Fossil Butte National Monument in August
August at Fossil Butte National Monument averages a daytime high near 82°F and an overnight low around 41°F, with about 0.9" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 2.2× the park's average month, which makes August a very busy month here.
- Average low
- 41°F
- Average high
- 82°F
Range across the year: 5°F to 83°F
- Precipitation
- 0.9 in
- Daylight
- 13.7 hours
Roughly 18% of the park's yearly visitors come in August: roughly 3,600 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 (2.8×) and the January low (0.1×).
On our Best Time to Visit score August rates 57/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is September: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 61°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 1.4 miles from the park.
August falls inside the park's busiest stretch: June, July and August together pull about 61% 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 20,626 recreation visits, down 4% from 21,491 in 2024.
How August compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| July | 83°F / 42°F | 2.8× Very busy | 51 Fair |
| August | 82°F / 41°F | 2.2× Very busy | 57 Fair |
| September | 72°F / 32°F | 1.8× Very busy | 49 Fair |
All twelve months at Fossil Butte, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Fossil Butte in August
The National Park Service tags 7 Fossil Butte activities for summer. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Cundick Ridge Trail · 1-2 hours
- Eagle Nest Point Trail · 1-2 hours
- Fossil Butte Scenic Drive
- Ranger Programs at Fossil Butte
- Rubey Point Trail · 2-3 hours
- Fossil Butte Visitor Center Exhibits · 20-60 minutes
- Historic Quarry Trail · 1-2 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
August averages a daytime high near 82°F and an overnight low around 41°F at Fossil Butte National Monument, with about 0.9 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 1.4 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
August is very busy at Fossil Butte National Monument (about 2.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 57/100. Our recommended month is September.
The busiest month is July 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 4,000 recreation visits at Fossil Butte National Monument, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Fossil Butte in August
Booking a August trip to Fossil Butte National Monument? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live August availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Fossil Butte
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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.