Mount Rainier National Park in August
August at Mount Rainier National Park averages a daytime high near 64°F and an overnight low around 45°F, with about 1.6" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 2.9× the park's average month, which makes August a very busy month here.
- Average low
- 45°F
- Average high
- 64°F
Range across the year: 22°F to 64°F
- Precipitation
- 1.6 in
- Daylight
- 14.0 hours
Roughly 24% of the park's yearly visitors come in August: about 368,000 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 (3×) and the February low (0.1×).
On our Best Time to Visit score August rates 39/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is September: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 54°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 5.4 miles from the park.
August falls inside the park's busiest stretch: June, July and August together pull about 62% of the year's visitors, so a visit this month means sharing the park with the peak-season crowd.
You'll have about 14 hours of daylight in August to explore — between the 8.3-hour midwinter low and the 15.7-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 1,635,342 recreation visits, up 0.9% from 1,620,006 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 18.2%, so a August visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.
How August compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| July | 62°F / 44°F | 3.0× Very busy | 40 Poor |
| August | 64°F / 45°F | 2.9× Very busy | 39 Poor |
| September | 57°F / 41°F | 1.7× Very busy | 44 Poor |
All twelve months at Mount Rainier, with the best time to visit.
Seasonal closures in August 2027
The National Park Service lists these Mount Rainier facilities as closed during August 2027. The dates are the park's own, read on October 11, 2026. A facility that is not listed here may still be closed, so confirm on the park's site before you go.
- Sunrise Visitor Center (visitor center): closed from August 7, 2027 to September 30, 2027
Things to do at Mount Rainier in August
The National Park Service tags 40 Mount Rainier activities for summer. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- A Day In Sunrise · 2-8 hours
- A Half-Day in Paradise · 2-4 hours
- Bicycling at Mount Rainier National Park · 4-8 hours
- Explore Tipsoo Lake · 0-4 hours
- Hike to Burroughs Mountain · 3-6 hours
- Hike to Spray Falls · 2-3 hours
- Photograph Wildflowers in the Subalpine Meadows · 15 minutes
- Star Gazing at Sunrise · 30-120 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
August averages a daytime high near 64°F and an overnight low around 45°F at Mount Rainier National Park, with about 1.6 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 5.4 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
August is very busy at Mount Rainier National Park (about 2.9× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 39/100. Our recommended month is September.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is February. August sits at about 2.9× the park's average, or 24% of annual visitation.
A typical August sees about 368,000 recreation visits at Mount Rainier National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Mount Rainier in August
Booking a August trip to Mount Rainier National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live August availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Mount Rainier
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 August.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.