Fort Smith National Historic Site in August
August at Fort Smith National Historic Site averages a daytime high near 94°F and an overnight low around 71°F, with about 3.6" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.3× the park's average month, which makes August a busy month here.
- Average low
- 71°F
- Average high
- 94°F
Range across the year: 30°F to 94°F
- Precipitation
- 3.6 in
- Daylight
- 13.3 hours
Roughly 11% of the park's yearly visitors come in August: about 13,000 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 July peak (1.7×) and the January low (0.5×).
On our Best Time to Visit score August rates 28/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is April: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 82°F is hot, with afternoons near 94°F to plan the day around. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 5.3 miles from the park.
August falls inside the park's busiest stretch: June, July and August together pull about 34% of the year's visitors, so a visit this month means sharing the park with the peak-season crowd.
You'll have about 13.3 hours of daylight in August to explore — between the 9.6-hour midwinter low and the 14.4-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 106,953 recreation visits, down 14.1% from 124,486 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 7.2%, 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 | 94°F / 72°F | 1.7× Very busy | 14 Poor |
| August | 94°F / 71°F | 1.3× Busy | 28 Poor |
| September | 87°F / 63°F | 1.6× Busy | 41 Poor |
All twelve months at Fort Smith, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Fort Smith in August
The National Park Service tags 5 Fort Smith activities for summer. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Become a Fort Smith BARK Ranger · 10-30 minutes
- Become a Fort Smith Junior Ranger · 45-60 minutes
- Explore the Parade Ground · 30-45 minutes
- Park Passport Stamps at Fort Smith NHS · 2-15 minutes
- Walk the River Loop Trail · 30-60 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
August averages a daytime high near 94°F and an overnight low around 71°F at Fort Smith National Historic Site, with about 3.6 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 5.3 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
August is busy at Fort Smith National Historic Site (about 1.3× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 28/100. Our recommended month is April.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. August sits at about 1.3× the park's average, or 11% of annual visitation.
A typical August sees about 13,000 recreation visits at Fort Smith National Historic Site, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Fort Smith in August
Booking a August trip to Fort Smith National Historic Site? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live August availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Fort Smith
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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.