Chicago in April

April is when spring actually shows up in Chicago. The bitter wind and the surprise snowstorms of March mostly give way to brighter, longer days, baseball is back at Wrigley Field, and people start sitting outside the moment it hits 55. It's one of the better months to visit. You get fewer crowds than in summer and lower hotel rates, and if you pick your days well you'll get plenty of time outdoors.

The weather

By the National Weather Service's 1991-2020 normals for O'Hare, April averages a high of 59°F and a low of 40°F, with 3.75 inches of precipitation. It can still snow, about 1.3 inches in an average April. What you'll mostly get is variety. A warm, sunny afternoon can be followed by a raw, rainy one in the 40s, and the lakefront runs colder than the rest of the city whenever the wind comes off the water, which is still cold this time of year. A 70-degree forecast in the West Loop doesn't mean 70 at Navy Pier. See our Chicago weather page for the full numbers, and check the NWS Chicago forecast before you pack.

What to pack

Layers, and something waterproof. A light rain jacket with a hood, a sweater or fleece, and a warmer layer for evenings will cover most April days. Bring shoes that can take a puddle, and an umbrella sturdy enough for wind. If you've got tickets for a ballgame, add a hat, gloves and a blanket, because an April night game at Wrigley can feel a lot more like winter than spring. More ideas in what to wear in Chicago in spring.

Crowds and hotel prices

April is still shoulder season. Hotels haven't hit their summer rates, and outside a few busy weekends you can find a good deal downtown. The busy weeks are spring break and Easter weekend, when families fill the Museum Campus and Navy Pier, plus the Cubs' home opener if you want to stay near Wrigley Field. Easter moves between late March and late April, so check where it falls in your year. As in any month, a big convention at McCormick Place can push prices up, so glance at the McCormick Place events calendar before you commit. Our accommodation guide explains the hotel tax, which you'll want to factor in.

What's on

Baseball is the headline. Major League Baseball now starts its season in late March, and both the Cubs at Wrigley Field and the White Sox at Rate Field have their home openers in late March or early April. See Chicago Cubs games for tickets and tips. The architecture river cruises are running again, EXPO CHICAGO brings an international art fair to Navy Pier, and if the weather cooperates, the cherry trees in Jackson Park bloom in late April or early May.

On a cold day, Chicago's museums and theaters are there to fall back on. On a warm one, head for the Lincoln Park Zoo (free), Navy Pier or the Lakefront Trail. Most outdoor farmers markets and neighborhood street festivals don't start until May, so don't plan an April trip around them. For the full list, see things to do in Chicago in April, plus Chicago in spring, a long weekend in Chicago in spring and spring break in Chicago.

Photo by Erick