Best time to visit Louisville

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

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

°C

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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
Month	Average daily high	Average daily low	Precipitation	Verdict
January	5.3 °C / 42 °F	-2.7 °C / 27 °F	94 mm / 3.7 in	neither best nor good
February	7.8 °C / 46 °F	-1.4 °C / 29 °F	100 mm / 3.9 in	neither best nor good
March	14.1 °C / 57 °F	4 °C / 39 °F	115 mm / 4.5 in	good month
April	19.6 °C / 67 °F	8.9 °C / 48 °F	136 mm / 5.3 in	good month
May	24.3 °C / 76 °F	14.7 °C / 58 °F	120 mm / 4.7 in	good month
June	29 °C / 84 °F	19.3 °C / 67 °F	102 mm / 4 in	neither best nor good
July	30.4 °C / 87 °F	21.1 °C / 70 °F	114 mm / 4.5 in	neither best nor good
August	29.9 °C / 86 °F	19.9 °C / 68 °F	71 mm / 2.8 in	neither best nor good
September	27.1 °C / 81 °F	16 °C / 61 °F	80 mm / 3.2 in	best month
October	20.5 °C / 69 °F	9.6 °C / 49 °F	87 mm / 3.4 in	best month
November	13.3 °C / 56 °F	3.4 °C / 38 °F	79 mm / 3.1 in	good month
December	8.3 °C / 47 °F	0.4 °C / 33 °F	105 mm / 4.1 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: neither
JJuly: neither
AAugust: neither
SSeptember: best
OOctober: best
NNovember: good
DDecember: neither

Best: September–October
Good: March–May, November

September and October bring warm, sunny, comparatively dry days that make them the best for exploring Louisville on foot; the spring and late-autumn shoulder months are good but rainier or cooler and dimmer, while a cold, dim winter and a hot, humid, rain-prone summer are too uncomfortable for extended walking.

Why these months

March · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 66%, relative humidity 64%, average daily low 4 °C / 39 °F.
Against: average daily high 14.1 °C / 57 °F, precipitation 115 mm / 4.5 in, wet days 11.4 days, days with heavy rain 4 days, feels like (high) 11.4 °C / 53 °F.
Also on: March Madness, NuLu Bock Fest, Tailspin Ale Fest.
Watch out for: Easter closures, Good Friday closures.
April · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 18.1 °C / 65 °F, average daily high 19.6 °C / 67 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 70%, relative humidity 64%, average daily low 8.9 °C / 48 °F.
Against: precipitation 136 mm / 5.3 in, days with heavy rain 4.7 days, wet days 11.6 days.
Also on: Cherokee Triangle Art Fair, Churchill Downs live racing season (beyond Derby week), Great Bed Races, Kentucky Derby Festival, Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon and MiniMarathon, Kentucky Oaks, Mint Julep Month, Pegasus Parade, The Great Balloon Race / Balloon Glow, The Great Steamboat Race, Thunder Over Louisville, Thurby, Waterfront Wednesdays.
Watch out for: Derby weekend hotel price surge, Easter closures, Good Friday closures.
May · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 25 °C / 77 °F, average daily high 24.3 °C / 76 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 72%, average daily low 14.7 °C / 58 °F, relative humidity 70%.
Against: precipitation 120 mm / 4.7 in, wet days 12.8 days, days with heavy rain 4.3 days.
Also on: Abbey Road on the River, Churchill Downs live racing season (beyond Derby week), Great Bed Races, Kentucky Derby Festival, Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon and MiniMarathon, Kentucky Oaks, Pegasus Parade, The Great Balloon Race / Balloon Glow, The Great Steamboat Race, Thurby, Waterfront Wednesdays.
Watch out for: Derby weekend hotel price surge, Memorial Day.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 28.2 °C / 83 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, average daily high 27.1 °C / 81 °F, precipitation 80 mm / 3.2 in, wet days 8.2 days, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, average daily low 16 °C / 61 °F.
Against: relative humidity 70%.
Also on: Bourbon & Beyond, Bourbon Heritage Month, Churchill Downs live racing season (beyond Derby week), Hometown Rising, Louder Than Life, Waterfront Wednesdays.
Watch out for: Labor Day.
October · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 19.1 °C / 66 °F, average daily high 20.5 °C / 69 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, days with heavy rain 2.9 days, average daily low 9.6 °C / 49 °F, relative humidity 69%.
Against: precipitation 87 mm / 3.4 in, wet days 8.8 days.
Also on: Churchill Downs live racing season (beyond Derby week), Halloween-themed events (Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular), St. James Court Art Show.
Watch out for: Columbus Day, Halloween closures.
November · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 68%, days with heavy rain 2.7 days, relative humidity 69%.
Against: average daily high 13.3 °C / 56 °F, wet days 8.6 days, precipitation 79 mm / 3.1 in, sunshine per day 6.9 h, feels like (high) 10.5 °C / 51 °F, average daily low 3.4 °C / 38 °F.
Also on: Churchill Downs live racing season (beyond Derby week), Lights Under Louisville, Peak fall colors.
Watch out for: Holiday season travel rush, Thanksgiving travel crush, Veterans Day.

