If you’re wondering about the best national parks to visit in July, you’re in the right place! Summer is a popular time to visit so many of our US national parks, and for good reason. July brings wildflowers, wildlife sightings, and great hiking weather. Plus, in some parks, it’s the first month where you can expect the high altitude trails to be clear of snow.
I’m an avid national park traveler who has almost been to all 63 US national parks, and these picks are based on my experiences in the parks. Use this list to come up with ideas for a July national park trip, and guide your planning process.
I tried to keep this list short so that I could really focus on the best parks for July, but it was hard to narrow it down. For more ideas, check out my longer list of the national parks to visit in the summer.
No matter which national park you visit, please make sure to leave no trace! That includes packing out all of your trash, following all park rules, never feeding wildlife and staying on durable surfaces. Please make an effort to respect our public lands.
12 of the Best National Parks to Visit in July
1. Glacier National Park, Montana
Average temperatures in July: 69° F / 44° F
After visiting almost all of the US national parks, Glacier is my favorite. The park is home to clear alpine lakes, rugged mountain peaks, wildflower-filled valleys, and a lot of wildlife. Much of the park is not accessible all year due to the high altitude, so mid-July to mid-September tends to be the best time to visit.
A late July visit should offer great conditions for Glacier, but keep in mind that it might be quite crowded. An early July trip might bring snowy conditions, and it may mean that the popular Going-to-the-Sun Road is not yet open. It usually opens in late June, but sometimes doesn’t open until a couple weeks into July. It just depends on the weather of that particular year.
Even if you visit in early July and still have a bit of snow, the park is beautiful and there are areas you can visit at a lower altitude. I think that anytime between July and September is an amazing time to explore this incredible national park.
Tip: New in 2026, there will be a 3-hour time limit for parking at Logan Pass. If you want to stay longer for certain hikes, you’ll need to take a shuttle.
Read my itinerary for Glacier National Park
2. National Park of American Samoa
Average temperatures in July: 84° F / 77° F
If you’re trying to visit all of the US national parks, you might have thought about how you’ll make the long journey out to American Samoa. While it’s quite a distance to travel, I certainly think it’s worth the trip. I recommend combining your visit with a trip to Hawaii and flying from there.
The best time to visit American Samoa is between June and September. This is the dry season on the island, which brings less humidity and slightly cooler temperatures. July is a great time to swim and snorkel at the beaches, and enjoy the lush hiking trails.
Keep in mind that there are local customs that you’ll want to learn about before your trip. For example, swimming is not allowed at the local beaches on Sundays, so be sure to plan accordingly.
The people on the island of American Samoa are incredibly kind and welcoming, and it’s such a special place to visit.
Read my guide to visiting National Park of American Samoa
3. Katmai National Park, Alaska
Average temperatures in July: 64° F / 48° F
Katmai is a remote Alaskan national park that is one of the best places to watch brown bears in the wild. Each year, dozens of bears make their way to Brooks Falls as salmon are making their way upstream. From a safe viewing platform, you can watch the bears catch fish from a close distance.
The best time to see this incredible sight tends to be mid-July, but you might get lucky anytime during June to September. July is usually the peak of the sockeye salmon migration, but it may vary by year.
Katmai is expensive to reach, as the majority of people reach this park via small plane. You can either take a day trip, or try your luck at getting a reservation to camp or stay at the lodge. Reservations sell out quickly for camping, and are given out on a lottery basis for the lodge.
Read my guide to Katmai National Park
4. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Average temperatures in July: 69° F / 45° F
Rocky Mountain is an amazing park for hiking, scenic views and wildlife. The park is home to one of the highest paved roads in the country, and offers some stunning hiking trails for all levels.
Rocky Mountain is a high altitude park, so you might still have snow and ice at the beginning of the month. But typically, the conditions are wonderful by the end of July. It’s a great time for high altitude hiking, wildflowers and warm weather.
Rocky Mountain is one of the most visited US national parks, so timed entry reservations are required at peak times. There are two different types of reservations - one for the Bear Lake Corridor, and one for the rest of the park. The Bear Lake area is home to the most popular trails in the park, such as Dream Lake, Emerald Lake and Sky Pond.
Tip: Watch out for afternoon thunderstorms, they are common at high altitudes in the summer.
Read my summer itinerary for Rocky Mountain National Park
5. Sequoia National Park, California
Average temperatures in July: 71° F / 46° F
Sequoia is home to the largest trees in the world! The park is also home to alpine lakes, interesting rock formations, waterfalls, and more.
