The best time to visit Boston is September or October, when the average high at Logan Airport is 73°F in September and 62°F in October, the harbor boats are still running and the city's fall events are on. Late May and June are the second choice, with highs of 67°F to 76°F and long evenings. July and August are the warmest months and the busiest, and December to March is cold, with an average of about 14 inches of snow in each of January and February.
The right month depends on what you want from the trip, so this guide sets out the weather, the seasonal attractions that open and close, and the dates that fill the city. Every temperature below is a NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normal for Boston Logan International Airport.
Boston weather by month
| Month | Average high | Average low | Precipitation | Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36.8°F | 23.1°F | 3.39 in | 14.3 in |
| February | 39.0°F | 24.6°F | 3.21 in | 14.4 in |
| March | 45.5°F | 31.1°F | 4.17 in | 9.0 in |
| April | 56.4°F | 40.8°F | 3.63 in | 1.6 in |
| May | 66.5°F | 50.3°F | 3.25 in | 0 |
| June | 76.2°F | 59.7°F | 3.89 in | 0 |
| July | 82.1°F | 66.0°F | 3.27 in | 0 |
| August | 80.4°F | 65.1°F | 3.23 in | 0 |
| September | 73.1°F | 58.2°F | 3.56 in | 0 |
| October | 62.1°F | 47.5°F | 4.03 in | 0.2 in |
| November | 51.6°F | 37.9°F | 3.66 in | 0.7 in |
| December | 42.2°F | 29.2°F | 4.30 in | 9.0 in |
Source: NOAA NCEI monthly normals, Boston Logan. Rain is spread evenly through the year, between about 3.2 and 4.3 inches a month, so no month is reliably dry; December, March and October are the wettest on average.
Why September and October are the best months
Early fall has the most comfortable walking weather of the year. September averages a high of 73°F and October 62°F, which suits the Freedom Trail, a day in the parks and an evening on a rooftop. The seasonal boats are also still running: the Boston Harbor Islands ferries run to mid-October (the 2026 season ends on October 12), and the Salem ferry from Long Wharf runs until October 31.
The trade-off is demand. The Head of the Charles Regatta on the Charles River takes place on October 16 to 18 in 2026, and Salem is at its busiest for Halloween all month. Book hotels early for October weekends. Our month guides go deeper: Boston in September and Boston in October.
Late spring: May and June
May averages a high of 66.5°F and June 76.2°F, so late spring is the second-best window. The Swan Boats in the Public Garden start their season in mid-April, the harbor island ferries return from mid-May, and the Red Sox are in their home season at Fenway Park.
April is cooler, with an average high of 56.4°F, but it has the Boston Marathon. The race is run on Patriots' Day, the third Monday in April; the next one is on April 19, 2027, with 30,000 participants, so book a room early if your dates touch that weekend. See Boston in May and Boston in June for event lists.
Summer: warm, humid and busy
July is the warmest month, with an average high of 82.1°F and lows of 66°F, and August is close behind. Summer is when every seasonal attraction is open at once: the Swan Boats, the island ferries, whale watches and harbor cruises, and Fenway Park on game nights. It is also the season with the most visitors, and the humidity makes long walks in the afternoon heavy going. Plan indoor time for the hottest part of the day, such as the Museum of Fine Arts or the New England Aquarium.
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Winter: cold, cheaper to plan, mostly indoors
December to March is real winter. January averages a high of 36.8°F and a low of 23.1°F, and January and February each average about 14 inches of snow. Snowstorms can delay flights and slow travel, so leave slack in a winter itinerary.
The city stays open. The museums keep their usual hours, ice skating at the Frog Pond on Boston Common generally runs from November to March, and the indoor food halls and theaters carry on as normal. The seasonal outdoor attractions do close: the Swan Boats stop in early September, and the Salem ferry and harbor island ferries stop in October. For winter plans, see Boston in December.
When is the worst time to visit Boston?
For weather, January and February, the coldest and snowiest months. For crowds, the weekends of the big events: the Boston Marathon in April and the Head of the Charles in October, plus any October weekend if Salem is on your list. None of these makes a trip impossible; they mean booking rooms and restaurants further ahead.
Quick answers by priority
- Best weather: September, then June.
- Fall color and events: October, booked early.
- Everything open: July and August.
- Fewer big events: November, or January to March if you are happy indoors.
- The Marathon: Patriots' Day weekend in April.