To evaluate the effect of milk replacer (MR) feeding rate and frequency (FF) on performance during the summer, 48 Holstein calves (BW = 40.8 ± 4.3 kg) were randomly assigned at 7 d of age to 1 of 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Treatments included 2 rates of MR allowance (0.68 [LOW] or 0.79 kg/d [HIGH] of a 26% CP and 17% fat MR) fed either 2× (0700 and 1600 h) or 3× (0700, 1600, and 2200 h) daily. Calves were housed in polyethylene hutches and managed similarly throughout the trial. Milk replacer (12.5% solids) was fed to calves based on their respective treatments until d 42 when MR allowance was reduced by 50% and offered 1×/d (0700 h) for the following 7 d until weaning. Calves remained on trial until d 63. Calf starter and water were offered ad libitum. Ambient temperature and relative humidity inside and outside hutches were measured hourly. Starter and MR intake were recorded daily. Respiration rate and rectal temperature were recorded 3×/wk. Structural growth and BW were measured weekly. Data were analyzed using the mixed procedure of SAS. The average temperature-humidity index was 77 in and outside hutches during the experiment. Feeding 3× reduced respiration rate from 3 to 6 wk of age by 10–18% (FF × time, P < 0.05) and tended to decrease rectal temperature compared with 2× only for calves fed LOW (39.27 vs. 39.44°C for 3× and 2× fed LOW, FF × MR, P = 0.06). Treatment did not affect gain in BW, hip height, wither height and body length (P > 0.42). On wk 2, calves fed LOW and HIGH had similar MR intake due to diseases (e.g., scour) and then increased to the projected intake by design (MR × time, P < 0.01). Feeding 3× tended to increase MR intake compared with 2× fed LOW (FF × MR, P = 0.07). Calves fed 3× consumed more starter during wk 8 and 9 than calves fed 2× (FF × time, P = 0.05). Starter intake was higher for LOW during wk 7 compared with HIGH (MR × time, P = 0.05). Compared with 2×, feeding calves 3× increased total DMI during wk 4, 5, 8 and 9 (FF × time, P < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding MR 3× during summer may reduce heat strain on calves and increase intake, but did not alter growth.