October for foliage, July for lakes, January and February for skiing, and spring or November for quiet trips: official month-by-month weather normals for Mount Pocono and what's open or happening in each month.
The best time to visit the Poconos is October for fall foliage, July for lakes and swimming, January and February for skiing, and late March through May or November for a quieter trip. The plateau runs well colder than the cities most visitors drive from. At the Mount Pocono airport station, about 1,900 feet up, July averages a high of 77.7°F and January a low of 15.1°F under NOAA's 1991-2020 normals. This guide gives the official numbers for every month and what's open or happening in each.
Key Takeaways
- I.Fall foliage: October. Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says northern counties usually peak October 1 to 10 and central counties October 10 to 20. September and October are also the wettest months, so pack rain gear.
- II.Lakes and swimming: late June through August; July is the warmest month, averaging 77.7°F at Mount Pocono.
- III.Skiing: December through March, with January and February the coldest months.
- IV.Quiet trips: late March through May, and November, between the main seasons.
Poconos weather and events, month by month
Temperatures and precipitation are NOAA's official 1991-2020 normals for the Mount Pocono airport station (NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, station USW00054789, retrieved October 27, 2026). "What's on" lists recurring events and seasonal openings; dates shift each year, so confirm before you book.
| Month | High / low (°F) | Precip. (in) | Best for | What's on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30.2 / 15.1 | 2.98 | Skiing, snow tubing | Ski season; Camelback Snow Tubing; Arctic Paws dog sled tours |
| February | 33.4 / 16.9 | 2.45 | Skiing; the driest month | Ski season; Camelback Snow Tubing; Arctic Paws dog sled tours |
| March | 41.4 / 24.0 | 3.83 | Late-season skiing | Ski Big Bear stays open to mid-March |
| April | 54.6 / 34.3 | 4.24 | Waterfalls, quiet trips | Bushkill Falls opens; coal mine tours reopen |
| May | 65.3 / 44.6 | 4.06 | Hiking, wildflowers | Hawley Farmers Market Fridays begin; Camelbeach opens Memorial Day |
| June | 73.0 / 53.4 | 4.69 | Lakes, mountain laurel | Camelbeach and Camelback Mountain Adventures running; Hawley Farmers Market Fridays; Lander's River Trips on the Delaware at Matamoras |
| July | 77.7 / 58.1 | 4.73 | Lakes and swimming | Camelbeach; state park campgrounds; river trips; Hawley Farmers Market |
| August | 75.7 / 56.3 | 4.64 | Lakes, water parks | Camelbeach runs through Labor Day |
| September | 68.5 / 49.6 | 5.59 | Hiking, early color | Great Pocono Pumpkin Festival begins late in the month |
| October | 57.1 / 38.9 | 5.15 | Peak foliage | Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival; harvest festivals; fall train rides |
| November | 45.7 / 29.8 | 4.08 | Quiet, off-peak trips | Fall Cocktail Trail (early November, 21+); mines and Bushkill Falls close for winter |
| December | 34.9 / 21.3 | 3.78 | Holidays, ski opening | Hawley Winterfest; holiday trains; ski areas begin opening |
The plateau's growing season is short. NOAA's normals put the average last spring freeze at Mount Pocono on May 6 and the first fall freeze on October 8 (NOAA NCEI annual normals, retrieved October 27, 2026), so even a late-spring or early-fall trip can bring a frosty night.
When is the best time to see fall foliage in the Poconos?
October. Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) says that "in most years, northern PA counties reach their best autumn color October 1-10" and central counties "are at their peak October 10-20" (PA DCNR, Fall Foliage Reports, retrieved October 27, 2026). DCNR adds that ridge tops peak about a week before the valleys, and it publishes a report every Thursday during peak season.
The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau splits the region into three color zones that peak at different times: northern Wayne and Pike counties first, then southern Wayne, Pike and northern Monroe, then southern Monroe and Carbon County. Its forecast map updates every Thursday through the end of October, so you can follow the color south over a few weekends.
Pack layers and a rain jacket. October averages a high of 57.1°F and a low of 38.9°F at Mount Pocono, and September and October are the station's two wettest months, with 5.59 and 5.15 inches of precipitation.
Fall is also festival season:
- The Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival fills downtown Jim Thorpe the first three weekends of October.
- Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm in Stroudsburg holds its Harvest Festival on Columbus Day weekend, and the Pocono Environmental Education Center in Dingmans Ferry holds its Harvest Festival in mid-October.
- The Great Pocono Pumpkin Festival at Country Junction in Lehighton runs from late September through late October.
- The Fall Cocktail Trail in East Stroudsburg is an early-November Saturday for guests 21 and older.
The Pocono events calendar lists the full season, and fall foliage drives maps routes with overlooks and coffee stops.
When is the best time to visit the Poconos for lakes and swimming?
