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The best time to visit New Orleans for pleasant weather and big events is late February through early May, and again in October and November. Summer runs hot and humid with daily thunderstorms and hurricane risk, while winter is mild but quiet. This guide breaks down the exact windows by weather, festivals, crowds and hotel prices, with links to the full New Orleans weather by month data.
Best Time to Visit New Orleans: February to May (Festival Season)
Late February to early May delivers daytime highs of 19°C to 30°C (66°F to 86°F) and the city’s two biggest events. Mardi Gras falls between February 3 and March 9 (February 9 in 2027), and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival runs the last weekend of April and first weekend of May. The full schedule is in our events and festivals guide. Book hotels 90 to 120 days out and expect to pay US$250 to US$450 a night in the French Quarter. This is the peak season for crowds, so it suits travelers who want the full festival experience rather than quiet streets.
Best Time to Visit New Orleans: October and November (Fall Shoulder)
October averages 27°C (81°F) and is the driest month after winter at 100 mm of rain, ideal for walking the French Quarter and taking swamp tours without the summer heat. November cools to 22°C (72°F). Hotel prices run 20 to 30 percent below spring peaks, and Halloween weekend, the Voodoo Music festival and the start of the Reveillon dinner series add reasons to visit. For lower prices with good weather, see the where to stay in New Orleans guide.
Best Time to Visit New Orleans: December (Holidays)
December averages 18°C (65°F) by day and 8°C (47°F) at night, comfortable for the 2,000-plus decorated Christmas trees and the Reveillon multi-course dinners at restaurants across the city. The New Year’s Eve fleur-de-lis drop at Jackson Square and the Sugar Bowl on January 1 anchor the period. The walkable neighborhoods around the Quarter and Garden District are at their prettiest this month, and rates spike around Christmas and New Year’s Eve, so book by early October.
Best Time to Visit New Orleans: June to September (Avoid for Heat)
June through September brings 32°C to 33°C (90°F to 91°F) highs, humidity that makes it feel hotter, and 148 to 171 mm of rain a month. Hurricane season peaks from late August to early October. The trade-off is that hotel rates drop to their lowest of the year, often US$100 to US$180 a night, so budget travelers who can tolerate the heat and the risk of storms save the most money. If you go, plan indoor attractions like the National WWII Museum for the afternoons, and check the travel tips for wet-weather packing advice.
Best Time to Visit New Orleans: Month by Month Cheat Sheet
- January: cool and quiet, 17°C (63°F) highs, low hotel rates, Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.
- February: Mardi Gras season, parades and balls, rates rise sharply.
- March: St. Patrick’s Day parades and mild weather, strong value after Fat Tuesday.
- April: French Quarter Festival and Jazz Fest begin, peak pricing.
- May: Jazz Fest closes, weather warms to 30°C (86°F), crowds ease after the first weekend.
- June: hot and stormy, lowest prices of the year, hurricane season begins.
- July: 33°C (91°F) and humid, Essence Festival over July 4 weekend.
- August: hottest and wettest month, fewest visitors.
- September: peak hurricane risk, Southern Decadence over Labor Day weekend.
- October: drier and cooler, Halloween and Voodoo Music festival.
- November: comfortable 22°C (72°F), Bayou Classic over Thanksgiving weekend.
- December: Reveillon dinners, Christmas lights, holiday price spikes.