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, 417 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)	1.5 °C	4.2 °C	11.4 °C	18.1 °C	25 °C	31.5 °C	33.9 °C	32.9 °C	28.2 °C	19.1 °C	10.5 °C	5.2 °C
Days with heavy rain	3 days	3.2 days	4 days	4.7 days	4.3 days	3.4 days	3.6 days	2.5 days	2.5 days	2.9 days	2.7 days	3.8 days
Time rain usually falls	8 am	5 am	11 pm	3 am	5 pm	6 pm	6 pm	4 pm	6 am	6 am	2 am	7 am
Sunshine per day	5.9 h	6.8 h	7.9 h	9.3 h	10.2 h	11.9 h	11.9 h	11.6 h	9.8 h	8.3 h	6.9 h	5.3 h
Relative humidity	71%	68%	64%	64%	70%	69%	73%	72%	70%	69%	69%	74%
Wet days	9.6 days	9.6 days	11.4 days	11.6 days	12.8 days	10.9 days	12.6 days	9.1 days	8.2 days	8.8 days	8.6 days	11.2 days
Daylight per day	9.9 h	10.8 h	12 h	13.2 h	14.3 h	14.8 h	14.5 h	13.6 h	12.4 h	11.2 h	10.1 h	9.6 h
Days with snow	6.2 days	6 days	2.6 days	0.5 days	0 days	0 days	0 days	0 days	0 days	0.1 days	1.2 days	3.6 days
Snowfall	9 cm	9 cm	5 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	1 cm	5 cm
Wind (daily mean)	12 km/h	11 km/h	12 km/h	12 km/h	10 km/h	9 km/h	7 km/h	7 km/h	8 km/h	10 km/h	11 km/h	11 km/h
Wind gusts (daily max)	39 km/h	40 km/h	41 km/h	42 km/h	36 km/h	33 km/h	29 km/h	28 km/h	30 km/h	35 km/h	35 km/h	37 km/h

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	7.2 µg/m³	8.5 µg/m³	7.7 µg/m³	8 µg/m³	10.9 µg/m³	16.6 µg/m³	14.5 µg/m³	12 µg/m³	9.2 µg/m³	6.3 µg/m³	6.8 µg/m³	7.1 µg/m³
Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025	12.3 µg/m³	13.8 µg/m³	12.7 µg/m³	13 µg/m³	17.2 µg/m³	24.6 µg/m³	21.7 µg/m³	17.7 µg/m³	13.8 µg/m³	10.3 µg/m³	11.5 µg/m³	12.3 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

Lights Under Louisville
20 November–5 January, dates vary from year to year
NuLu Bock Fest
March
Tailspin Ale Fest
March
March Madness
March
Kentucky Derby Festival
17 April–7 May, dates vary from year to year
Thunder Over Louisville
10–20 April, dates vary from year to year
Mint Julep Month
April
Pegasus Parade
17 April–7 May, dates vary from year to year
Kentucky Oaks
17 April–7 May, dates vary from year to year
Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon and MiniMarathon
17 April–7 May, dates vary from year to year
The Great Steamboat Race
17 April–7 May, dates vary from year to year
Thurby
17 April–7 May, dates vary from year to year
The Great Balloon Race / Balloon Glow
17 April–7 May, dates vary from year to year
Great Bed Races
17 April–7 May, dates vary from year to year
Cherokee Triangle Art Fair
24–30 April, dates vary from year to year
Waterfront Wednesdays
April, May, June, July, August and September
Churchill Downs live racing season (beyond Derby week)
April, May, June, July, September, October and November
Abbey Road on the River
25–31 May
Kentuckiana Pride
June
Kentucky Craft Bash
June
Ali Fest
June
4th of July fireworks
4 July
Street Rod Nationals
1–7 August, dates vary from year to year
Kentucky State Fair
16–31 August, dates vary from year to year
Bourbon Heritage Month
September
Hometown Rising
8–14 September, dates vary from year to year
Bourbon & Beyond
15–21 September, dates vary from year to year
Louder Than Life
22–28 September, dates vary from year to year
St. James Court Art Show
1–7 October, dates vary from year to year
Halloween-themed events (Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular)
October
Peak fall colors
1–10 November
Fête de Noël
December

Worth knowing before you go

New Year's Day
1 January
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
15–21 January, dates vary from year to year
Holiday season travel rush
26 November–1 January, dates vary from year to year
Presidents' Day
15–21 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
Derby weekend hotel price surge
24 April–7 May, dates vary from year to year
Memorial Day
25–31 May, dates vary from year to year
Juneteenth (federal holiday)
19 June
Independence Day closures
4 July
Labor Day
1–7 September, dates vary from year to year
Columbus Day
8–14 October, dates vary from year to year
Halloween closures
31 October
Veterans Day
11 November
Thanksgiving travel crush
21–29 November, dates vary from year to year
Christmas closures
24–25 December

Other places in United States

Compare places month by month on the travel calendar