What is the best time to walk when it's hot?
Updated October 27, 2026
On most hot days the most comfortable time to walk is early in the morning or in the evening, once the sun is low. But the right hour changes from day to day and from place to place, so it pays to look at the hourly forecast for where you are rather than at the day's high.
Look at the feels-like temperature, hour by hour
The daily high tells you how hot the day gets, not when it is pleasant. The hourly feels-like (apparent) temperature is more useful: it describes how the air actually feels on your skin, taking wind and humidity into account, so two hours with the same air temperature can feel quite different.
Scan the hours you are free and look for the stretch where the feels-like value drops and stays down. On a hot summer day that is usually before the sun gets high, or after sunset.
Avoid the middle of the day
Around midday the sun is at its strongest and there is little shade. The UK's NHS advises staying in the shade, especially between 11am and 3pm, during hot weather, and avoiding activity that makes you hotter.
If midday is your only free time, choose a shorter, shaded route and keep the pace easy.
Mornings and evenings each have trade-offs
- Early morning is often the coolest part of the day, but it is short: on clear summer days it warms up quickly once the sun is up.
- Evening feels cooler as the sun drops, and in many places it is the only free time after work. Streets and walls can stay warm for a while after sunset, so a little later in the evening may feel better than right at sunset.
- Late at night can be cool but dark. Bring a light, wear something visible, and choose routes you know.
Simple habits for hot-weather walks
- Carry water and drink before you feel thirsty. The NHS also suggests avoiding alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks in a heatwave.
- Wear light, loose clothing and a hat, and pick routes with trees or shade.
- Shorten the loop rather than skipping the walk, and slow down when it feels hard.
- Follow your local heat warnings. On days with an official heat alert, the safest choice may be to stay in.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you have a health condition, ask your doctor what is safe for you in hot weather.
How WalkiNova picks your best time
WalkiNova does this hour-by-hour check for you. It gives every hour of your local forecast a weather comfort score out of 100 and marks the best window, between 30 minutes and 2 hours long, inside the activity hours you set.
- Feels-like temperature counts for up to 40 points, with full marks around 19 °C.
- Chance of rain counts for up to 25 points.
- Wind counts for up to 20 points, with full marks up to 8 km/h.
- Sky (sun and cloud) makes up the rest.
Quiet hours (23:30–04:00) are skipped unless your activity hours include them, and evenings come with tips such as bringing a light after dark. Humidity and air quality are not part of the score, so check local alerts on very humid or smoggy days.
When you are ready, WalkiNova tracks your walk, run, hike or ride with GPS.
See your best time today
WalkiNova is on Android. Learn more about WalkiNova.