Late June through August. July is the warmest month, averaging a high of 77.7°F and a low of 58.1°F at Mount Pocono, and August is close behind at 75.7°F. Seasonal attractions line up with that window: Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark runs Memorial Day through Labor Day, Camelback Mountain Adventures runs spring through fall, and state park campgrounds such as Deerfield at Promised Land open for the summer season.
On Lake Wallenpaupack, a seasonal scenic boat tour adds pontoon, kayak and paddleboard rentals, and the Lake Naomi guide covers the water parks and adventure park nearby. For a summer day with kids, the family things to do guide sorts water parks, ziplines and train rides by type.
When is ski season in the Poconos?
December through March. Opening and closing dates depend on the weather and each resort's snowmaking, so check with the resort before you book. Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain, for example, lists a season of mid-December through mid-March.
The Poconos' main ski areas are Jack Frost and Big Boulder near Lake Harmony, Camelback near Lake Naomi, Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania's tallest vertical drop, at 1,082 feet), Shawnee Mountain, Montage Mountain near Scranton, and Ski Big Bear. Pocono ski resorts compared covers trails, vertical and lifts side by side.
How much snow to expect varies across the region. The Mount Pocono station has no official snowfall normal, but the lower, warmer Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport averages 45.1 inches a year, mostly from December through March, under the same 1991-2020 normals (NOAA NCEI).
Off the slopes, Camelback Snow Tubing in Tannersville and Arctic Paws Dog Sled Tours at Shawnee on Delaware, about 35 minutes from Lake Naomi, both run in winter. Hawley Winterfest fills a mid-December weekend with a holiday parade and carriage rides.
When is the quietest time to visit the Poconos?
Late March through May, and November. These shoulder months fall between ski season, summer and foliage season, so trails, towns and restaurants are calmer. Expect changeable weather: April averages a high of 54.6°F and a low of 34.3°F at Mount Pocono, and the last spring freeze averages May 6. Pack layers and waterproof shoes.
Spring's payoff is waterfalls and wildflowers. Bushkill Falls in Bushkill, about 47 minutes from Lake Naomi, and the coal mine tours reopen in April. Pennsylvania's tourism office dates the state's spring bloom from Virginia bluebells in March and April to mountain laurel and rhododendron in June and July (VisitPA, March 2026). The waterfall hikes guide lists trails that suit a spring day.
When is it easiest to find a place to stay in the Poconos?
Outside the busy seasons and holidays. Summer, peak-foliage weekends in October, ski weekends and holiday weeks are the region's main seasons, so planning a stay in late March through May or November, or arriving midweek, leaves the most choice of places and dates. Prices vary by listing and by week, so compare directly for your dates.
If the forecast turns wet in any season, the indoor things to do guide has water parks, tasting rooms, mine tours and museums.
How does Pocono weather compare with the valleys?
The plateau is markedly cooler and wetter than the valleys around it. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport, northwest of the plateau, averages a July high of 84.6°F and a January high of 35.7°F, about 5 to 7 degrees warmer than Mount Pocono, and gets 38.72 inches of precipitation a year against Mount Pocono's 50.22 (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals). If a forecast for Scranton or the Lehigh Valley looks mild, expect it cooler up top.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit the Poconos?
October, for most people: it combines peak fall color, cool hiking weather averaging a high of 57.1°F, and the busiest festival calendar. Choose July for lakes and swimming, or January and February for skiing.
What is the coldest month in the Poconos?
January. At the Mount Pocono airport station it averages a high of 30.2°F and a low of 15.1°F under NOAA's 1991-2020 normals, and February is close behind at 33.4°F and 16.9°F.
Does it snow a lot in the Poconos?
Yes, from December through March. Mount Pocono has no official snowfall normal, but even the lower, warmer Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport averages 45.1 inches a year, and the plateau runs about 5 to 7 degrees colder.
When is the first frost in the Poconos?
Around October 8 on average at Mount Pocono, and the last spring freeze comes around May 6, according to NOAA's 1991-2020 normals. That leaves a freeze-free season of about five months on the plateau, so a foliage-season trip can bring a frosty morning.
What is the rainiest month in the Poconos?
September, with 5.59 inches of precipitation on average at Mount Pocono, followed by October at 5.15 inches. February is the driest at 2.45 inches.
Sources
Written by the Pocono Reserve Editors; see the editorial standards for how places are chosen, and contact us with corrections. Event and opening dates change from year to year, so confirm with each venue.
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020: Mount Pocono airport station (USW00054789), monthly and annual files; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (USW00014777), monthly and annual files. Retrieved October 27, 2026.
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Fall Foliage Reports, retrieved October 27, 2026.
- Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, Poconos Fall Foliage Forecast, retrieved October 27, 2026.
- VisitPA, Best PA Hiking Trails for Spring Wildflowers, March 2026.
- Hero photo: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, by AndrewKPepper, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped.