Best Time to Visit Houston, Weather & Other Travel Tips

Because it lies close to the Gulf of Mexico, Houston has warm weather and inexpensive hotel room rates for most of the year. During the summer many people who live in Houston go elsewhere to escape the heat. This is the time when you will find great hotel deals, but you’ll have to deal with the heat. Winter can be chilly, but Houston rarely has any snowfall. The best times to visit Houston are between February and April and during the fall months of September to November. The weather is pleasant during these two times and there are many festivals for visitors to enjoy. Photo: nuedesign/Fotolia

January is the coolest month out of the year in Houston with an average high and average low temperature of 63°F (17°C) and 43°F (6°C) respectively. Days also seem much shorter during winter month as the city only receives an average of 142 hours of sunshine – the least amount of daylight in the entire year.

In February, the average temperatures increase by three to four degrees as the average high temperature gets a small bump up to 66°F (19°C). The average low temperature increases to 47°F (8°C). February’s precipitation rate is the lowest annually with rainfall averaging at 3 inches (85 mm).

March sees the average high temperature rising quickly to 73°F (23°C). The average low temperature for the first month of spring is a cool 53°F (11°C).

Houston Weather in April: The climate warms up quickly in April as the average high temperatures makes a significant increase to 80°F (26°C). Meanwhile, the average low temperature rests at 59°F (15°C).

In May, the average high and average low temperatures range between 86°F (30°C) and 68°F (20°C), making Houston’s spring season one of the warmest springs in the country.

June sees the highest precipitation rate out of the year for Houston with rainfall averaging at 6 inches (150 mm). The average high temperature spikes to 91°F (22°C) while the average low temperature increases by nearly 10 degrees to 68°F (20°C).

Houston Weather in July: The second hottest month of the year is July as the average high temperature peaks at 94°F (34°C) and the average low temperature increases to 75°F (24°C). This month also receives the most amount of sunshine annually with an average of 294 hours of daylight.

August beats out July to be the hottest month of the year by just a degree as its average high temperature reaches 94°F (35°C). The average low temperature holds steady at 75°F (24°C) for the last month of summer.

In September, there is a much appreciated decrease in the average high and average low temperatures. The high temperature averages at 90°F (32°C), while the low temperature goes down to 70°F (21°C).

Houston Weather in October: Days are nice and sunny in October with sunshine averaging at 229 hours. The average high temperature and average low temperature range between 82°F (28°C) and 61°F (16°C).

In November, temperatures drop over ten degrees as the average high temperature sinks to 73°F (23°C). The average low temperature drops to 52°F (11°C) for the last month of spring.

December is the second coldest month of the year as the average temperatures take another steep decline. The average low temperature settles at 45°F (7°C). Meanwhile, the average high temperature will only hit 64°F (18°C).

The best time to go sightseeing in Texas is during the winter months between December and February. The cool weather makes it a great time to explore the wineries and ranches of Hill Country. It’s also a great time to go bird and dauphin watching. To enjoy the best of Texas’ outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and the like, visit in March. Of course, if festivals and parties are what you’re after, it’s best to visit Texas between the months of July through September.

Next read: Houston packages Photo: VanHart/Fotolia

There are two airports in Houston: they are the George Bush Intercontinental Airport located about 22 miles north of the city; and the smaller William P. Hobby Airport which is 9 miles southeast of the city. For train lovers, Amtrak runs trains to Houston from Chicago, New Orleans, and Los Angeles and points between. By car you can arrive via Interstate 10 or Interstate 45: these connect Houston with cities from California to Florida and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border. There are two bus companies that serve Houston: Greyhound and Megabus link Houston with cities all across the nation. Photo: Andreja Donko/FotoliaSeanPavonePhoto

There are several ways to get from both of Houston’s airports into the city. At the George Bush Intercontinental Airport there are approximately ten car rental agencies from which to choose. The Supershuttle transports visitors from the airport to their hotels: this way is slower than a taxi but more affordable. There is a public metro bus that runs between the airport and downtown locations. At the William P. Hobby Airport there are many car rental agencies where visitors can choose a car. The Supershuttle runs between this airport and your hotel just as it does at the other airport. The public metro bus route 88 runs between the airport and downtown. There are taxis at both airports. Photo: simonvo/Fotolia

