Chicago in June

June is one of my favorite months in Chicago. Summer is definitely here, but the heavy heat and humidity of July and August haven't settled over the city yet. The parks are green, the beaches are open but not yet packed, and patios, beer gardens and rooftop bars all over town are open for business. If you want summer without the worst of the sweat, this is the month to come.

The weather

By the official 1991-2020 normals, which the National Weather Service measures at O'Hare, June averages a high of 80.4°F and a low of 60.8°F. That's warm days and nights cool enough for a light layer. A chilly snap of a few days still happens, especially early in the month, and a stretch in the 90s can show up too.

We used to call June the rainiest month of the year. It isn't. May is, with 4.49 inches, but June isn't far behind at 4.10, and it usually arrives as short, loud thunderstorms in the late afternoon that clear out in an hour. Plan an indoor backup for those afternoons and don't cancel the evening.

The lake still matters a lot in June. Lake Michigan is cold this early in the summer, and when the wind comes off the water, the beaches, Streeterville and Navy Pier can feel like a different season from the West Loop. Most people won't want to swim until later in the month. The NWS Chicago forecast is the one to check the week you travel. Our Chicago weather page has the full month-by-month numbers.

Crowds and hotel prices

Summer is peak season, and hotel rates climb with it. The weekends to book early are the ones with something big going on, like the Chicago Blues Festival in early June and Pride at the end of the month, when huge crowds pour into Lakeview for the parade. If you're coming for baseball, the few hotels near Wrigley Field are worth booking as soon as you have tickets.

Budget for tax on top of the room rate, too. The combined hotel tax in Chicago is about 17.5%, and big downtown hotels now charge more than that. Our accommodation guide explains why, and where to stay in Chicago will help you pick a neighborhood. For the exact dates of the city's festivals, check the city's festival dates page before you book.

What to pack

Pack for every contingency. Layers, an umbrella and sunglasses will all get used on the same trip.

• Shorts, T-shirts and a couple of breathable shirts for warm days.
• Jeans or light pants and a sweater or light jacket for evenings by the lake, which can drop fast.
• A compact umbrella or a light rain shell. Chicago's wind will ruin a cheap umbrella, so don't bring your flimsiest one.
• A swimsuit, if you're here late in the month and brave.
• Sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes. You'll cover a lot of ground on the Lakefront Trail and the Riverwalk.

More in what to wear in Chicago in summer.

What's on

There's a lot to fill a few days with in June. The free Lincoln Park Zoo, farmers markets, concerts at Ravinia, Cubs games at Wrigley Field, street festivals in a different neighborhood nearly every weekend, and cruises on the river and lake are all in play. On rainy days, head to the museums. When it's hot, head for one of Chicago's beaches.

The events, from Blues Fest to the Pride Parade, are on our things to do in Chicago in June page. For the rest of the season, see Chicago in summer, what to do in Chicago in summer and our holidays and events calendar. Coming a month later? Read Chicago in July.

Photo by ColorblindRain