Best time to visit Phoenix
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in Phoenix
25 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on Phoenix).
- 1
Phoenix area Hot Air Balloon Ride on the Largest Balloon in USA - 2
Guided Arizona Desert Tour by UTV - Centipede Tour - 3
Kayaking the Salt River Foxtail Trip - 4
Ancient Ruins Tour - Guided Arizona Desert Tour by UTV - 5
Arizona Desert Guided E-Bike Adventure - 6
Self-Guided Centipede Desert UTV Rental - 7
Stunning Sunset or Sunrise Guided Hiking Adventure in Phoenix - 8
Party Bike Private Party Up To 14 People in Downtown Phoenix - 9
Amazing 2-Hour Guided Hiking Adventure in Phoenix, Arizona - 10
Spectacular Sunrise Guided Hike in Phoenix, Arizona - 11
Guided Arizona Desert Tour by ATV - Centipede Tour - 12
Phoenix Morning Hot Air Balloon Ride with Bubbly + Breakfast - 13
Grand Canyon with Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon Van Tour - 14
Small Group or Private Sedona and Native American Ruins Day Tour - 15
Single Kayak Neon Night Paddle - 16
Self-Guided Centipede Desert ATV Rental - 17
3-Hour ATV and Shooting Combo - 183-Hour UTV and Shooting Combo
- 19
ATV Training Session - 20
Epic Camelback Mountain Guided Hiking Adventure in Phoenix, Arizona - 21
The Shoot House - 22
Easy Desert Hike & Yoga with Stunning Views - 23
Camelback's Hidden Gems - Hike & Yoga with a View - 24
Phoenix Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise - 25
Small-Group or Private Grand Canyon with Sedona Tour from Phoenix
Last refreshed 2026-05-30.
Similar climatesLas Vegas90% · Marrakech88% · Seville84%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Phoenix (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Phoenix's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5–18 | 15 | 4 | 45 | 11.3 | 40% | 15 | 197 | 3 | Quiet | 8 |
| Feb | 7–21 | 17 | 3 | 29 | 9.7 | 30% | 18 | 208 | 5 | Quiet | 9 |
| Mar | 10–23 | 20 | 4 | 52 | 13.0 | 29% | 19 | 240 | 6 | Quiet | 9 |
| Apr | 15–31 | 26 | 0 | 6 | — | 14% | 20 | 282 | 8 | Quiet | 8 |
| May | 20–35 | 31 | 0 | 1 | — | 11% | 21 | 301 | 9 | Quiet | 6 |
| Jun | 26–40 | 37 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 12% | 22 | 293 | 10 | Quiet | 3 |
| Jul | 30–42 | 42 | 4 | 32 | 8.0 | 24% | 22 | 281 | 10 | Quiet | 2 |
| Aug | 28–40 | 41 | 5 | 34 | 6.8 | 28% | 20 | 280 | 10 | Peak | 2 |
| Sep | 25–38 | 37 | 2 | 20 | 10.0 | 22% | 19 | 257 | 8 | Busy | 3 |
| Oct | 18–32 | 30 | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 19% | 17 | 246 | 6 | Moderate | 7 |
| Nov | 10–25 | 21 | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 22% | 15 | 212 | 4 | Peak | 9 |
| Dec | 7–20 | 17 | 4 | 39 | 9.8 | 35% | 13 | 193 | 3 | Busy | 8 |
UV Index in Phoenix by Month
UV index in Phoenix peaks at 10 (very high) in July, dropping to 3 (low) in December. April, May, June, July, August, September reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
Best months in detail
March
9/1010–23°C (feels 20°C) · 4 rain days (52h) · 240 sun hours · 29% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 6 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (high)
November
9/1010–25°C (feels 21°C) · 1 rain days (9h) · 212 sun hours · 22% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 4 (moderate)
February
9/107–21°C (feels 17°C) · 3 rain days (29h) · 208 sun hours · 30% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
8/105–18°C (feels 15°C) · 4 rain days (45h) · 197 sun hours · 40% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
April
8/1015–31°C (feels 26°C) · 0 rain days (6h) · 282 sun hours · 14% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 8 (very high)
May
6/1020–35°C (feels 31°C) · 0 rain days (1h) · 301 sun hours · 11% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 9 (very high)
June
3/1026–40°C (feels 37°C) · 1 rain days (5h) · 293 sun hours · 12% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 10 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 11 (extreme)
July
2/1030–42°C · 4 rain days (32h) · 281 sun hours · 24% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 10 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 11 (extreme)
August
2/1028–40°C · 5 rain days (34h) · 280 sun hours · 28% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 10 (very high)
September
3/1025–38°C (feels 37°C) · 2 rain days (20h) · 257 sun hours · 22% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 8 (very high)
October
7/1018–32°C (feels 30°C) · 1 rain days (7h) · 246 sun hours · 19% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 6 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
December
8/107–20°C (feels 17°C) · 4 rain days (39h) · 193 sun hours · 35% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 3 (moderate)
Frequently asked questions about visiting Phoenix
When is the best time to visit Phoenix?
March is the highest-scoring month (9/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 10–23°C (4 rainy days). The top three months by score are March, November, February.
What is the worst time to visit Phoenix?
August is the lowest-scoring month (2/10, capped by extreme heat). Typical conditions: 28–40°C (5 rainy days).
Is Phoenix too hot in summer?
5 months (May, June, July, August, September) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.
When are crowds lowest in Phoenix?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in April and peaks in November. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Phoenix have good weather but fewer tourists?
February (climate 9/10, crowd index 12) and March (climate 9/10, crowd index 4) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Phoenix by month?
UV peaks at 10 (very high) in July and is lowest in December at 3 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 3, Feb 5, Mar 6, Apr 8, May 9, Jun 10, Jul 10, Aug 10, Sep 8, Oct 6, Nov 4, Dec 3. April, May, June, July, August, September reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
What is the UV index in Phoenix in July?
July is the peak UV month in Phoenix, with a daily-peak UV index of 10 (very high). At this level, sunburn can occur in under 20 minutes on unprotected fair skin. Apply SPF 50+, wear protective clothing and a hat, and avoid direct midday sun (11:00–17:00).
How high can UV get in Phoenix on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. June is the worst case: typical days average UV 10 (very high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 11 (extreme) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: January, March, June, July, October, December. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.
Is air quality in Phoenix bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 5 months: January, February, March, November, December. The worst month is December with a typical-day mean of 18 µg/m³ (unhealthy for sensitive); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 27 µg/m³ (unhealthy) and higher. People with asthma, heart conditions, or sensitive children may want to avoid these months or limit outdoor activity. Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo.