Rocky Mountain
Prime season for the tundra and alpine wildflowers.
27 prime · 18 good · August
Best National Parks to Visit in August
August is the most reliable month for the high country and the north: Mount Rainier's wildflowers, Isle Royale's backcountry, Alaska's caribou and the coast of Olympic. Wildfire smoke can affect some western parks late in the month.
Top picks for August: Rocky Mountain, Sequoia, New River Gorge, Carlsbad Caverns, Mount Rainier. Monsoon storms bring afternoon lightning to the Southwest and Colorado. Summit early.
Prime in August (27)
Sequoia
The main season.
New River Gorge
Prime whitewater rafting and climbing season.
Carlsbad Caverns
Prime time for the sunset bat flight, when hundreds of thousands of Brazilian free-tailed bats spiral out of the cave mouth.
Mount Rainier
Prime time.
Indiana Dunes
Beach season.
Channel Islands
Calmer seas and warmer water make summer the best time for kayaking and snorkeling, and blue and humpback whales feed offshore.
Glacier Bay
Prime season for the day boat, cruise ships, kayaking and humpback whales.
Olympic
The driest months by far.
Crater Lake
The short main season.
Glacier
The short main season.
Kings Canyon
Prime season for the canyon floor, the river and high-country trails like Mist Falls and Rae Lakes.
Redwood
Busiest season.
Theodore Roosevelt
The main season.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Everything is open, including the more remote North Rim.
Denali
The main season, with near-endless daylight and the most bus trips.
Kenai Fjords
Prime time for boat tours, the Harding Icefield Trail and puffins.
Lassen Volcanic
The main season, usually July to September.
Voyageurs
The main season, for houseboating, paddling and island camping.
Great Basin
The best season.
North Cascades
The best and busiest time, though 'busy' here is quiet by national park standards.
Isle Royale
The main season for backpacking and paddling.
Lake Clark
Bear viewing at Chinitna Bay and Silver Salmon Creek, plus fishing and paddling.
Wrangell–St. Elias
Prime time for Kennecott tours, glacier hikes and flightseeing.
Gates of the Arctic
The visitor season: river trips and backpacking under the midnight sun.
Kobuk Valley
Midnight sun on the sand dunes.
National Park of American Samoa
Dry season, from June to September.
Season opens in August
Kobuk Valley Opens
Last chance in August
Denali Last call
Gates of the Arctic Last call
Glacier Bay Last call
Kenai Fjords Last call
Lake Clark Last call
Wrangell–St. Elias Last call
Also good in August (18)
Katmai
July is the peak at Brooks Falls, when bears gather to catch leaping sockeye salmon.
Capitol Reef
Hot but manageable at higher elevations.
Great Sand Dunes
The sand surface can reach 150°F on summer afternoons.
Shenandoah
Green and cooler than the lowlands.
Acadia
Busy and beautiful.
Badlands
Hot, often over 90°F, with severe thunderstorms.
Bryce Canyon
Because of the high elevation, highs are mostly in the 70s and 80s.
Cuyahoga Valley
Green and busy, with concerts and the full train schedule.
Gateway Arch
Hot and humid, and the tram sells out daily.
Grand Teton
All trails, lakes and boat shuttles are open.
Great Smoky Mountains
Hot and crowded at lower elevations.
Haleakalā
Busy family travel season.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
Busy with family travel.
Mammoth Cave
Every tour runs, but they sell out.
Mesa Verde
All tours and Wetherill Mesa are open.
Wind Cave
Most cave tours are running, but they often sell out.
Yellowstone
Everything is open, and it's very busy.
Yosemite
The valley is crowded and the falls thin out, but Tioga Road and the high country around Tuolumne Meadows are at their best.
August by region
Skip these in August
Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Pinnacles, Arches, Saguaro, Big Bend, Everglades, Congaree. These parks are largely closed, snowbound or dangerously hot in August.
August questions
What are the best national parks to visit in August?
The top-rated national parks for August are Rocky Mountain National Park, Sequoia National Park, New River Gorge National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Mount Rainier National Park. In total, 27 parks are rated prime and 18 more are rated good this month.
Which national parks are least crowded in August?
Lake Clark, Wrangell–St. Elias, Gates of the Arctic, Kobuk Valley, National Park of American Samoa are at their best in August without big crowds.
Which national parks should I avoid in August?
Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Pinnacles, Arches, Saguaro, Big Bend, Everglades, Congaree are rated poor in August, usually because of closures, snow or extreme heat.
Is August a good time to visit national parks?
August is the most reliable month for the high country and the north: Mount Rainier's wildflowers, Isle Royale's backcountry, Alaska's caribou and the coast of Olympic. Monsoon storms bring afternoon lightning to the Southwest and Colorado. Summit early.
← JulySeptember →All of summer
Last reviewed October 4, 2026. Ratings are editorial. Rules and road openings change each year, so confirm on the official NPS site before you go.