June is known almost universally as one of the best months of the year. However, are there any drawbacks you might want to know about visiting the city of Boston in June?
A historic city easily accessible from anywhere in the country, June is in fact one of the best months to visit Boston. With everything open, people coming and going, and generally beautiful weather, a trip to my hometown during this month is hard to beat.
As long-time Bostonians who have lived in the city for over twenty years, we have all of the local secrets to help you make the best time out of your trip! Let’s start exploring!
Is June a Good Time?
June is a very good time to visit Boston. It’s very warm, which means outdoor activities are almost always open, and outdoor dining is back in full swing. June is also great as it means that many of the beaches right outside of Boston are open to the public, and activities on the water are common.
A visit to Boston during the month of June is always a great experience. With warm weather and lots to do, you will never be bored during your trip. Though you may experience more crowds and higher prices, these can be avoided if considered in advance.
We hope you come and visit our wonderful city!
Weather
Boston’s weather in June is ideal with early June being about 10 degrees cooler than late June. The average high temperatures are between 71°F and 80°F (22-26°C). The city tends to get about 3.4 inches (8.6 cm) of rain, mostly during heavier rain storms.
The amount of rain can fluctuate with precipitation of 6 inches or as little as 2.
Average temperature highs in June:
- Early June: 71°F (22°C)
- Mid-June: 75°F (24°C)
- Late June: 80°F (26°C)
With a relatively high average temperature, the weather in Boston during June tends to be fairly warm. It becomes so warm, especially toward the end of the month, that many of us locals seek a reprieve from the heat by finding a local beach or water fountain to play at.
For example, Ring’s Fountain, located just outside of Faneuil Hall near the aquarium, quickly turns into a favorite location for kids from all over the city during the month.
That being said, early June is a bit cooler. If you’d like to enjoy a warm Boston summer, but don’t want to deal with heat and humidity, I suggest coming earlier in the month. With the lower temperatures of approximately 71°F (22°C), it might not be a beach day, but it’d be a great day for one of our scenic walking tours.
June’s humidity can make it feel even hotter. It is not at all abnormal to go a stretch of three or four days with humidity as high as 95%. The “mugginess” of the air makes everything slower. The warm breeze that comes off of the ocean is nice but doesn’t do as much on very warm days.
Visiting Boston during June, you might also notice that you do better in the heat than many of those in the city. Up here, we’re so used to a long cold winter that an 80°F (27°C) day is very hot! If you come from further south, our warm weather might very well feel cool to you, so go out and enjoy the temperatures.
Regardless of where you’re from, be careful about staying hydrated, especially when exercising. If you decide to exercise outside in the second half of the month, do so in the morning. It can be very easy to get too hot too quickly without realizing it.
Temperature progression on a typical day:
- Morning (7 AM): 67°F (19°C)
- Afternoon (3 PM): 77°F (25°C)
- Evening (10 PM): 70°F (21°C)
Is June Hot in Boston?
It gets hotter toward the end of June, but otherwise, it’s a pleasant and warm month. Some days have high humidity, and the “feels like” temperature can get into the high 90s, although the average highs typically reach 80°F.
When people adjust to the warmth, sometimes a cooler day will come by that makes people feel like it is cold, but the temperature very rarely is colder than 60-65°F during the day.
Rain
In June, Boston tends to get into the summer storm season, meaning that rainfall occurs in heavy amounts over a few days.
The city of Boston gets about 3.4 inches (8.6 cm) of rain over the month of June. These numbers sometimes fluctuate according to the year, however. Some years see as much as 7 inches (17.78 cm) of rain, while other years see as little as 1 inch (2.54 cm).
Over the last 20 years, New England weather has become increasingly sporadic. During some years, Boston feels more like a rainforest than a New England city. In other years, the city feels as dry as the Sahara desert.
When visiting the city, you probably won’t notice significant changes in rainfall, but for us, locals, predicting the amount of rainfall over the year seems impossible. Fortunately, when meteorologists predict rain, they tend to be correct.
During June, rain tends to fall in heavy storms that last for a day but no more than two. Here’s the best way to think about rain in Boston during June: you’ll have rainy and dry days. On rainy days, there is a lot of rain, on dry days, you’ll have beautiful clear skies most of the day.
Fortunately, Boston has enough to do that, no matter the weather, you can enjoy the city. If you stay for at least three days, the weather will change enough that you’re almost guaranteed one sunny day.
What to Wear | Packing List
During June in Boston visitors are fine with light summer clothing. Wearing shorts, t-shirts, and sneakers is ideal. However, it’s not a bad idea to pack one or two sweaters or light jackets just in case of an odd cool day.
