Pool swim season in Lawrence, KS

When can you swim in an outdoor pool in Lawrence, KS?

An unheated pool in Lawrence reaches 78°F in Jul to Aug, about 2 months a year. The air allows up to 5 swimmable months with a heater (May to Sep).

1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D

What each heater buys you in Lawrence

For a 450 sq ft pool held at 80°F, at KS prices of 15.3¢/kWh electricity and $15/Mcf gas. All-in spreads the purchase over the equipment's life.

The cheapest way to the full season in Lawrence

Solar cover only: 4 of 5 possible months for about $50 a year all-in, which works out near $25 for each month it adds.

Before you pay for any heater, buy a solar cover: on its own it adds 2 months here for about $50 a year (why a cover comes first). If you get quotes, ask for gas as well as a heat pump: once the purchase price is counted, gas comes out cheaper all-in here (heat pump or gas).

Weather station: Lawrence, 0.8 mi away (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Water temperature is estimated from air and sunshine, not measured.

Lawrence month by month: air, sun and pool water

Heating costs most in May (about $102 with a heat pump, $198 with gas). Sunshine peaks in Jun at 6.7 kWh/m²/day (NASA satellite data, 55.0 km grid cell). Highlighted months are swimmable with no heater.

How Lawrence compares with nearby cities

Lawrence ranks 22 of 38 Kansas cities for unheated swim months, and no nearby city gets a longer unheated season.