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Crowd calendar · August

The best national parks to visit in August

Last verified 18 parks in shoulder season
August puts 18 national parks in shoulder season: open, past or before the peak, and quieter for it. 33 others are at full tilt. Here’s the whole picture, ranked from five years of National Park Service visitor counts.

Big names in shoulder season

The % badge is August’s visitors as a share of the park’s busiest month.

Shoulder season · 18 parks

Our August picks, quietest first

Each park in a month that borders its busy season, ranked by how far below its own peak it runs. Open for business, without the crush. Parks right at the start or end of their season come last.
  • Quiet · under 40% of peak
  • Moderate · 40–69%
  • Busy · 70–89%
  • Peak · 90%+
  • Near-zero visits (likely closed)
  1. 1

    1. Gateway Arch National ParkMissouriIts quiet month

    Gateway Arch averages 217,260 visits in August, 46% of its July peak. Crowds are thinning: 100% in July, 29% in September. By our rule, this is Gateway Arch's quiet shoulder month.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 11, Feb 13, Mar 35, Apr 32, May 36, Jun 49, Jul 100, Aug 46, Sep 29, Oct 26, Nov 22, Dec 20.
    August 2025: 246,139
  2. 2

    2. Capitol Reef National ParkUtah

    Capitol Reef averages 108,049 visits in August, 51% of its May peak. July runs 58% and September 80%.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 8, Feb 10, Mar 44, Apr 70, May 100, Jun 82, Jul 58, Aug 51, Sep 80, Oct 80, Nov 30, Dec 15.
    August 2025: 110,159
  3. 3

    3. Canyonlands National ParkUtahIts quiet month

    Canyonlands averages 64,013 visits in August, 52% of its May peak. July runs 59% and September 81%. By our rule, this is Canyonlands' quiet shoulder month.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 9, Feb 14, Mar 64, Apr 88, May 100, Jun 76, Jul 59, Aug 52, Sep 81, Oct 79, Nov 35, Dec 16.
    August 2025: 61,026
  4. 4

    4. Lassen Volcanic National ParkCaliforniaIts quiet month

    Lassen Volcanic averages 60,701 visits in August, 56% of its July peak. Crowds are thinning: 100% in July, 47% in September. By our rule, this is Lassen Volcanic's quiet shoulder month.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 8, Feb 7, Mar 6, Apr 11, May 31, Jun 72, Jul 100, Aug 56, Sep 47, Oct 35, Nov 9, Dec 6.
    August 2025: 107,872
  5. 5

    5. Carlsbad Caverns National ParkNew Mexico

    Carlsbad Caverns averages 31,512 visits in August, 62% of its July peak. Crowds are thinning: 100% in July, 53% in September.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 38, Feb 39, Mar 92, Apr 73, May 67, Jun 88, Jul 100, Aug 62, Sep 53, Oct 55, Nov 55, Dec 63.
    August 2025: 36,492
  6. 6

    6. Hot Springs National ParkArkansasIts quiet month

    Hot Springs averages 215,900 visits in August, 62% of its June peak. Crowds are thinning: 83% in July, 37% in September. By our rule, this is Hot Springs' quiet shoulder month.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 37, Feb 59, Mar 72, Apr 68, May 66, Jun 100, Jul 83, Aug 62, Sep 37, Oct 43, Nov 43, Dec 39.
    August 2025: 256,523
  7. 7

    7. Petrified Forest National ParkArizona

    Petrified Forest averages 42,478 visits in August, 66% of its June peak. July runs 84% and September 67%.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 37, Feb 33, Mar 74, Apr 66, May 91, Jun 100, Jul 84, Aug 66, Sep 67, Oct 70, Nov 45, Dec 46.
    August 2025: 32,454
  8. 8

    8. Mammoth Cave National ParkKentucky

    Mammoth Cave averages 68,409 visits in August, 69% of its July peak. Crowds are thinning: 100% in July, 58% in September.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 15, Feb 21, Mar 62, Apr 63, May 62, Jun 84, Jul 100, Aug 69, Sep 58, Oct 56, Nov 33, Dec 29.
    August 2025: 79,800
  9. 9

    9. Great Sand Dunes National Park & PreserveColoradoIts quiet month

    Great Sand Dunes averages 68,987 visits in August, 73% of its June peak. Crowds are thinning: 96% in July, 53% in September. By our rule, this is Great Sand Dunes' quiet shoulder month.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 6, Feb 8, Mar 21, Apr 28, May 76, Jun 100, Jul 96, Aug 73, Sep 53, Oct 41, Nov 14, Dec 9.
    August 2025: 61,477
  10. 10

