Chicago in February

Winter is off-season in Chicago, and once you step outside in February you'll understand why. It's cold, there's no denying it. But February is a few degrees kinder than January, the days are getting longer, and the city has more going on than you'd expect, with Restaurant Week finishing up, Theatre Week, the Auto Show and Valentine's Day all landing in the same few weeks. Hotels are still cheap. Just pack properly.

February weather

The National Weather Service normals for 1991-2020, measured at O'Hare, put February's average high at 35.7°F and the average low at 21.8°F. That's about four degrees warmer than January, which you won't notice much on the lakefront. February averages 10.7 inches of snow and 1.97 inches of total precipitation, close to January's numbers.

The wind is what gets people. Downtown, the tall buildings funnel gusts along Wacker Drive and over the river bridges, and the wind chill can make it feel 10 or 15 degrees colder than the thermometer says. Cold snaps below zero still happen in February. So do thaws that turn the snowbanks to gray slush for a few days before the next storm. Check the NWS Chicago forecast before you go, and see our weather page for the rest of the year.

Crowds and hotel prices

For those who brave the cold, the payoff is fewer crowds and lower costs. Hotel rates stay low through February, and weekends are often the best value, since the business travelers have gone home. There are two exceptions. The Chicago Auto Show takes over McCormick Place for more than a week every February, and hotels near it in the South Loop can fill up. Valentine's weekend is the other one, since plenty of couples have the same idea you do.

Book restaurants early, too. Chicago Restaurant Week usually runs into early February, and the good tables around Valentine's Day go weeks ahead. For somewhere to stay, try our guides to where to stay and hotels in the Loop.

What to pack

The same as January. A warm coat that covers your hips, a hat, gloves, a scarf and waterproof boots with some grip, because the salted slush at every crosswalk will soak through sneakers fast. Layer underneath so you can strip down inside, since the museums, bars and trains are all heated. Our what to wear in Chicago in winter page has the full list. If you come dressed for a southern winter, you'll be miserable.

Getting around

It's easy to keep your time outdoors short. The L and buses reach most of what you'll want to see (see transportation), and the Pedway connects train stations, hotels and stores under and above the Loop. If you want a guide, the Chicago Architecture Center's Pedway tour keeps you indoors, and our sightseeing tours page has the rest.

Valentine's Day

Chicagoans celebrate Valentine's Day like the rest of the country. Couples book candlelit dinners, singles head out with friends, and plenty of people carry on as usual. If you want a table at one of the city's best restaurants, reserve early. Our Valentine's Day in Chicago and romantic things to do in Chicago pages have ideas, and Michelin-starred restaurants is where to look if you're going big.

For everything else happening this month, including the Auto Show, Theatre Week and the Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown, see things to do in Chicago in February. The season as a whole is in Chicago in winter and winter activities, and the months on either side are January and March.

Photo by celikins