Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park in August
August at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park averages a daytime high near 82°F and an overnight low around 65°F, with about 3.5" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.2× the park's average month, which makes August a busy month here.
- Average low
- 65°F
- Average high
- 82°F
Range across the year: 23°F to 84°F
- Precipitation
- 3.5 in
- Daylight
- 13.5 hours
Roughly 10% of the park's yearly visitors come in August: about 466,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes August the 3rd-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the June peak (1.3×) and the January low (0.6×).
On our Best Time to Visit score August rates 48/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is October: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 74°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 7.8 miles from the park.
August falls inside the park's busiest stretch: June, July and August together pull about 31% of the year's visitors, so a visit this month means sharing the park with the peak-season crowd.
You'll have about 13.5 hours of daylight in August to explore — between the 9.3-hour midwinter low and the 14.7-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 4,579,704 recreation visits, up 3.6% from 4,421,276 in 2024.
How August compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| July | 84°F / 67°F | 1.3× Busy | 44 Poor |
| August | 82°F / 65°F | 1.2× Busy | 48 Fair |
| September | 76°F / 57°F | 1.2× Busy | 50 Fair |
All twelve months at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal in August
The National Park Service tags 8 Chesapeake & Ohio Canal activities for summer. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Take a Boat Ride on the Canal · 1-1 hours
- Explore the C&O Canal Williamsport Visitors Center · 20-60 minutes
- Explore the Trolley Barn at Cushwa Basin · 15-60 minutes
- Bike the C&O Canal Towpath · 3-5 days
- Explore the Georgetown Waterfront · 60-160 minutes
- Multi-Park Loop
- Paddle the Middle Potomac · 2-4 days
- Take the Scenic Route on the Potomac Heritage Trail · 1-8 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
August averages a daytime high near 82°F and an overnight low around 65°F at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, with about 3.5 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 7.8 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
August is busy at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (about 1.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 48/100. Our recommended month is October.
The busiest month is June and the quietest is January. August sits at about 1.2× the park's average, or 10% of annual visitation.
A typical August sees about 466,000 recreation visits at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Chesapeake & Ohio Canal in August
Booking a August trip to Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live August availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Chesapeake & Ohio Canal
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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.