From historic production plants, automotive museums and car shows, to world-class music festivals and concert venues as well as rich opportunities (given the Ontario border across the Detroit River) for international sightseeing, Detroit gives its visitors plenty to see, do and experience.
However, finding the best time to visit for your own travel needs or desires can be a complicated task. It’s important to take things such as weather, crowds and seasonal events into account to know what works best for you. Learn more about the best time of year to visit Detroit in our season-by-season breakdown below.
Detroit’s Seasons & When to Visit
Detroit experiences a four-season humid continental climate, one moderated by the nearby Great Lakes (and, to a lesser extent, Lake St. Clair). Summer weather is warm, sometimes hot and on the muggy side, with occasional thunderstorms. Winter is cold and fairly snowy, though Detroit lies outside of Michigan’s famed lake-effect snowbelts; annual snowfall in Motor City is about 45 inches. Spring and fall, as in much of the Midwest, often deliver much more comfortable weather of mild temperatures and plentiful sunshine, though spring can be wet and stormy and late fall begins to feel the winter weather and climate coming in.
Severe weather in Detroit usually takes the form of strong thunderstorms—spawning tornadoes every so often—or winter weather such as Arctic deep-freeze outbreaks and blizzards.
Spring in Detroit
- Pros: Mild, often pleasant weather; eye-catching blooms; less crowded than summer
- Cons: Can be wet and stormy
As winter releases its grip on Southeast Michigan, springtime arrives with budding trees, blooming flowers and increasing sunshine. Temperatures rise from average daily highs in the mid-40s and lows in the upper 20s in March to the low 70s and low 50s by May. While rainstorms and thundershowers are common during this season, you can also anticipate many postcard-perfect days with sunshine, low humidity and warm temperatures.
Spring can also serve as one of times of year when Detroit isn’t overcrowded with visitors and rates are more affordable. If museums and historic sites are on your itinerary, you might run into school groups, but you’ll generally find this season to be a fine time for visiting some of the top Motor City attractions.
During spring, Detroit hosts a variety of festivals that capture the city's vibrant culture. Early spring events include the Marche du Nain Rouge, a spectacularly costumed parade around the March Equinox that playfully repels the mythic Detroit demon, the Nain Rouge. Another notable event is the Motor City Blues Festival at the Fox Theatre. In April, baseball enthusiasts can head to Comerica Park to catch Detroit Tigers games. Additionally, the Movement Electronic Music Festival, held over Memorial Day weekend, is one of the world's premier celebrations of electronic music, a genre that partly originated in Detroit.
Summer in Detroit
- Pros: Often great weather for being outside; loads of festivals and events
- Cons: Can be hot & muggy; peak season for crowds and high prices
Though heatwaves and oppressive mugginess can occur, summer in Detroit often means much better weather: warm, but not swelteringly hot. Afternoon highs usually climb into the low to mid-80s and nightly lows are in the comfortable 60s. July’s typically the hottest month, with an average high of about 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the heat begins to overwhelm, Detroit offers plenty of air-conditioned attractions to retreat to: from the Motown Museum, the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Michigan Science Center to the Belle Isle Aquarium and Legoland Discovery Center.
Summer also happens to be the high season when it comes to festivals, concerts and other events. Enjoy Detroit River Days, the Motor City Pride Festival and Ford Fireworks in June, prepare to be dazzled amid Fourth of July fireworks and take in the biggest free jazz festival in the world, the Detroit Jazz Festival, over Labor Day Weekend.
This is also a great time to watch the Tigers take to the baseball diamond in Comerica Park, as there are outdoor performances aplenty throughout the summer, including the nice variety hosted by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in its Sosnick Courtyard.
Fall in Detroit
- Pros: Great weather; fall colors; fewer crowds
- Cons: Starts getting cold—sometimes snowy—by the end of the season
The fall season in Detroit is frequently marked by beautiful weather. The warmth of summer often extends into September and October brings many of the crisp, sunny days characteristic of autumn. By November, daily high temperatures typically decrease to the upper 40s, with nighttime temperatures beginning to drop below freezing. It is not uncommon for the first snowfall of the season to occur during the latter half of November.
Autumn is also arguably the most beautiful time to visit Detroit, given the high quality of fall colors that typically peak between mid- and late October. Admire vibrantly hued canopies backdropped by the Motor City skyline on Belle Isle in the upper Detroit River, or do some leaf-peeping on the gardened grounds of the Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. Numerous parks, preserves and forests ideal for enjoying fall colors, including Highland Recreation Area, Lower Huron Metropark, Bald Mountain State Recreation Area and Algonac State Park, are day-trippable from Detroit.
There’s plenty to see and do in the city besides leaf-peeping and apple-picking, too. The Detroit Lions kick off football season at Ford Field downtown and the Detroit Red Wings take to the rink at Little Caesars Arena. There are also plenty of fall festivals and events, from the Detroit Free Press Marathon to America’s Thanksgiving Parade, filling up the calendar.
Winter in Detroit
- Pros: Good rates, snowscape photo ops; generally low crowds
- Cons: Can be frigid
Most people probably wouldn’t choose winter as the best time of the year to visit Detroit, given how cold, snowy and icy the Motor City is known to get. Highs are usually in the 30s and lows between the teens and 20s; it’s not uncommon to have extended stretches where temperatures don’t move above freezing.
However, the holiday season hosts plentiful good cheer, from Noel Night in Midtown and Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village to an abundance of New Year’s Eve parties and fireworks. The Detroit winterscape offers its own fun lineup of snowsports and other recreational activities, such as the ice-skating rink at Hart Plaza.
When to Visit Detroit: The Verdict
As for any travel destination, the best time to visit Detroit depends on your personal preferences and any limiting factors. For those looking to get the most out of the cityscape and its events calendar, summer is the ideal choice. For the perfect balance of nice weather and uncrowded sightseeing, spring and fall are great bets. Additionally, early to mid-autumn offers exceptional opportunities for witnessing the fall colors in Metro Detroit and its surrounding areas, making it a particularly appealing time for a getaway.
However, anytime of year you can come to the Motor City, the heart of winter included, will give you a great taste of this proud and dynamic metro area.
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