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Best time to visit Vail

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

Vail, Colorado, United States

°C

mm

−20°−10°0°10°20°30°40°
0100200300400500600
  • 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
January-3.9 °C / 25 °F-15.2 °C / 5 °F46 mm / 1.8 inneither best nor good
February-2.5 °C / 28 °F-13.4 °C / 8 °F51 mm / 2 inneither best nor good
March1.9 °C / 35 °F-9.6 °C / 15 °F62 mm / 2.4 inneither best nor good
April4.8 °C / 41 °F-6.7 °C / 20 °F75 mm / 2.9 inneither best nor good
May9.3 °C / 49 °F-3.3 °C / 26 °F62 mm / 2.5 inneither best nor good
June17.7 °C / 64 °F0.9 °C / 34 °F30 mm / 1.2 inbest month
July21.5 °C / 71 °F5.5 °C / 42 °F46 mm / 1.8 ingood month
August20.4 °C / 69 °F5.2 °C / 41 °F43 mm / 1.7 ingood month
September16.8 °C / 62 °F1.5 °C / 35 °F39 mm / 1.5 inbest month
October8.5 °C / 47 °F-5.6 °C / 22 °F53 mm / 2.1 ingood month, for Aspen autumn colours. The weather alone makes it neither best nor good.
November1.9 °C / 35 °F-13.3 °C / 8 °F42 mm / 1.6 inneither best nor good
December-3.2 °C / 26 °F-16.1 °C / 3 °F50 mm / 2 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: neither
  5. MMay: neither
  6. JJune: best
  7. JJuly: good
  8. AAugust: good
  9. SSeptember: best
  10. OOctober: good
  11. NNovember: neither
  12. DDecember: neither
Best
June, September
Good
July–August, October

Cold, snowbound winters (November-May) make sightseeing uncomfortable, but June brings ideal mild, dry weather, July-August stay pleasant despite predictable afternoon thunderstorms, and September is the standout month, pairing crisp dry air with the valley's famous aspen colours; October's colours help offset an otherwise cold, snowy month.

Why these months

  • June · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 15.5 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 30 mm / 1.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, average daily high 17.7 °C / 64 °F, days with heavy rain 0.4 days, wet days 7 days, relative humidity 56%.

    Against: average daily low 0.9 °C / 34 °F.

    Watch out for: Juneteenth.

  • July · good

    In its favour: feels like (high) 20 °C / 68 °F, average daily high 21.5 °C / 71 °F, precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, relative humidity 59%, average daily low 5.5 °C / 42 °F.

    Against: wet days 10.7 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 65%.

    Also on: Wildflower bloom.

    Watch out for: Independence Day.

  • August · good

    In its favour: feels like (high) 18.5 °C / 65 °F, average daily high 20.4 °C / 69 °F, precipitation 43 mm / 1.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, relative humidity 58%, average daily low 5.2 °C / 41 °F.

    Against: wet days 10.2 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 58%.

  • September · best

    In its favour: precipitation 39 mm / 1.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, feels like (high) 13.8 °C / 57 °F, average daily high 16.8 °C / 62 °F, days with heavy rain 1 days, wet days 7.2 days, relative humidity 56%.

    Against: share of rain falling in the daytime 58%, average daily low 1.5 °C / 35 °F.

    Also on: Aspen autumn colours, Oktoberfest.

    Watch out for: Labor Day, Leaf-peeping weekend crowds.

  • October · good

    Made good by Aspen autumn colours.

    In its favour: precipitation 53 mm / 2.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, wet days 9.3 days, relative humidity 62%.

    Against: feels like (high) 4.5 °C / 40 °F, average daily high 8.5 °C / 47 °F, average daily low -5.6 °C / 22 °F.

    Also on: Oktoberfest.

    Watch out for: Columbus Day, Leaf-peeping weekend crowds.

Hiking and trekking

Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.

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

Trails are snowbound and too cold from November through May, June is ideal for hiking, July-August are still good despite regular afternoon storms, and September combines perfect cool weather with the aspen colours for the best month, with October's colours also lifting an otherwise too-cold month.

Why these months

  • June · best

    In its favour: average daily high 17.7 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 30 mm / 1.2 in, wet days 7 days, days with heavy rain 0.4 days, feels like (high) 15.5 °C / 60 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, daylight per day 14.9 h, average daily low 0.9 °C / 34 °F, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 8 mph.

    Watch out for: Juneteenth.

  • July · good

    In its favour: average daily high 21.5 °C / 71 °F, precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, feels like (high) 20 °C / 68 °F, average daily low 5.5 °C / 42 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, daylight per day 14.6 h, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 7 mph.

    Against: wet days 10.7 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 65%.

    Also on: Wildflower bloom.

    Watch out for: Independence Day.

  • August · good

    In its favour: average daily high 20.4 °C / 69 °F, precipitation 43 mm / 1.7 in, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, feels like (high) 18.5 °C / 65 °F, average daily low 5.2 °C / 41 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, daylight per day 13.7 h, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 7 mph.

    Against: wet days 10.2 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 58%.

