Month guide
Best national parks to visit in July
July is the month the alpine parks have been waiting for. Snow finally clears the highest roads and meadows, Alaska is in full swing, and the Pacific coast stays cool while much of the country bakes.
Short answer
In July, go to Glacier, Mount Rainier, North Cascades, Crater Lake, Yellowstone, Olympic, Katmai, or Redwood. NOAA normals put July highs near 62F at Paradise and 66F on the Redwood coast at Klamath, cool numbers while much of the country swelters.
How the July picks were chosen
- Average daily highs at the park's NOAA station land in a comfortable hiking range for July, not a heat or cold extreme.
- July falls inside the park's own best season, or close to it, so the trip is not fighting the calendar.
- Main roads and visitor areas are typically open, with any seasonal closures called out below.
- Every number comes from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals, with the station named, so you can check the source.
Recommended parks
Each pick links to the full park guide with season tables, logistics, packing, and route context.
Going-to-the-Sun RoadGlacier
- Best for
- Logan Pass, Highline Trail, and lake paddling
- Watch
- Vehicle reservations have applied to the busiest corridors in recent summers. Check current rules before you go.
West Glacier averages 80F highs and 50F lows in July, and the park's prime window opens in mid-July, once Going-to-the-Sun Road is fully open.
July by the numbers
- Avg high
- 80F
- Avg low
- 50F
- Precip
- 1.4 in
NOAA station W GLACIER (USC00248809), West Glacier and Lake McDonald.
Pack for Glacier in July
Wildflower meadowsMount Rainier
- Best for
- Skyline Trail, Paradise meadows, and Sunrise
- Watch
- Snow can linger on upper trails into July, and timed-entry reservations have applied in recent summers.
Paradise averages 62F highs and 44F lows in July, as snow melts off the meadows and the subalpine wildflowers start their peak.
July by the numbers
- Avg high
- 62F
- Avg low
- 44F
- Precip
- 1.4 in
NOAA station RAINIER PARADISE RS (USC00456898), Paradise, on the mountain's south slope.
Pack for Mount Rainier in July
Turquoise lakesNorth Cascades
- Best for
- Diablo Lake, Cascade Pass, and the North Cascades Highway
- Watch
- Services along the highway are sparse. Fuel up in the Skagit Valley or Winthrop.
Newhalem averages 78F highs and 54F lows in July, and mid-July is when the high passes finally clear of snow.
July by the numbers
- Avg high
- 78F
- Avg low
- 54F
- Precip
- 1.4 in
NOAA station NEWHALEM (USC00455840), Newhalem on the Skagit River.
Pack for North Cascades in July
Rim Drive opensCrater Lake
- Best for
- Rim Drive, Watchman Peak, and Garfield Peak
- Watch
- The full Rim Drive opening date varies with snowpack. Confirm before you commit.
Park headquarters averages 69F highs and 41F lows in July, and mid-July is when Rim Drive and most trails are finally snow-free.
July by the numbers
- Avg high
- 69F
- Avg low
- 41F
- Precip
- 0.8 in
NOAA station CRATER LAKE NPS HQ (USC00351946), park headquarters below the rim.
Pack for Crater Lake in July
Geysers in summerYellowstone
- Best for
- Geyser basins, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and wildlife
- Watch
- July is peak crowds. Hit the geyser basins early and bring a warm layer for evenings.
Old Faithful averages 76F highs and 39F lows in July. Thin air cools fast after sunset, so the daily swing is huge.
July by the numbers
- Avg high
- 76F
- Avg low
- 39F
- Precip
- 1.3 in
NOAA station OLD FAITHFUL (USC00486845), Old Faithful, on the central plateau.
Pack for Yellowstone in July
Three climates, one parkOlympic
- Best for
- Hurricane Ridge, Hoh and Quinault rainforests, and wild beaches
- Watch
- Hurricane Ridge and the coast each need their own layers. One forecast will not cover the whole park.
