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The Green Adventures

Best time to visit Olympic

How busy the park gets each month, what the weather is like, and the weeks to aim for or avoid.

  • Best time to visit Olympic: May to July and September. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
  • Busiest month: August, with about 590,500 visits in a typical recent year. That is 4.4 times as many as April.
  • Quietest month: January (84,261 visits), when weather or closures keep most people away.
  • Wettest month: January, with 17.6 inches on average.
JanVery quiet47°36°17.6 in
FebVery quiet51°34°10.4 in
MarQuiet54°37°13.1 in
AprQuiet59°38°8.7 in
MayModerate64°43°5.0 inBest
JunModerate67°47°3.5 inBest
JulBusiest72°50°1.8 inBest
AugBusiest72°50°2.7 in
SepBusy70°46°4.8 inBest
OctModerate61°42°10.5 in
NovQuiet51°38°16.6 in
DecVery quiet46°34°15.0 in

Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.

Month by month

Month Crowds Visits (typical) High / low (°F) Precipitation Snow
January Very quiet 84,261 47° / 36° 17.6 in n/a
February Very quiet 98,164 51° / 34° 10.4 in n/a
March Quiet 135,531 54° / 37° 13.1 in n/a
April Quiet 134,902 59° / 38° 8.7 in n/a
May ★ Moderate 278,061 64° / 43° 5.0 in n/a
June ★ Moderate 343,747 67° / 47° 3.5 in n/a
July ★ Busiest 485,846 72° / 50° 1.8 in n/a
August Busiest 590,500 72° / 50° 2.7 in n/a
September ★ Busy 453,152 70° / 46° 4.8 in n/a
October Moderate 322,693 61° / 42° 10.5 in n/a
November Quiet 220,881 51° / 38° 16.6 in n/a
December Very quiet 108,684 46° / 34° 15.0 in n/a

Weather figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Clearwater station (80 feet above sea level), 4 miles from Kalaloch Ranger Station. Higher parts of the park are colder and snowier. Visitor numbers are the median of 2022 to 2025 monthly recreation visits from the National Park Service.

By season

  • Spring (March to May): 17% of the year’s visits; average highs 54° to 64°F.
  • Summer (June to August): 44% of the year’s visits; average highs 67° to 72°F.
  • Fall (September to November): 31% of the year’s visits; average highs 51° to 70°F.
  • Winter (December to February): 9% of the year’s visits; average highs 46° to 51°F.

Weekends and holidays

Even in a quiet month, holiday weekends fill parking lots and campgrounds. The 2027 federal holidays to plan around:

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 18
  • Presidents Day: Monday, February 15
  • Memorial Day: Monday, May 31
  • Juneteenth: Saturday, June 19
  • Independence Day: Sunday, July 4 (observed Monday, July 5)
  • Labor Day: Monday, September 6
  • Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day: Monday, October 11
  • Veterans Day: Thursday, November 11
  • Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 25

Entrance is free for U.S. residents on the park service’s fee-free days. The last one in 2026 is Veterans Day, November 11; the 2027 dates had not been announced when we checked. Free days are often busier. See the crowd calendar for all 64 parks.

Weather, in the park service’s words

Summers tend to be fair and warm, with high temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees F. July, August and September are the driest months, with heavier precipitation during the rest of the year. While winters are mild at lower elevation, snowfall can be heavy in the mountains. It is common for different weather conditions to exist within the park at the same time. At any time of year, visitors should come prepared for a variety of conditions.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Today at Olympic

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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Olympic National Park Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best month to visit Olympic?
May to July and September. August is the busiest month and April the quietest while the park is fully open.
What is the busiest month at Olympic?
August, with about 590,500 recreation visits in a typical recent year.
How crowded is Olympic in summer?
Summer brings 44% of the year’s visits; average highs 67° to 72°F.