When to visit Portland (Maine) without the crowds
Portland (Maine) (Maine, United States) is calmest in January, February, March, April, May and December: fewer people and better prices. It gets busiest in July. Below is every month with crowds, temperatures and festivals. Careful with January, February, March and December: the calm has a reason (see the seasonal heads-ups).
Best months
Jun & Oct
When everyone heads home
The week after Labor Day.
Tip
Lobster is in season all year; in winter restaurants seat you without a wait.
Month by month
| Month | Crowds | Avg. high | Festivals & holidays |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2/5 · calm ⚠ | 1 °C (34 °F)8 rainy days · ~29 cm of snow · water 5 °C | New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
| February | 2/5 · calm ⚠ | 2 °C (36 °F)8 rainy days · ~41 cm of snow · water 4 °C | Presidents Day |
| March | 1/5 · calm ⚠ | 5 °C (41 °F)9 rainy days · ~17 cm of snow · water 4 °C | |
| April | 2/5 · calm | 9 °C (48 °F)10 rainy days · ~1 cm of snow · water 6 °C | |
| May | 2/5 · calm | 14 °C (58 °F)8 rainy days · water 9 °C | Memorial Day |
| June | 3/5 · moderate | 19 °C (67 °F)9 rainy days · water 14 °C | Juneteenth National Independence Day |
| July | 4/5 · busy | 23 °C (73 °F)9 rainy days · water 17 °C | Summer holidays & the Fourth of July, Independence Day |
| August | 3/5 · moderate | 23 °C (73 °F)7 rainy days · water 18 °C | |
| September | 3/5 · moderate | 20 °C (67 °F)7 rainy days · water 16 °C | Labour Day |
| October | 3/5 · moderate | 15 °C (58 °F)9 rainy days · water 13 °C | |
| November | 3/5 · moderate | 9 °C (47 °F)9 rainy days · ~1 cm of snow · water 10 °C | Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day |
| December | 2/5 · calm ⚠ | 3 °C (38 °F)10 rainy days · ~20 cm of snow · water 7 °C | Christmas Day |
⚠ = seasonal heads-up.
Before you go: seasonal heads-ups
- Snow (Dec–Mar): about 17–41 cm in a typical month; in 10 years there were 19 days with over 15 cm (the biggest, 49 cm on Mar 14, 2017). Estimated from Copernicus ERA5.
Crowds are a relative index for each place: 1 is its calmest month and 5 its busiest. Temperatures: Copernicus ERA5, 2016–2025 average. How it works
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Portland (Maine) without the crowds?
The calmest month is usually March (crowds 1/5). In March the average high is 5 °C (41 °F). All the calm months: January, February, March, April, May and December.
When is Portland (Maine) most crowded?
The busiest season is July. The week after Labor Day.
What is the weather like in Portland (Maine)?
Average highs range from 1 °C (34 °F) in January to 23 °C (73 °F) in July, from Copernicus ERA5 (2016–2025). It rains most in April (about 10 days) and least in August (7). It snows most in February: about 41 cm in a typical month (estimated).
What should I know before going to Portland (Maine)?
Snow (Dec–Mar): about 17–41 cm in a typical month; in 10 years there were 19 days with over 15 cm (the biggest, 49 cm on Mar 14, 2017). Estimated from Copernicus ERA5.
What festivals are there in Portland (Maine)?
The main ones: Summer holidays & the Fourth of July (July).
More places in Maine
- Bar Harbor & Acadia calm in January, February, March, April, November and December; busiest in June, July, August and September