When to go to Washington DC?

Washington DC (United States)
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

The National Mall runs from the Capitol's dome to the Lincoln Memorial, the Reflecting Pool lying flat between them. Along its edges the Smithsonian museums, free to enter, hold air and space, American painting and dinosaur bones in roughly equal measure. Washington is a city for walking, and for looking up at pale stone under a wide eastern sky.

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The best time to go

For the best weather in Washington DC, aim for May to August, October.

See also: Where to go in May? · Where to go in June? · Where to go in July? · Where to go in August?

Month-by-month weather in Washington DC

Month☀️ h/day🌧️ mm🌡️ °CScore /100
January 5.8 103 3 50
February 7.5 68 5 58
March 7.9 105 8 57
April 9.3 94 14 64
May 9.6 117 18 65
June 11.8 111 23 76
July 11.6 171 26 72
August 11.1 134 24 74
September 8.7 121 21 65
October 8.7 54 14 69
November 7.9 76 9 61
December 6.2 135 4 50

Estimated from 3 years of data. The score (0–100) combines sunshine, dry weather, clear skies and temperature.

The climate in brief

In Washington DC, the sunniest month is June, and the driest is October (about 54 mm). Temperatures peak in July (about 26°C). Over the year, an average of 1,288 mm of rain falls, and 5 months in 12 offer ideal weather for a trip.

What to do in Washington DC?

Practical info

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