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Best time to visit Indianapolis

The best time to visit Indianapolis is August–October, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

°C

mm

−10°0°10°20°30°40°
0100200300400500
  • Average daily high and low
  • Precipitation
  • Good month
  • Best month
  • Made good or best by an event
Average daily high and low temperature, average precipitation and each month's verdict
MonthAverage daily highAverage daily lowPrecipitationVerdict
January2.4 °C / 36 °F-5.4 °C / 22 °F77 mm / 3 inneither best nor good
February4.5 °C / 40 °F-4.3 °C / 24 °F76 mm / 3 inneither best nor good
March11.5 °C / 53 °F1.8 °C / 35 °F115 mm / 4.5 inneither best nor good
April17.5 °C / 64 °F6.9 °C / 44 °F123 mm / 4.8 ingood month
May23 °C / 73 °F13.3 °C / 56 °F113 mm / 4.4 ingood month
June27.8 °C / 82 °F18.3 °C / 65 °F104 mm / 4.1 ingood month
July29 °C / 84 °F19.8 °C / 68 °F93 mm / 3.7 ingood month
August28.4 °C / 83 °F18.6 °C / 65 °F68 mm / 2.7 inbest month
September25.6 °C / 78 °F14.7 °C / 58 °F70 mm / 2.8 inbest month
October18.8 °C / 66 °F8.3 °C / 47 °F82 mm / 3.2 inbest month
November11 °C / 52 °F1.9 °C / 35 °F78 mm / 3.1 inneither best nor good
December5.4 °C / 42 °F-2.1 °C / 28 °F91 mm / 3.6 inneither 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'.

  1. JJanuary: neither
  2. FFebruary: neither
  3. MMarch: neither
  4. AApril: good
  5. MMay: good
  6. JJune: good
  7. JJuly: good
  8. AAugust: best
  9. SSeptember: best
  10. OOctober: best
  11. NNovember: neither
  12. DDecember: neither
Best
August–October
Good
April–July

Indianapolis is at its best from August through October, when the weather turns warm, dry and sunny for walking around outdoors. April through July are good but bring frequent rain even as temperatures stay pleasant, while November through March are cold, often damp and short on daylight, the weakest stretch for exploring on foot.

Why these months

  • April · good

    In its favour: feels like (high) 15.2 °C / 59 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 70%, average daily high 17.5 °C / 64 °F, relative humidity 63%, average daily low 6.9 °C / 44 °F.

    Against: precipitation 123 mm / 4.8 in, days with heavy rain 4.8 days, wet days 11.9 days.

    Also on: Indiana Pacers season, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra season, Soap box derby.

    Watch out for: Easter closures, Good Friday closures.

  • May · good

    In its favour: feels like (high) 22.8 °C / 73 °F, average daily high 23 °C / 73 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 73%, average daily low 13.3 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 67%.

    Against: wet days 12.9 days, precipitation 113 mm / 4.4 in, days with heavy rain 3.9 days.

    Also on: Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra season, Indianapolis mini-marathon, Indianapolis Motor Speedway racing season.

    Watch out for: Indianapolis 500 crowds, Memorial Day closures.

  • June · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 79%, feels like (high) 29.4 °C / 85 °F, average daily high 27.8 °C / 82 °F, average daily low 18.3 °C / 65 °F, relative humidity 67%.

    Against: wet days 11.7 days, precipitation 104 mm / 4.1 in, days with heavy rain 3.5 days.

    Also on: Benjamin Harrison home croquet charity event, Eiteljorg Indian Market, Indiana Fever season, Indianapolis Motor Speedway racing season, Old Settlers Day and Classic Car Show (Wanamaker), Vintage Indiana Wine & Food Fest.

    Watch out for: Juneteenth closures.

  • July · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 82%, average daily high 29 °C / 84 °F, average daily low 19.8 °C / 68 °F, relative humidity 70%.

    Against: wet days 11.8 days, precipitation 93 mm / 3.7 in, days with heavy rain 3.2 days, feels like (high) 31.8 °C / 89 °F.

    Also on: Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration, Indiana Fever season, Indianapolis International Film Festival, Indianapolis Motor Speedway racing season.

    Watch out for: Independence Day closures, Indiana Black Expo crowds.

  • August · best

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 85%, precipitation 68 mm / 2.7 in, average daily high 28.4 °C / 83 °F, days with heavy rain 2.6 days, wet days 8.9 days, average daily low 18.6 °C / 65 °F, relative humidity 70%.

    Against: feels like (high) 30.6 °C / 87 °F.

    Also on: Gen Con, Indiana Fever season, Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis Motor Speedway racing season, Indy Fringe Festival, Oktoberfest.

  • September · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 25.9 °C / 79 °F, average daily high 25.6 °C / 78 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, precipitation 70 mm / 2.8 in, wet days 7.5 days, days with heavy rain 2 days, average daily low 14.7 °C / 58 °F, relative humidity 69%.