Port Angeles averages 67F highs and 55F lows in July, and the Quinault rainforest side averages 73F. Summer is the drier window in a very wet park.
July by the numbers
- Avg high
- 67F
- Avg low
- 55F
- Precip
- 0.6 in
NOAA station PORT ANGELES (USC00456624), Port Angeles, the drier northern gateway (gateway station).
Pack for Olympic in July
Bears at Brooks FallsKatmai
- Best for
- Brown bears fishing for salmon, floatplane day trips
- Watch
- Brooks Camp is reached by floatplane, and weather delays are common. Leave slack in your schedule.
King Salmon, the park's headquarters town, averages 65F highs and 49F lows in July, when sockeye salmon run and bears gather at Brooks Falls.
July by the numbers
- Avg high
- 65F
- Avg low
- 49F
- Precip
- 2.5 in
NOAA station KING SALMON (USW00025503), King Salmon, the park headquarters and floatplane base (gateway station).
Pack for Katmai in July
The cool coastRedwood National and State Parks
- Best for
- Old-growth groves, coastal trails, and elk meadows
- Watch
- Morning fog is common on the coast. Inland groves are often sunnier by afternoon.
Klamath averages 66F highs and 53F lows in July with almost no rain, just 0.3 inches for the month, and the coastal air keeps the groves cool.
July by the numbers
- Avg high
- 66F
- Avg low
- 53F
- Precip
- 0.3 in
NOAA station KLAMATH (USC00044577), Klamath, on the coast inside the parks' northern section.
Pack for Redwood National and State Parks in JulyWhat to pack for the national parks in July
Built from the NOAA averages for the parks above, so it covers the whole spread, from the coldest morning to the warmest afternoon on this list.
A warm layer for mornings
The coldest pick, Yellowstone, averages 39F lows in July. A light puffy or fleece covers sunrise starts.
Layers for a big daily swing
Yellowstone swings from about 39F at dawn to 76F in the afternoon. Dress in layers you can peel off on the trail.
Sun cover and a water plan
Glacier averages 80F highs in July. Carry more water than feels necessary and cover up from the sun.
July at every national park, by the numbers
Average July highs, lows, and precipitation for the 61 national parks with a usable NOAA station, warmest first. "Best season" marks parks whose own peak window includes July. Tap a park for its full guide, or a pack link for a July packing list.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020 monthly averages, one station per park at or near its main visitor area (each park guide names its station and distance). Gateway stations sit outside the park where no in-park station publishes normals. Isle Royale and Kobuk Valley have no representative station and are left out. Averages describe a typical year, not a forecast.
Planning notes
This is peak season everywhere up high
Book lodging early, check timed-entry rules at Glacier and Mount Rainier, and start big hikes at dawn to beat both crowds and afternoon storms.
The coast is the heat escape
Redwood averages 66F highs in July at Klamath, and Olympic's Port Angeles averages 67F. When inland forecasts spike, head for ocean air.
Alaska plans ahead
Katmai flights, Denali buses, and Kenai Fjords cruises sell out. Book the core experience first, then fill the trip around it.
Frequently asked questions
What national parks should you avoid in July?
The low deserts. Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Saguaro, and Big Bend are dangerously hot in July. Save them for fall through spring.
What is the warmest national park in July?
Death Valley has the warmest July normals of any park with a NOAA station, averaging 117F highs and 91F lows. In the lower 48 the warmest are Death Valley (117F), Joshua Tree (104F), and Zion (100F), based on NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals.
Which national parks stay coolest in July?
In the lower 48, the coolest July normals belong to Mount Rainier (62F average highs), Redwood National and State Parks (66F average highs), and Olympic (67F average highs). Figures are for each park's NOAA station, named in its park guide. High elevation and ocean air do the work.
Pack and plan this trip
Gear keyed to what these parks are for, the tools to size your days and budget, and explainers worth a read before you go.
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