Chicago in October

October is one of the best months to be in Chicago, though the weather can be a bit unpredictable. In 2007 the temperature climbed to 88°F during the Chicago Marathon, and organizers shut the race down early after three and a half hours. In other years a cold front rolls in and the thermometer sits below 40. Most of the time, though, you'll get sunny, pleasant afternoons with a crisp edge to the air, and the trees in Lincoln Park turning by the end of the month.

October weather

The official 1991-2020 normals, measured at O'Hare, put the average October high at 62.7°F and the average low at 45.4°F, with about 3.4 inches of rain over the month and, on average, only a trace of snow. That average hides a big swing. The first week of October often still feels like September, and by Halloween you may be wishing you'd brought gloves. Nights cool off fast once the sun drops, and it drops earlier every week.

Plan for the wind, too. A 60-degree day on the Lakefront Trail or at the end of Navy Pier feels colder than 60 in the West Loop. Check the National Weather Service Chicago forecast the week you travel, and see our Chicago weather page for the whole year.

Crowds and hotel prices

The summer crowds are gone by October. Lines at the big museums are shorter, you can usually book a sightseeing cruise a day or two ahead, and restaurant reservations get easier on weeknights. That doesn't make October cheap. It's a busy month for conventions, and a big show at McCormick Place can fill downtown hotels on any given week.

The one weekend to plan around is the Chicago Marathon, held on a Sunday in early to mid-October. It starts and finishes in Grant Park, it's one of the largest marathons in the world by number of finishers, and Loop and South Loop hotels fill up and price accordingly. If you're not running, either book early or pick a different weekend. Roads along the course close on race morning, too, so a Sunday airport run needs some thought. Open House Chicago, the free architecture festival, takes over another weekend later in the month and brings its own crowds.

For where to base yourself, see our guides to where to stay in Chicago and hotels in the Loop.

What to pack

Layers. Jeans or other long pants, a few short-sleeved tops for warm afternoons, a sweater or cardigan, and a medium jacket that can handle wind and a bit of rain. If you're coming in the second half of the month, add a warmer layer and a hat you can stuff in a pocket. A dress works with tights and boots on a cold day or flats on a warm one. Bring shoes you can walk in all day that won't be ruined by a wet sidewalk, since October gets nearly as much rain as July. An umbrella helps, but a cheap one won't survive the wind on the Michigan Avenue bridge.

>> more on what to wear in Chicago in fall

What to do

October has a lot going on. Green City Market is still outdoors in Lincoln Park and the West Loop, the Chicago International Film Festival fills screens in the second half of the month, and the run-up to Halloween brings two big parades, one downtown and one on Halsted Street. You can still visit the zoo, take an architecture cruise on the river or eat outside on a warm evening, just without the July crowds. We cover the events and activities month by month on a separate page.

>> things to do in Chicago in October
>> things to do in Chicago in fall
>> holidays and events in Chicago, all year

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