Washington, D.C.Photo: Pom' · CC BY-SA 2.0USA · North America
Best time to visit Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. is most balanced outside midsummer; spring and autumn pair comfortable temperatures with better walking conditions. In the 1991–2025 normals, Washington, D.C. reaches typical daytime highs of about 20 °C in the strongest candidate month, October. The four selected travel months are April, May, September, October.
Climate decision
Best travel months for Washington, D.C.
Top recommendation
Next highest scores
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Latest 5-year values 2021–2025
Average of the five most recent complete years compared with the 1991–2025 climate average.
March · Mean daily maximum
13.6 °C
1991–2025: 11.3 °C
+2.4 °C · higher
July · Wet days
17.8 days/month
1991–2025: 14.9 days/month
+2.9 days/month · higher
November · Monthly precipitation
46.8 mm/month
1991–2025: 76.2 mm/month
-29.5 mm/month · lower
July: 138/155 days at or above 30 °C; highest single value 39.3 °C.
Five-year historical sample, not a weather forecast or long-term climate trend. Individual hot days can be far above the monthly mean.
Annual profile · Seasonal contrast
Washington, D.C.: temperature opens and closes the travel window
Average daily highs span 26.5 °C across the year. This marked contrast shapes the choice of month more than small differences in rain or sunshine.
The key decision
Choose the suitable temperature range first. Within that window, dryness and sunshine identify the stronger month.
Lowest average daily low
January · -3.6 °C
Highest average daily high
July · 30.9 °C
Fewest rainy days
November · 7.7
Most sunshine
June · 7.7 h
Month by month
Overall suitability per month. Tap a month for details.
All climate figures compared
The table is the complete accessible data view; the charts below highlight selected patterns.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Rain mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4 | -4 | 9 | 78 | 2.5 | 82 | 3.2 | 41 |
| February | 6 | -3 | 9 | 71 | 3.5 | 81 | 3.2 | 43 |
| March | 11 | 1 | 10 | 97 | 4.8 | 79 | 3.3 | 49 |
| April | 18 | 6 | 10 | 86 | 6.2 | 77 | 3.0 | 68 |
| May | 23 | 12 | 13 | 101 | 7.0 | 77 | 2.5 | 75 |
| June | 28 | 17 | 13 | 104 | 7.7 | 73 | 2.2 | 68 |
| July | 31 | 21 | 15 | 111 | 7.5 | 68 | 2.0 | 53 |
| August | 30 | 20 | 13 | 103 | 6.7 | 68 | 2.0 | 60 |
| September | 26 | 16 | 11 | 110 | 5.4 | 71 | 2.4 | 77 |
| October | 20 | 9 | 8 | 88 | 4.1 | 75 | 2.6 | 79 |
| November | 13 | 3 | 8 | 76 | 2.9 | 77 | 2.8 | 56 |
| December | 7 | -1 | 9 | 91 | 2.2 | 82 | 2.8 | 41 |
Climate through the year
Compare temperature, rainy days, sunshine and, for coastal destinations, sea temperature month by month.
Find a place to stay
Where to stay in Washington, D.C.
Compare available stays, prices and cancellation terms for Washington, D.C. on Booking.com.
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Useful next decisions
Similar destinations
The number is the overall climate score, not a similarity score.
Country and region
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Washington, D.C.?
The strongest climate months are April, May, September, October. Values are historical averages, not a forecast.
Which month has the highest average daily maximum temperature in Washington, D.C.?
The average daily maximum temperature in Washington, D.C. is highest in July at around 31 °C.