There isn't one best time to visit the Poconos, because each season is a different trip. Winter brings skiing and snow tubing from about December into March, summer is for lakes and pools from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and fall color usually peaks in early to mid October. The indoor waterparks are open all year.
The Poconos sit high on a plateau, so expect it to be cooler than New York or Philadelphia. In Mount Pocono, July averages a high of 78°F and January a high of 32°F. Here's what each month is like and when to go for the trip you have in mind.
The best time for each kind of trip
- Skiing and snow tubing: January and February, the coldest and snowiest months. Resorts usually open in December and run into March, weather permitting.
- Lakes, beaches and pools: July and August, the warmest months. Community pools and beaches generally run Memorial Day to Labor Day.
- Fall colors: early to mid October in the northern and central Poconos, and late October around Jim Thorpe and Carbon County.
- Indoor waterparks: any time. Kalahari, Great Wolf Lodge and Camelback's Aquatopia are open all year at about 84 degrees.
- Hiking: May and June, or September and October, when it's mild and the trails are dry enough to enjoy.
- Race weekend: June. Pocono Raceway's 2027 NASCAR weekend is June 11 to 13.
- A quiet, good-value getaway: April, early May and November, between the big seasons.
Month by month
Average high and low temperatures for Mount Pocono, with average snowfall, from WeatherSpark's climate summary. Lake Harmony, Long Pond and the other plateau towns are similar.
- January: 32°F high, 18°F low, about 12 inches of snow. Peak ski season and a good month for the indoor waterparks.
- February: 34°F high, 20°F low, about 12 inches of snow, the snowiest month on average. Still prime ski season.
- March: 43°F high, 27°F low, about 9 inches of snow. Ski season usually winds down this month, weather permitting.
- April: 56°F high, 38°F low. Mud season and quiet. Pennsylvania's trout season opens in early April, and waterfalls run full.
- May: 66°F high, 47°F low. Trails green up. Community pools, lake beaches and the Tobyhanna State Park beach open around Memorial Day weekend.
- June: 74°F high, 56°F low. Summer starts. The NASCAR weekend at Pocono Raceway is June 11 to 13, 2027, and homes nearby book early. June also has the most rainy days on average.
- July: 78°F high, 60°F low, the warmest month. Peak lake, pool and outdoor waterpark season.
- August: 76°F high, 58°F low. Still prime summer. Elements Music & Arts Festival is at Pocono Raceway August 6 to 8, 2027.
- September: 69°F high, 51°F low. Pools close after Labor Day and the Tobyhanna State Park beach in mid-September. Quieter weekdays, warm afternoons, cool nights. It's also the wettest month on average, at about 3.8 inches of rain.
- October: 58°F high, 41°F low. Fall color peaks, and October weekends are some of the busiest of the year. In 2026, Jim Thorpe's Fall Foliage Festival ran the first three weekends of October.
- November: 46°F high, 32°F low, about 4 inches of snow. The quietest month before ski season, good for a cozy weekend with a fireplace or hot tub.
- December: 36°F high, 23°F low, about 10 inches of snow. Ski resorts aim to open in early to mid December, towns hold holiday events, and Christmas to New Year's is one of the most requested weeks of the year.
Sources: WeatherSpark: Average weather in Mount Pocono · Pocono Raceway · Elements Music & Arts Festival · Tobyhanna State Park swimming
Winter: skiing and indoor waterparks
The cold season in Mount Pocono runs from about December 1 to March 12, when the average high stays below 41°F. Pocono ski resorts usually open in December, depending on weather and snowmaking, and run into March. Jack Frost and Big Boulder are the closest to most of our homes, Camelback has 46 trails, all lit for night skiing, and Blue Mountain has the most vertical in Pennsylvania at 1,082 feet. Snow is possible from late October to late April, so pack for winter driving.
Sources: WeatherSpark: Average weather in Mount Pocono · Jack Frost Big Boulder mountain info · Blue Mountain on the Ikon Pass
Summer: lakes, pools and outdoor waterparks
The warm season runs from about May 27 to September 16, with average highs above 69°F, and WeatherSpark rates late June to early September as the best stretch for warm-weather trips. Even in July, nights usually drop to about 60°F, so bring a sweatshirt for the fire pit. Most community pools and beaches open around Memorial Day and close after Labor Day, and Camelbeach, the outdoor waterpark at Camelback, runs in summer only (its 2026 season opened June 12 and ended September 7).
Sources: WeatherSpark: Average weather in Mount Pocono · Camelbeach Outdoor Waterpark
Fall: foliage
In its 2026 forecast, the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau put peak color at October 8 to 14 for the northern and central Poconos and October 20 to 28 for the southern Poconos, including Carbon County and Jim Thorpe. The color moves from north to south, so most of October catches good color somewhere nearby. Pennsylvania's DCNR posts a fall foliage report every Thursday in season.
The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway's fall trains are a Jim Thorpe favorite, but after an October 31, 2026 rockslide, trains board in nearby Nesquehoning for now. Check its website before planning around a ride.
Sources: Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau: fall foliage · DCNR fall foliage reports · Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
Crowds and prices
Weekends are busier than weekdays all year. The busiest times are summer weekends, holiday weekends, October weekends during peak color, Christmas to New Year's week, and big events like the NASCAR weekend. Homes near Pocono Raceway fill up first that weekend.
Each host sets their own rates, and many charge more for Friday and Saturday nights and holidays than for weeknights. If your dates are flexible, ask about a midweek stay, or look at the quieter months: April, early May and November. Booking direct on our site means no guest booking fees in any season.
