NYC in October
Crisp walking weather and the start of the foliage season.
Month guide
New York in November: the parade and the marathon
November is the hinge between autumn and the holidays: foliage peaks early, the marathon takes over the first Sunday and the Thanksgiving parade closes the month. It gets cold, but the city is at its most festive.
Typical high / low54°F / 41°F (12°C / 5°C)
Rain daysAbout 9 a month
CrowdsModerate, then very busy at Thanksgiving
What's onNYC Marathon 1 November; Thanksgiving parade 26 November 2026
DaylightAbout 9¾ hours
Checked 2 November 2026. Prices, opening hours and transport details were verified against official sources. Things change — confirm before you book. How we check.
The short version
The last of the colour, then the holidays
November begins with leaves and ends with a parade. Temperatures fall through the month, the daylight shortens quickly and the holiday season arrives in the final week.
Average highs reach 54°F (12°C) with lows around 41°F (5°C). Daylight drops to about nine and three-quarter hours, and the cold becomes the thing you plan around rather than the heat.
The first Sunday belongs to the New York City Marathon, which closes streets across all five boroughs. Thanksgiving week brings the parade and the first holiday crowds; if you want the atmosphere without the peak prices, go in the first half of the month.
Weather
What November weather feels like
Crisp and cold, with short days and the first real winter chill.
| Measure | Typical |
|---|---|
| Average high | 54°F (12°C) |
| Average low | 41°F (5°C) |
| Rain days | About 9 a month |
| Daylight | About 9¾ hours |
| What it feels like | Crisp and cold, with short days and the first real winter chill. |
| Best use | Museums, the last foliage walks and the holiday lights at the end of the month. |
What's on
What is on in November
A marathon, the last foliage and the Thanksgiving parade.
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1 November 2026 — New York City Marathon
The race closes streets across all five boroughs for most of the day. Check the route if you are sightseeing.
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26 November 2026 — Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The 100th edition runs 8:30am–noon from Central Park West and 77th Street to Herald Square. Free to watch.
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Late October to mid-November — Fall foliage
The last weeks of colour; the peak is usually early to mid-November.
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Late November — The holiday season begins
The Winter Village is open and the holiday crowds build through the final week; hotel rates rise with them.
How to spend it
How to spend a November day
Cold mornings are for museums, the last bright afternoons for walks, and the evenings for long dinners.
Morning
A museum morning
November is quiet until Thanksgiving week, and the big museums are comfortable on a cold day.
Midday
The last foliage walk
If the leaves are still on, the park is the place; otherwise walk the High Line before the cold sets in.
Evening
A warm table
November evenings are for long dinners and the holiday lights going up along the shopping streets.
Practical
November planning notes
Crowds are moderate for the first three weeks, then very busy for Thanksgiving week. Hotel rates peak around the holiday, and both the marathon and the parade close roads.
A proper winter coat, hat, gloves and scarf by the end of the month, with layers for the milder first half. Waterproof shoes for wet leaves and cold rain.
Other months
The rest of the year
NYC in December
Holiday lights, the Rockefeller tree and the busiest weeks of the year.
When to visit New York
Weather averages, events and holiday trade-offs across the year.
Questions
Month questions
Is November a good time to visit New York?
Yes, especially the first half: foliage, moderate crowds and lower prices than December. Thanksgiving week is much busier and more expensive.
How cold is New York in November?
Average highs are around 54°F (12°C) and lows around 41°F (5°C); it gets colder through the month.
What is on in November?
The NYC Marathon on 1 November 2026, the last of the fall foliage and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on 26 November 2026.
When is the Thanksgiving parade?
26 November 2026, 8:30am–noon, from Central Park West and 77th Street to Herald Square. It is free to watch.