Best time to visit Minnesota
September. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.
September
September is the one month three sources back: pleasant weather, fall color and fewer crowds. Others split between summer (May to September, or August) and fall.
- “Visiting during the shoulder seasons of May or September to October can provide a balanced mix of pleasant weather and fewer crowds.” getdirecto.com
- “September and first half of October are comfortable in terms of weather too.” seasonsyear.com
- “If you want Fall colors, come in late September, but late September can be cool and rainy.” early-retirement.org
3 of the 5 travel guides we read name these months.
Minnesota month by month
Average high and low in Minneapolis, and days with rain
JanuaryChecking fares…Winter is the coldest stretch, with below-freezing temperatures and common snow.Minneapolis winters can be extremely cold, making outdoor activities less appealing.Winter is playful for some: ice fishing villages, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.Ice caves of Lake Superior at Apostle Islands
FebruaryChecking fares…Winter is the coldest stretch, with below-freezing temperatures and common snow.Minneapolis winters can be extremely cold, making outdoor activities less appealing.Winter is playful for some: ice fishing villages, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
MarchChecking fares…Winter is playful for some: ice fishing villages, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.January to March is the least crowded and cheapest stretch in Minneapolis, but cold.March: festivals include Celtic Festival in Moorhead and Spring Carnival in Biwabik.
AprilChecking fares…Winter is playful for some: ice fishing villages, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.Snowstorms are common early in spring.Spring usually arrives in April, as snow melts and wildflowers bloom.
MayChecking fares…May: Minneapolis shoulder season, 45 to 70 F, good deals and spring blossoms.Festival of Nations and MayDay Parade take place in the Twin Cities in May.Tornado risk shows up as June approaches and eases through summer and autumn.
JuneChecking fares…Tornado risk shows up as June approaches and eases through summer and autumn.Twin Cities Pride is held in June.Summer is the busiest season, and the high season in Minneapolis is June to August.
JulyChecking fares…Summer is the busiest season, and the high season in Minneapolis is June to August.Summer is Minnesota's busiest travel season, built around lakes and boating.Summer brings heat and humidity in the south, with thunderstorms.
AugustChecking fares…Summer is the busiest season, and the high season in Minneapolis is June to August.Summer is Minnesota's busiest travel season, built around lakes and boating.Summer brings heat and humidity in the south, with thunderstorms.
Best timeSeptemberChecking fares…Summer brings heat and humidity in the south, with thunderstorms.The Minnesota State Fair runs late August in St. Paul.Late September is the pick for fall colors, but can be cool and rainy.
OctoberChecking fares…September and the first half of October are comfortable, with fewer visitors and lower lodging prices.Fall brings North Shore color and fewer crowds in Duluth.September to October is a shoulder season with fewer crowds and pleasant weather.
NovemberChecking fares…Holidazzle winter festival runs November to December in Minneapolis.November afternoons usually reach only about 37 F, with chilly nights.Some years mild autumn weather lasts into December.
DecemberChecking fares…Winter is the coldest stretch, with below-freezing temperatures and common snow.Minneapolis winters can be extremely cold, making outdoor activities less appealing.Holidazzle winter festival runs November to December in Minneapolis.
Weather: Minneapolis averages (1991 to 2020 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.
Every date to Minneapolis from your city
Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.
What's on in Minnesota
Festivals and seasons through the year
Busy, quiet and what to watch for
Busiest
- June to AugustHigh season in Minneapolis; busiest travel season statewide.
- SummerStatewide, summer is the busiest because locals travel as much as visitors.
Quietest
- January to MarchLeast busy and cheapest period in Minneapolis, but cold.
- November to AprilListed as the low season in Minneapolis.
Watch for
- December to FebruaryExtreme cold in Minneapolis.
- Spring and summerTornado risk appears as June approaches and diminishes through summer and autumn.
- Late September and OctoberCan be cool and rainy, with early snow possible in the far north.
- WinterHeavy snow is the main concern of the climate.
Questions people ask
- What is the coldest month of the year in Minnesota?
- Sources name winter, December to March, as below freezing; none names a single coldest month.
- What is the weather like in Minnesota in November?
- Cool to cold: afternoons around 37 F and chilly nights, though some years stay mild into December.
- What month has the best weather in Minnesota?
- One guide says May to September for Minneapolis, with the warmest month July.
More about Minnesota
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