Katmai National Park & Preserve in August
August at Katmai National Park & Preserve averages a daytime high near 61°F and an overnight low around 45°F, with about 4.4" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 3.2× the park's average month, which makes August a very busy month here.
- Average low
- 45°F
- Average high
- 61°F
Range across the year: 10°F to 62°F
- Precipitation
- 4.4 in
- Daylight
- 15.2 hours
Roughly 26% of the park's yearly visitors come in August: about 14,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes August the 2nd-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (5.1×) and the January low (0×).
On our Best Time to Visit score August rates 58/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is June: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 53°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 43.6 miles from the park.
August falls inside the park's busiest stretch: June, July and August together pull about 83% of the year's visitors, so a visit this month means sharing the park with the peak-season crowd.
You'll have about 15.2 hours of daylight in August to explore — between the 6-hour midwinter low and the 18-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2023 drew 33,763 recreation visits, down 34.5% from 51,511 in 2020.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 10.3%, 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 | 62°F / 46°F | 5.0× Very busy | 39 Poor |
| August | 61°F / 45°F | 3.2× Very busy | 58 Fair |
| September | 54°F / 39°F | 1.8× Very busy | 61 Good |
All twelve months at Katmai, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Katmai in August
The National Park Service tags 8 Katmai activities for summer. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Boating in Katmai National Park and Preserve · reservation required
- Take a Guided Tour to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes · 7 hours · reservation required
- Watch the Katmai Bearcam
- Hike to Dumpling Overlook
- Watch Bears at Brooks Camp
- Become A Katmai Jr. Ranger · 30-90 minutes
- Become a Not-So-Junior Ranger at Katmai
- Explore Katmai by Air · reservation required
Frequently Asked Questions
August averages a daytime high near 61°F and an overnight low around 45°F at Katmai National Park & Preserve, with about 4.4 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 43.6 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
August is very busy at Katmai National Park & Preserve (about 3.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 58/100. Our recommended month is June.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. August sits at about 3.2× the park's average, or 26% of annual visitation.
A typical August sees about 14,000 recreation visits at Katmai National Park & Preserve, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Katmai in August
Booking a August trip to Katmai National Park & Preserve? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live August availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Katmai
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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.