Another great thing about visiting Boston during June is that, though the amount of rain can be unpredictable, what you’ll need for your average trip is very consistent. Though there can be sporadically warm and cold days, these only tend to last one day. Cold or warm “snaps” are very uncommon in June.
Additionally, June is warm enough that, even over the course of the day, you can be comfortable in one outfit without needing to add many layers. Mornings, which tend to be the coldest in Boston, are typically still in the high 60s, meaning that you can comfortably wear shorts and a t-shirt without needing to add layers.
💡 While early June is slightly cooler, it won’t get so cold that you’ll need extra layers. Summer clothing will be fine whether you visit in early or late June.
Plus, you should always carry around a water bottle with you as the sun can get hot in June. Even if you aren’t the kind of person that brings water to many places, during this month in Boston, it is very important you do so.
Many people, myself included, have walked around the city all day without water only to feel dehydrated and sick by the afternoon because they haven’t had enough water.
Fortunately, since people are dressing to stay cool, you rarely need formal dress attire. If you are going to an office, show, or fancy restaurant, nicer clothes may be preferred. However, most places you’ll visit in Boston during June welcome those in shorts and a t-shirt.
Here is a full packing list of what you might want to bring with you—applicable to both men and women:
- Socks
- Undergarments
- Jeans (1 set)
- Khakis (1 set)
- Skirt
- Button-up shirt (1 shirt)
- Blouse
- Long sleeve casual shirt (1 shirt)
- T-shirts (Multiple)
- Sweater/Sweatshirt (1 set)
- Rain jacket
- Comfortable shoes
- Nice shoes
- Shorts (Multiple)
- Windbreaker
How Busy | Crowds and Rates
By the beginning of June, Boston has officially reached its summer tourism season. So, The city stays fairly busy all month, and weekends and certain holidays are even busier, especially the first and last weekends of the month. However, rates for travel and lodging are likely to be consistently higher all month.
The start of summer means that everyone is coming to see all of Boston’s many attractions.
When booking travel to Boston for June, book as early as possible to get the cheapest rates. If you book less than a week ahead of time, you will be paying very high prices and may not even be able to find lodging at many hotels.
However, you’re less likely to see major fluctuations in prices between days for visiting. Though Friday-Monday tends to be slightly more expensive than other days of the week, these price surges are much less noticeable than those in other months.
There are normally price surges during the first and last weekend of the month because these are closest to major holidays, but otherwise, prices are consistent.
Finally, it is important to note that more people also mean longer wait times. Whenever possible, try to get reservations at restaurants or events to avoid the first-come-first-serve lines. Many places will accept reservations up to a week in advance, so try and be on top of this!
Things to Do
Boston has a ton of exciting stuff to do in June, especially after Memorial Day weekend and before the Independence Day holiday. Popular activities include checking out a Boston Red Sox Game, taking a walk on the Freedom Trail, or going to see a show like the Blue Man Group. There is so much to do, you can’t go wrong!
Boston Duck Boat Tour
One of the best things to do when you’re visiting the city in June is to get a ride on Boston’s Duck Boats. The Duck Boat Tours give you a full tour of the city, pointing out many of the historically and culturally significant sights in the city.
The Duck Boat Tours will also bring you out onto the Charles River, a unique experience, especially when it’s warm.
Whale Watching
Intriguing! This is a must-do when you are here! Whale watching tours in Boston are available throughout June. It’s an excelelnt time because June is one of the peak months for whale watching here.
Sightseeing Cruise
What an incredible tour! We saw to see the USS Constitution out on the harbor. That was an unforgettable experience. The rest of the tour was also unforgettable. Our guide shared many intriguing insights as we navigated the waters. This one hour flew by so fast.
Freedom Trail
You also have to check out the Freedom Trail while visiting the city in June. The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-hour walking tour of the city, so doing it in June when the weather is warm but not too hot is a perfect time to go! Just be sure to bring a good set of walking shoes!
Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum
If you’re a history fan, visiting the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum will keep you captivated for ages.
Boston Aquarium
Finally, no trip to Boston would be complete without visiting the Boston Aquarium in May. We’ve been over 10 times as locals, and we can’t get enough.
The interactive tanks are always an incredible experience, especially if you have young children with you – and of course, you can’t forget about the incredible penguins!
Events
A fun event to check out is a Red Sox game at Fenway Park. Boston is a serious sports city, so being able to see a Red Sox home game is always a treat. Ticket prices and the opening day date often vary.