    Also on: Indiana Fever season, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra season, Indianapolis Motor Speedway racing season, Indy Fringe Festival, Indy Jazz Fest, International Violin Competition, Oktoberfest.

    Watch out for: Labor Day closures.

  • October · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 16.6 °C / 62 °F, average daily high 18.8 °C / 66 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 73%, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, wet days 9.3 days, relative humidity 68%, average daily low 8.3 °C / 47 °F.

    Against: precipitation 82 mm / 3.2 in.

    Also on: Circle City Classic, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra season, Irvington Halloween Festival, Ruoff Music Center Halloween festival.

    Watch out for: Columbus Day closures, Halloween closures.

An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Sugar Mountain Resort, 552 km away.

Weather averages

Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Feels like (high) -2 °C0.2 °C8 °C15.2 °C22.8 °C29.4 °C31.8 °C30.6 °C25.9 °C16.6 °C7.5 °C1.6 °C
Days with heavy rain 2.6 days2.5 days4.5 days4.8 days3.9 days3.5 days3.2 days2.6 days2 days2.5 days2.5 days3.1 days
Time rain usually falls 5 am12 am1 am1 am3 pm6 pm4 pm6 pm3 pm11 am5 am3 am
Sunshine per day 5.7 h6.9 h7.9 h9.2 h10.5 h11.7 h12 h11.7 h10 h8.1 h6.6 h5.1 h
Relative humidity 74%71%66%63%67%67%70%70%69%68%70%76%

Air quality

Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–20257.8 µg/m³9.1 µg/m³7.8 µg/m³8 µg/m³10.7 µg/m³16.1 µg/m³13.6 µg/m³10.9 µg/m³8.9 µg/m³6.5 µg/m³6.9 µg/m³7.7 µg/m³
Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–202513 µg/m³14.4 µg/m³13.1 µg/m³13.2 µg/m³16.7 µg/m³23.7 µg/m³19.7 µg/m³15.8 µg/m³13.6 µg/m³10.2 µg/m³11.5 µg/m³13.2 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

  • Major Taylor Velodrome snow park

    15 November–1 March

  • Indiana Pacers season

    January, February, March, April, November and December

  • Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra season

    January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November and December

  • Soap box derby

    April

  • Indianapolis 500

    May

  • Indianapolis mini-marathon

    May

  • Indianapolis Motor Speedway racing season

    May, June, July, August and September

  • Vintage Indiana Wine & Food Fest

    1–7 June

  • Eiteljorg Indian Market

    24–30 June

  • Old Settlers Day and Classic Car Show (Wanamaker)

    24–30 June

  • Benjamin Harrison home croquet charity event

    June

  • Indiana Fever season

    June, July, August and September

  • Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration

    11–20 July

  • Indianapolis International Film Festival

    11–20 July

  • Indiana State Fair

    1–20 August

  • Gen Con

    1–10 August

  • Indy Fringe Festival

    21 August–10 September

  • Oktoberfest

    21 August–10 September

  • International Violin Competition

    1–20 September

  • Indy Jazz Fest

    11–20 September

  • Circle City Classic

    1–10 October

  • Irvington Halloween Festival

    21–31 October

  • Ruoff Music Center Halloween festival

    October

  • Bands of America Grand Nationals

    11–20 November

  • Symphony holiday extravaganza

    December

  • A Christmas Carol at Indiana Repertory Theatre

    December

Worth knowing before you go

  • Whispering Hills winter closure

    January, February and December

  • New Year's Day closures

    1 January

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day closures

    January, dates vary from year to year

  • Presidents' Day closures

    February, dates vary from year to year

  • Good Friday closures

    March and April, dates vary from year to year

  • Easter closures

    March and April, dates vary from year to year

  • Indianapolis 500 crowds

    May

  • Memorial Day closures

    May, dates vary from year to year

  • Juneteenth closures

    19 June

  • Indiana Black Expo crowds

    11–20 July

  • Independence Day closures

    4 July

  • Labor Day closures

    September, dates vary from year to year

  • Columbus Day closures

    October, dates vary from year to year

  • Halloween closures

    31 October

  • Veterans Day closures

    11 November

  • Thanksgiving travel and closures

    November, dates vary from year to year

  • End-of-year holiday travel rush

    November and December

  • Christmas closures

    25 December

Other places in United States

Compare places month by month on the travel calendar

Monthly averages over 2006–2025, unless stated otherwise.

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC-BY 4.0), generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information (ERA5). City data from GeoNames (CC-BY 4.0). Air quality from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and sea temperature from Météo-France / Copernicus Marine, both via Open-Meteo.com. Coastline from Natural Earth. Ski areas from OpenSkiMap.org, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Skimap.org. World Heritage sites from Wikidata (CC0), from the World Heritage List © UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Readership from Wikimedia pageview data (CC0). Destination classification derived from English Wikivoyage, © Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).