    10. Dry Tortugas National ParkFlorida

    Dry Tortugas averages 6,431 visits in August, 74% of its May peak. Crowds are thinning: 86% in July, 67% in September. No road in: you arrive by boat or plane, per NPS.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 81, Feb 75, Mar 91, Apr 91, May 100, Jun 94, Jul 86, Aug 74, Sep 67, Oct 57, Nov 74, Dec 84.
    August 2025: 7,087
  11. 11

    11. Biscayne National ParkFloridaIts quiet month

    Biscayne averages 45,382 visits in August, 74% of its May peak. Crowds are thinning: 95% in July, 74% in September. By our rule, this is Biscayne's quiet shoulder month.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 74, Feb 81, Mar 96, Apr 90, May 100, Jun 81, Jul 95, Aug 74, Sep 74, Oct 59, Nov 66, Dec 77.
    August 2025: 45,826
  12. 12

    12. Mesa Verde National ParkColorado

    Mesa Verde averages 69,686 visits in August, 74% of its June peak. Crowds are thinning: 95% in July, 66% in September.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 7, Feb 7, Mar 17, Apr 30, May 60, Jun 100, Jul 95, Aug 74, Sep 66, Oct 52, Nov 15, Dec 9.
    August 2025: 62,596
  13. 13

    13. Crater Lake National ParkOregon

    Crater Lake averages 124,790 visits in August, 76% of its July peak. Crowds are thinning: 100% in July, 49% in September.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 4, Feb 4, Mar 7, Apr 10, May 22, Jun 44, Jul 100, Aug 76, Sep 49, Oct 23, Nov 7, Dec 4.
    August 2025: 189,696
  14. 14

    14. Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNorth Carolina · Tennessee

    Great Smoky Mountains averages 1,220,408 visits in August, 76% of its October peak. Crowds are thinning: 96% in July, 74% in September.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 26, Feb 30, Mar 55, Apr 64, May 77, Jun 91, Jul 96, Aug 76, Sep 74, Oct 100, Nov 62, Dec 47.
    August 2025: 998,056
  15. 15

    15. Arches National ParkUtah

    Arches averages 149,709 visits in August, 77% of its May peak. July runs 87% and September 84%.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 19, Feb 26, Mar 74, Apr 83, May 100, Jun 97, Jul 87, Aug 77, Sep 84, Oct 77, Nov 44, Dec 25.
    August 2025: 150,262
  16. 16

    16. Zion National ParkUtah

    Zion averages 462,033 visits in August, 77% of its June peak. July runs 92% and September 79%.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 23, Feb 25, Mar 68, Apr 81, May 94, Jun 100, Jul 92, Aug 77, Sep 79, Oct 82, Nov 50, Dec 36.
    August 2025: 476,657
  17. 17

    17. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & PreserveAlaska

    Wrangell–St. Elias averages 20,077 visits in August, 78% of its July peak. Crowds are thinning: 100% in July, 25% in September.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 0, Feb 0, Mar 1, Apr 2, May 18, Jun 71, Jul 100, Aug 78, Sep 25, Oct 2, Nov 0, Dec 0.
    August 2025: 30,887
  18. 18

    18. Katmai National Park & PreserveAlaska

    Katmai averages 9,914 visits in August, 79% of its July peak. Crowds are thinning: 100% in July, 44% in September. No road in: you arrive by boat or plane, per NPS.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 0, Feb 0, Mar 0, Apr 0, May 1, Jun 34, Jul 100, Aug 79, Sep 44, Oct 2, Nov 0, Dec 0.
    August 2025: 10,533

Low season · 8 parks

Quiet in August, often for a reason

These parks still draw at least 30% of their peak, but the month sits away from their busy season. Low season can mean heat, cold, rain or partial closures, so check the park's nps.gov page before planning around it.

