Great summer date ideas make the most of cool mornings and long evenings: a sunrise hike, a farmers market, an outdoor movie, a lake day, a night market or stargazing. Here are 30 summer date ideas sorted by time of day and budget, plus simple heat and sun safety tips so the date stays fun.
Budget key: Free; $ = about $20 or less per person; $$ = about $20 to $50 per person; $$$ = more. Prices vary by town, so treat these as rough guides.
The CDC suggests doing outdoor activities during the coolest parts of the day or evening when you can, so these ideas are grouped that way.
Cool-morning dates
Sunrise walk or easy hike with coffee in a thermos (Free).
Farmers market breakfast (Free to $). Each of you picks one treat.
Early bike ride to a café ($).
Pick-your-own berries or peaches where farms offer it ($).
Morning tennis or pickleball at a public court (Free to $).
Yard sale or flea market hunt with a $10 limit each ($).
Paddleboard or kayak rental on a calm lake before the heat ($$). Wear a life jacket.
Beat-the-heat midday dates (indoors or in shade)
Museum or aquarium afternoon ($$).
Matinee movie ($).
Bowling or an arcade ($).
Library or bookstore browse, then iced drinks (Free to $).
Cooking class or make summer rolls at home ($ to $$).
Ice cream or popsicle taste test ($).
Pottery painting or a craft workshop ($$).
Swim at a public pool or a beach with lifeguards on duty ($).
Shaded picnic under big trees with cold sandwiches and fruit (Free to $).
Evening and night dates
Outdoor movie in a park (Free).
Free summer concert series (Free).
Night market or food truck rally ($).
Sunset picnic at a lake or overlook (Free to $).
Baseball game under the lights ($ to $$).
Mini golf after dinner ($).
Stargazing away from city lights (Free). Our sister site's stargazing for beginners guide can help.
Firefly walk where they appear in your area (Free).
Rooftop or patio dinner ($$ to $$$).
Outdoor theater or Shakespeare in the park (Free to $$).
Evening sail or boat tour ($$$).
Backyard or balcony game night with string lights (Free).
Twilight trail walk on a short, familiar path with a flashlight (Free).
Fair or carnival night ($$).
On a tight budget? Our list of cheap date ideas has more.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.
Plan around the heat. The National Weather Service advises that you slow down and reduce, eliminate or reschedule strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day. It also suggests air-conditioned places such as malls and libraries when it's very hot. Check the forecast at weather.gov before you make outdoor plans.
Drink water. The CDC suggests carrying a water bottle and refilling it throughout the day, and considering limiting drinks high in sugar, caffeine and alcohol. For more, see our guide to hydration in hot weather.
Dress for it. The National Weather Service recommends lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing.
Keep picnic food cold. Pack food in a cooler or with an ice pack and don't leave it sitting in the sun. The Weather Service notes that meats and dairy can spoil quickly in hot weather.
Never leave anyone in a parked car. The National Weather Service warns never to leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows down, and notes that pets left in parked vehicles die from the heat every year.
The National Weather Service, drawing on CDC guidance, lists these signs:
Heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, weakness or tiredness, cool, pale, clammy skin, a fast, weak pulse, muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, headache or fainting. Move to a cooler place, loosen clothing, apply cool, wet cloths and sip water. Get medical help right away if the person vomits, or if symptoms get worse or last longer than 1 hour.
Heat stroke: throbbing headache, confusion, slurred speech, body temperature above 103°F, hot, red, dry or damp skin, a rapid, strong pulse, or loss of consciousness. Call 911. Heat stroke is a medical emergency.
Sun. The CDC says UV rays are strongest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daylight saving time. It recommends shade, a hat with a brim all the way around, sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays, and broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. Reapply if you're out for more than 2 hours and after swimming, sweating or toweling off. UV rays can still reach you on cloudy days.
Thunderstorms. Summer storms can pop up fast. The National Weather Service says there is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area: "When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!" Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back out.
Split the day. Outdoors in the morning or evening, indoors at midday.
Ask about comfort. Some people love heat and some wilt. "Lake or air conditioning?" is a fine question.
Bring a small kit: water, sunscreen, a hat and a backup plan.
Keep early dates public. Meet there and have your own ride home.
Example summer Saturday date:
8:00 am: Farmers market and iced coffee.
12:00 pm: Museum or matinee while it's hottest.
7:30 pm: Sunset picnic in the park.
9:30 pm: Stay for the stars, or head home if storms roll in.
Sunset picnics, outdoor movies, berry picking, stargazing and ice cream walks are easy favorites.
Go indoors at midday: museums, bowling, a matinee or a cooking class. Save outdoor plans for early morning or evening.
Free concerts, outdoor movies, sunrise hikes, public pools and backyard game nights cost little or nothing.
A night market, an outdoor concert or a stargazing picnic. Bring water and bug spray, and check the forecast.
SecondYes: Second Date Planner is an iPhone app for adults who have already met and want to plan a date together; it is not a dating app. Its Plan a Date flow builds three different plans from your mood, budget, area and availability, and Calendar Fit suggests free times by reading only event start and end times, on your device. You can share up to three plans in one private link that the other person opens in a web browser without installing the app.
Get SecondYes free on the App Store