April
OK
18.9°C / 7.6°C
16 rain days
mild, very wet
- comfortable temperatures (avg high 18.9°C / 66°F)
- outside peak hazard season
Best time to visit Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., United States — ranked month by month from data: temperature, rainfall, snow, and peak hazard seasons. Every month has trade-offs — pick what you can tolerate.
"
Marble, monuments, and museums you can spend a week inside without paying admission. Power-suit by day, surprisingly good food by night.
— how Washington, D.C. really feels, in two sentences
OK — shoulder months
May
OK
23.9°C / 13.3°C
18 rain days
warm, very wet
- comfortable temperatures (avg high 23.9°C / 75°F)
- outside peak hazard season
November
OK
13.2°C / 3.9°C
11 rain days
cool, rainy
- outside peak hazard season
March
OK
12.7°C / 1.9°C
15 rain days
cool, rainy
- outside peak hazard season
December
OK
9.1°C / 0.9°C
12 rain days
chilly, rainy
- outside peak hazard season
February
OK
8.8°C / -1°C
14 rain days
chilly, freezing nights, rainy
- outside peak hazard season
January
OK
5.8°C / -2.7°C
14 rain days
chilly, freezing nights, rainy
- outside peak hazard season
Months to skip
June
Skip
28.6°C / 18.2°C
19 rain days
hot, very wet
- extremely wet (19 rain days)
July
Skip
31°C / 21.2°C
21 rain days
hot, very wet
- very hot (31°C)
- extremely wet (21 rain days)
October
Skip
20.1°C / 10.9°C
15 rain days
⚠ peak season
mild, rainy
- heavy rain expected (15 days)
- peak hurricane season
September
Skip
26.2°C / 17.1°C
16 rain days
⚠ peak season
warm, very wet
- heavy rain expected (16 days)
- peak hurricane season
August
Skip
29.5°C / 20.3°C
20 rain days
⚠ peak season
hot, very wet
- extremely wet (20 rain days)
- peak hurricane season
How we ranked these
Each month is scored on temperature comfort (18–27°C avg high is the sweet spot), rainfall (more rain days = lower score), snow days, and peak hazard seasons (hurricanes, monsoons, etc.). Green-tier months are within ideal range with no major issues. Yellow are workable but with trade-offs. Red has at least one significant problem — extreme heat or cold, heavy rain, or peak storm season.
On-the-ground reality — Washington, D.C.
The practical stuff most travel sites won't say plainly. Use this to set expectations before you book.
✅ Tap water
Drinkable
🚶 Walkability
Excellent
🛡 Safety
Moderate
🚕 Ride-hailing
Widely available
🗣 English
96% transactable
On the ground: Tourist core (Mall, monuments, Smithsonian) is wonderfully walkable. Metro is reliable.
What does Washington, D.C. cost?
Estimated daily budgets per person across three travel tiers. Use these as rough starting points — actual spend varies with season and neighborhood.
| Per person per day | 🎒 Budget | 🏨 Mid-range | 🥂 Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodging | $55 | $175 | $475 |
| Food | $28 | $72 | $185 |
| Transit | $10 | $15 | $65 |
| Activities | $15 | $35 | $95 |
| Daily total | $108 | $297 | $820 |
Calculate your trip total
Plug in how long you'll go and how many people you're with. We'll show the total in USD and — if you've set a home city — automatically convert it to your home currency.
Estimated trip cost
—
Estimates as of 2025-2026, in USD per person per day. Excludes long-haul flights.