Houston is a large city and there are several ways to get around. METRORail is a public transportation system that is made up of light rail lines and buses. This system is helpful to visitors because it connects points of interest such as downtown, Reliant Park, the Museum District, and other areas. Visitors can buy individual train tickets which can be used as bus transfers; the system also offers a “Q fare card” which can be reloaded for more travel. Trains run frequently so this makes it convenient for visitors. The buses can get you to places outside of the train system: this part of the system also offers transfers. Photo: f11photo/FotoliaKubyshin

Many people choose to use a car to visit Houston because it is spread out over quite a large area. Visitors should be aware that many local residents ignore speed limits on the freeways and weave in and out of traffic. There are more than 25 Zipcars that are available for visitors to rent. This allows visitors to rent a car from any Zipcar lot and pay for the car per hour or per day. The cost for rental cars in Houston is less than in other tourist destinations; however several taxes are added to the cost. There are plenty of taxis if you have need of this service. Houston’s B-Cycle is a bike-share program. Photo: duydophotography/Fotolia

Houston is a large cosmopolitan city and this means that it offers many dining choices. Many of the restaurants serve dishes from Mexico, Louisiana, and Southeast Asia. Local food means barbecue, chili, soul food, steaks, and Tex-Mex. This fare is often served with beer or a large glass of iced tea. There are many family-friendly restaurants in Houston: some of these include Cafe Express, James Coney Island Hot Dogs, and Lupe Tortilla. Antone’s on Taft Street is famous for introducing the po’ boy submarine sandwich to Houston. Many of Houston’s restaurants have won awards for their fine food and creative dishes. Photo: gudrun/Fotolia

Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and is considered the “capital of the South.” So it is no wonder that it offers so many places for visitors to shop. Shopping malls abound: when you’re in Houston you are probably not very far from a mall. These malls might appeal to visitors needing to do some general shopping, but they are generally not very interesting. Of more interest are the outlet malls: the most well-known of these is the Katy Mills outlet mall on the western boundary of Houston. Major shopping areas include downtown, Chinatown in the East End, and the Montrose/The Heights area. Photo: mariakraynova/Fotolia

Houston is made up of several neighborhoods each with their own distinctive flavor. Downtown used to be a ghost town but now it is the hottest spot in Houston with its hotels, bars, and restaurants. The area around Old Market Square and the theater district is on the northwest side of downtown. The East End is home to Houston’s Chinatown; it is also a residential area. South of downtown is the area called South Main: this is Houston’s Museum District. Other attractions here are Hermann Park, Reliant Stadium, and the Houston Zoological Gardens. Other neighborhoods include Montrose and the Heights, the Kirby District and Greenway Plaza, Uptown, and North Houston.

More Houston ideas: hotels, dog-friendly restaurants, breakfast, burgers, seafood, Italian restaurants, wedding venues Photo: oliclimb/Fotolia

Many visitors choose Houston for their wedding: the city offers many beautiful venues. A marriage license can be obtained at the County Clerk office in any county in Texas. In Houston the Harris County Clerk’s office is at the courthouse at 201 Caroline. Some of the popular hotel venues include the Westin Houston Memorial City, the Magnolia Hotel Houston, the Hilton Houston Post Oak, the Sheraton Suites Houston near the Galleria, and many more. Clubs include the Royal Oaks Country Club and Bay Oaks Country Club. There are other options such as the Astorian, Villa Antonia, Ashelynn Manor, Chateau Polonez, and Shirley Acres. Photo: hreniuca/Fotolia

Houston offers a wide range of accommodations: these include large luxury hotels and resorts, boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts, and affordable family-friendly hotels. The top luxury hotels are the St. Regis Houston, the Hotel Granduca Houston, Hotel ZaZa Houston, and more. If you are looking for a beachfront hotel, the Hilton Galveston Island Resort or the San Luis Resort are on Galveston Island not far from Houston. For a lakeside resort, try the South Shore Harbour Resort located just 20 minutes from Downtown Houston. Within the city there are many choices such as Aloft Houston, Athens Hotel Suites, the Baymont Inn and Suites, and several Best Western hotels. Photo: Mihai Simonia/Fotolia

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