Cape Cod National Seashore in August
August at Cape Cod National Seashore averages a daytime high near 78°F and an overnight low around 64°F, with about 3" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 2.2× the park's average month, which makes August a very busy month here.
- Average low
- 64°F
- Average high
- 78°F
Range across the year: 26°F to 79°F
- Precipitation
- 3.0 in
- Daylight
- 13.7 hours
Roughly 18% of the park's yearly visitors come in August: about 731,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
It is the single busiest month of the year at Cape Cod; January, the quietest, runs only about 0.4× the average — a 6-to-1 swing between high and low season.
On our Best Time to Visit score August rates 49/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is May: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 71°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 16.5 miles from the park.
August falls inside the park's busiest stretch: June, July and August together pull about 47% of the year's visitors, so a visit this month means sharing the park with the peak-season crowd.
You'll have about 13.7 hours of daylight in August to explore — between the 9-hour midwinter low and the 15-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 3,682,771 recreation visits, down 3.7% from 3,823,242 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 7.8%, so August may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
How August compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| July | 79°F / 64°F | 2.0× Very busy | 54 Fair |
| August | 78°F / 64°F | 2.2× Very busy | 49 Fair |
| September | 71°F / 58°F | 1.5× Busy | 59 Fair |
All twelve months at Cape Cod, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Cape Cod in August
The National Park Service tags 19 Cape Cod activities for summer. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Grab a Bite at the Herring Cove Snack Bar
- Hit the Links at Highland Links · 3-4 hours · reservation required
- Become a Cape Cod Junior Ranger
- Bike the Province Lands Bike Trail · 1-2 hours
- Hike the Beech Forest Trail · 30-60 minutes
- Hike the Fort Hill Trail · 30-60 minutes
- Hike the Pamet Area Trails · 1-2 hours
- Hike the Small's Swamp Trail · 30-60 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
August averages a daytime high near 78°F and an overnight low around 64°F at Cape Cod National Seashore, with about 3 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 16.5 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
August is very busy at Cape Cod National Seashore (about 2.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 49/100. Our recommended month is May.
The busiest month is August and the quietest is January. August sits at about 2.2× the park's average, or 18% of annual visitation.
A typical August sees about 731,000 recreation visits at Cape Cod National Seashore, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Cape Cod in August
Booking a August trip to Cape Cod National Seashore? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live August availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Cape Cod
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in August.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.