  • September · best

    In its favour: average daily high 16.8 °C / 62 °F, precipitation 39 mm / 1.5 in, days with heavy rain 1 days, wet days 7.2 days, feels like (high) 13.8 °C / 57 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, daylight per day 12.4 h, average daily low 1.5 °C / 35 °F, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 8 mph.

    Against: share of rain falling in the daytime 58%.

    Also on: Aspen autumn colours, Oktoberfest.

    Watch out for: Labor Day, Leaf-peeping weekend crowds.

  • October · good

    Made good by Aspen autumn colours.

    In its favour: precipitation 53 mm / 2.1 in, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, wet days 9.3 days, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, daylight per day 11.1 h, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph.

    Against: average daily high 8.5 °C / 47 °F, feels like (high) 4.5 °C / 40 °F, average daily low -5.6 °C / 22 °F.

    Also on: Oktoberfest.

    Watch out for: Columbus Day, Leaf-peeping weekend crowds.

Skiing and snow

Wants cold and snowfall; sunshine barely matters.

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

Vail is prime ski territory from November through March, with cold temperatures and abundant, regular snowfall; April still gets heavy snow but rising warmth turns it slushy, and May through October are too warm with too little snow to ski.

Why these months

  • January · best

    In its favour: snowfall 35 cm / 13.8 in, average daily high -3.9 °C / 25 °F, days with snow 16.7 days, average daily low -15.2 °C / 5 °F, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph, daylight per day 9.7 h.

    Against: sunshine per day 8.5 h.

    Watch out for: Holiday season travel rush, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, New Year's Day.

  • February · best

    In its favour: snowfall 39 cm / 15.3 in, average daily high -2.5 °C / 28 °F, days with snow 18.4 days, average daily low -13.4 °C / 8 °F, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph, daylight per day 10.7 h.

    Watch out for: Presidents' Day.

  • March · best

    In its favour: snowfall 44 cm / 17.5 in, average daily high 1.9 °C / 35 °F, days with snow 17.6 days, average daily low -9.6 °C / 15 °F, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph, daylight per day 12 h.

  • April · good

    In its favour: snowfall 49 cm / 19.3 in, days with snow 16.2 days, average daily low -6.7 °C / 20 °F, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 9 mph, daylight per day 13.3 h.

    Against: average daily high 4.8 °C / 41 °F.

  • November · best

    In its favour: snowfall 30 cm / 11.7 in, average daily high 1.9 °C / 35 °F, days with snow 12.6 days, average daily low -13.3 °C / 8 °F, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 7 mph, daylight per day 10 h.

    Also on: Oktoberfest.

    Watch out for: Holiday season travel rush, Thanksgiving travel rush, Veterans Day.

  • December · best

    In its favour: snowfall 38 cm / 15 in, average daily high -3.2 °C / 26 °F, days with snow 17.8 days, average daily low -16.1 °C / 3 °F, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph, daylight per day 9.4 h.

    Against: sunshine per day 7.9 h.

    Watch out for: Christmas, Holiday season travel rush, Thanksgiving travel rush.

An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Vail, 0 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) -8.4 °C-7.2 °C-2.2 °C1.2 °C6.7 °C15.5 °C20 °C18.5 °C13.8 °C4.5 °C-2.6 °C-7.7 °C
Days with heavy rain 0.7 days0.7 days1.1 days2.1 days1.2 days0.4 days0.8 days0.5 days1 days1.2 days0.7 days1 days
Time rain usually falls 4 pm4 pm5 pm5 pm4 pm5 pm5 pm5 pm4 pm2 pm2 pm8 am
Sunshine per day 8.5 h9.4 h10.7 h11.9 h13 h13.7 h13.5 h12.8 h11.5 h10.1 h9 h7.9 h
Relative humidity 70%68%63%64%65%56%59%58%56%62%67%72%

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) 2022–20254.1 µg/m³5 µg/m³5.4 µg/m³6.7 µg/m³6.8 µg/m³6 µg/m³5.8 µg/m³5.3 µg/m³4.1 µg/m³2.9 µg/m³3.8 µg/m³4.2 µg/m³
Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–20257.1 µg/m³8.3 µg/m³9.2 µg/m³10.7 µg/m³11.1 µg/m³10.5 µg/m³9.1 µg/m³8.6 µg/m³6.5 µg/m³5.2 µg/m³6.6 µg/m³7.1 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

  • Aspen autumn colours Major

    20 September–31 October

  • Wildflower bloom

    July

  • Oktoberfest

    September, October and November

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

    January, November and December, dates vary from year to year

  • Presidents' Day

    15–21 February, dates vary from year to year

  • Memorial Day

    25–31 May, dates vary from year to year

  • Juneteenth

    19 June

  • Independence Day

    4 July

  • Leaf-peeping weekend crowds

    20 September–31 October

  • Labor Day

    1–7 September, dates vary from year to year

  • Columbus Day

    8–14 October, dates vary from year to year

  • Veterans Day

    11 November

  • Thanksgiving travel rush

    21 November–1 December, dates vary from year to year

  • Christmas

    24–25 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).