- Festival Italiano
September
- Denver Beer Fest
September
- Great American Beer Festival
October
- 13th Floor Haunted House
October
- Fright Fest
October
- Denver Mariachi Festival
October
- Denver Marathon
October
- Holiday pop-up bars
November and December, dates vary from year to year
- Denver Film Festival
November
- Denver Arts Week
November
- Starz International Film Festival
November
- Denver International Wine Festival
November
- Grand Illumination
November
- Denver Christkindlmarket
December
- Zoo Lights
December
- Parade of Lights
December
- Mile High Holidays
December
- New Year's Eve Downtown Fireworks
December
Worth knowing before you go
- Holiday season crowding
January, November and December
- Ski traffic busy season
November and December, dates vary from year to year
- Thanksgiving travel and closures
22–28 November, dates vary from year to year
- Christmas closures
24–25 December