Best Time to Visit Phoenix, Arizona

November to April: the easy months

Winter is when Phoenix shows off. Days from December to February sit around 20 to 21°C, with cool nights near 6°C. It's perfect for hiking Camelback Mountain or the Desert Botanical Garden, and for eating breakfast on a patio. Mornings can feel properly chilly, so you'll want a jacket.

This is high season, and it's busy. Spring training baseball fills the Cactus League stadiums in Scottsdale, Tempe and Mesa through most of March. Hotels fill up then, and the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament in early February brings its own crowds. Travelling with kids? Winter and spring break are when the pools and resorts feel most lively.

November and March are the sweet spots. They're warm enough for a pool and cool enough to walk around all day. April is lovely too, with highs near 30°C and very little rain. Wildflowers can pop up in the desert after a wet winter, though it varies each year.

May to September: the hot months

May is a warning shot, with highs around 35°C. June is the hottest, but July also reaches 41°C, so they tie. July nights are the warmest, at 28°C, so the heat doesn't really let go after dark.

June is dry and very sunny. July and August bring monsoon season, which is a run of summer storms. Expect dust walls (called haboobs), sudden downpours and dramatic evening skies, with rain on about nine days each month. Humidity is still lowish by most standards, but it's noticeable.

Hotel rates drop and the resorts are quiet. If you come, plan your day around the heat. Swim in the morning, then spend the afternoon in the Heard Museum or Musical Instrument Museum. Save hikes for before sunrise, and never do a desert trail midday. September stays hot at 38°C.

October: the turning point

October is the shoulder month. Highs fall to about 32°C and the rating moves up to Good. Evenings start to feel pleasant again, and patio season returns. The Arizona State Fair usually runs through much of the month and is a fun, very local outing. If you hate crowds but want comfortable weather, this is a good bet. For the best balance, pick late October or November.