Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in July
July at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine averages a daytime high near 90°F and an overnight low around 73°F, with about 4.7" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.4× the park's average month, which makes July a busy month here.
- Average low
- 73°F
- Average high
- 90°F
Range across the year: 30°F to 90°F
- Precipitation
- 4.7 in
- Daylight
- 14.5 hours
Roughly 12% of the park's yearly visitors come in July: about 56,000 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 Fort McHenry; January, the quietest, runs only about 0.3× the average — a 5-to-1 swing between high and low season.
On our Best Time to Visit score July rates 24/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is October: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 82°F is hot, with afternoons near 90°F to plan the day around. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 2 miles from the park.
July falls inside the park's busiest stretch: June, July and August together pull about 35% of the year's visitors, so a visit this month means sharing the park with the peak-season crowd.
You'll have about 14.5 hours of daylight in July to explore — between the 9.2-hour midwinter low and the 14.8-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2024 drew 394,175 recreation visits, down 8.3% from 429,967 in 2023.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 47.4%, so July may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
How July compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| June | 85°F / 68°F | 1.4× Busy | 43 Poor |
| July | 90°F / 73°F | 1.4× Busy | 24 Poor |
| August | 87°F / 71°F | 1.4× Busy | 34 Poor |
All twelve months at Fort McHenry, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Fort McHenry in July
The National Park Service tags 21 Fort McHenry activities for summer. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- American Anthem: 250 Years at the Home of the Brave · 45 minutes
- Fife and Drum Music Demonstration · 10-15 minutes
- Fort McHenry's Defenders · 45-60 minutes
- Weapons Demonstration · 10-15 minutes
- American Bastille · 30-45 minutes
- Living History at Fort McHenry
- Battle of Baltimore · 45-60 minutes
- Flag Talk · 20-30 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
July averages a daytime high near 90°F and an overnight low around 73°F at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, with about 4.7 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 2 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
July is busy at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (about 1.4× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 24/100. Our recommended month is October.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. July sits at about 1.4× the park's average, or 12% of annual visitation.
A typical July sees about 56,000 recreation visits at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Fort McHenry in July
Booking a July trip to Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live July availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Fort McHenry
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 July.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.