  1. Joshua Tree National ParkCalifornia

    Joshua Tree averages 140,063 visits in August, 34% of its March peak. Crowds are building: 33% in July, 39% in September.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 64, Feb 72, Mar 100, Apr 89, May 62, Jun 43, Jul 33, Aug 34, Sep 39, Oct 51, Nov 76, Dec 83.
    August 2025: 142,794

  2. Congaree National ParkSouth Carolina

    Congaree averages 13,657 visits in August, 47% of its May peak. July runs 59% and September 58%.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 48, Feb 55, Mar 98, Apr 85, May 100, Jun 71, Jul 59, Aug 47, Sep 58, Oct 73, Nov 72, Dec 59.
    August 2025: 20,223

  3. White Sands National ParkNew Mexico

    White Sands averages 46,436 visits in August, 47% of its March peak. Crowds are thinning: 67% in July, 47% in September.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 43, Feb 42, Mar 100, Apr 78, May 71, Jun 63, Jul 67, Aug 47, Sep 47, Oct 54, Nov 52, Dec 58.
    August 2025: 49,344

  4. Death Valley National ParkCalifornia · Nevada

    Death Valley averages 75,918 visits in August, 47% of its March peak. Crowds are thinning: 51% in July, 38% in September.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 58, Feb 73, Mar 100, Apr 88, May 66, Jun 46, Jul 51, Aug 47, Sep 38, Oct 55, Nov 68, Dec 72.
    August 2025: 97,214

  5. Virgin Islands National ParkUS Virgin Islands

    Virgin Islands averages 19,503 visits in August, 49% of its March peak. Crowds are thinning: 79% in July, 34% in September.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 88, Feb 83, Mar 100, Apr 91, May 81, Jun 81, Jul 79, Aug 49, Sep 34, Oct 40, Nov 69, Dec 89.
    August 2025: 25,507

  6. Pinnacles National ParkCalifornia

    Pinnacles averages 21,800 visits in August, 56% of its April peak. Crowds are thinning: 72% in July, 51% in September.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 60, Feb 67, Mar 97, Apr 100, May 95, Jun 78, Jul 72, Aug 56, Sep 51, Oct 55, Nov 63, Dec 59.
    August 2025: 23,931

  7. Shenandoah National ParkVirginia

    Shenandoah averages 179,435 visits in August, 56% of its October peak. Crowds are thinning: 59% in July, 48% in September.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 8, Feb 9, Mar 23, Apr 40, May 50, Jun 53, Jul 59, Aug 56, Sep 48, Oct 100, Nov 48, Dec 11.
    August 2025: 215,114

  8. Everglades National ParkFlorida

    Everglades averages 61,469 visits in August, 59% of its February peak. Crowds are thinning: 68% in July, 42% in September.

    Crowd index by month: Jan 99, Feb 100, Mar 99, Apr 86, May 67, Jun 67, Jul 68, Aug 59, Sep 42, Oct 37, Nov 58, Dec 72.
    August 2025: 50,464

Peak season · 33

Expect crowds in August

Deep off-season

Under 30% of the peak: few visitors, and services may be limited.

Likely closed · 0

Near-zero visits

Every national park averages real visitor numbers in August. Individual roads and campgrounds can still be closed.

How we rank

Crowds, not weather

Every number here is National Park Service recreation visits, averaged by calendar month over 2021–2025. A park’s crowd index compares each month with its own busiest month (100). Peak season is 80 or above; shoulder months border the peak and still reach 30. We rank shoulder months quietest first.

We don’t score weather, and a quiet month can be quiet because of it. The crowd calendar has the full method and every park’s twelve months side by side; each park page links to its nps.gov conditions.

August 2025 at a glance

The small figure on each row is the park’s actual August 2025 count from NPS Visitor Use Statistics. Unusual months are kept as reported and flagged in the text.

FAQ

National parks in August, answered

What are the best national parks to visit in August?
For fewer crowds without the off-season, look at the parks in shoulder season in August: Gateway Arch, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Lassen Volcanic, Carlsbad Caverns and Hot Springs, and 12 more. They're ranked quietest first on this page, from NPS visitor counts for 2021–2025.
Which national parks are busiest in August?
33 parks are in peak season in August, led by Acadia, Olympic, Yosemite and Denali. For Acadia, Olympic, Yosemite and Denali, August is the busiest month of the year.
Which national parks are closed in August?
No national park averages near-zero visits in August, but individual roads, campgrounds and visitor centers do close seasonally. Check the park's nps.gov page.
Is August a busy month in the national parks?
Across all 63 parks combined, August averages about 12,105,349 recreation visits, the 2nd busiest month of the year (2021–2025 average).

Sources · 2

  1. 1.NPS Visitor Use Statistics — monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (IRMA stats REST service) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior) — Visitor Use Statistics Program
  2. 2.NPS Visitor Use Statistics Definitions · National Park Service

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