Sequoia sits at a high elevation, so summer is the time to go if you want to avoid snow. However, the summers can be very crowded in Sequoia.
At the beginning of the month, you might have a chance to see wildflowers. However, you might want to avoid the 4th of July holiday due to massive numbers of people.
Whenever you choose to visit, Sequoia is a beautiful park with a variety of hiking opportunities.
Read my itinerary for Sequoia and Kings Canyon
6. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Average temperatures in July: 70° F / 42° F
At a depth of almost 2,000 feet, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. Its brilliant blue color is a sight to behold. This is another high altitude park that receives a lot of snow, so you’ll want to visit during the summer to enjoy full access to the park.
Crater Lake has a 33-mile Rim Drive that goes all the way around the lake from high above. The road closes in the winter, and typically reopens sometime in June. However, during years of heavier snow, it might not open until July.
Typically, you can hike down to the lake, but the trail is currently closed until 2029 for a major rehabilitation project.
7. Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
Average temperatures in July: 50° F / 35° F
Kenai Fjords is where land, ice and water meet. The park is located on the edge of the Kenai Peninsula, and a lot of the park is only accessible from the water. The park also protects the Harding Icefield, which is the source of nearly 40 glaciers. It’s a beautiful place to see icebergs, glaciers, and lots of wildlife.
Make sure to spend some time on both land and water on a visit to Kenai Fjords. There are some stunning wildlife cruises and kayaking excursions, and the hike to see Exit Glacier is a must (or the longer Harding Icefield trail if you’re in for a challenge).
Like all of the Alaska parks, Kenai Fjords gets very cold in the winter, and the peak season is summer. July is a good time to see humpback whales, along with other wildlife such as otters, sea lions, and puffins.
Read my guide to visiting Kenai Fjords and Seward
8. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
Average temperatures in July: 77° F / 41° F
Lassen Volcanic is a unique park in Northern California known for its geothermal activity, volcanic landscapes, mountain lakes and jagged peaks. It’s an underrated park that has some really unique landscapes.
Like most of the national parks on this list, Lassen has a short season when the park is mostly clear of snow. Conditions are best for most activities between July and September. You can also enjoy wildflowers at higher altitudes in July.
9. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Average temperatures in July: 63° F / 42° F
Mount Rainier stands high above Seattle at 14,410 feet. The park has epic hiking trails, stunning flowers, still lakes and an abundance of wildlife. Mount Rainier itself is an active volcano and the most glaciated peak in the lower 48.
This is another park that has a short season when you can fully enjoy the park without much snow, and that season tends to be July through early September. While the park is beautiful year round, this is when you’ll be able to hike without microspikes and drive to the highest areas of the park.
Mount Rainier is also known for its beautiful wildflower display, which is best seen between mid-July and mid-August. Go towards the end of July for the best conditions, or earlier in the month to avoid some of the crowds.
10. Kings Canyon National Park, California
Average temperatures in July: 71° F / 31° F
Kings Canyon is a magnificent park home to a vast canyon, giant sequoia trees, and granite mountains. The park is co-managed with Sequoia, as they are right next to each other. However, Kings Canyon does not receive as many visitors as Sequoia, so you can escape some of the crowds.
The best time to visit Kings Canyon tends to be from late May to early October. The end of July and August is the busiest time, and a time where wildfires are common, so I recommend visiting at the beginning of the month.
Read my itinerary for Sequoia and Kings Canyon
11. North Cascades National Park, Washington
Average temperatures in July: 54° F / 29° F
North Cascades is an incredible park home to brilliant blue lakes, vast wilderness and incredible mountain peaks. The park is intertwined with recreation areas, so it can be difficult to actually step foot inside of the national park. Plus, a huge percentage of the park is wilderness with minimal road access.
For those looking to do challenging hikes or go backpacking, North Cascades has some amazing places to go. However, there are also some quick overlooks, such as the aqua-blue Diablo Lake.
The main road through the park, the North Cascades Highway, closes in the winter. It’s usually open between early May to late November, but this varies a lot on the year. Mid-July to late September tends to be the best time to visit, as the trails will be clear of snow and the park services will be operating.
Read my guide to North Cascades National Park
12. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska
Average temperatures in July: 58° F / 46° F
Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest US national park, and is home to huge mountains, glaciers, and millions of acres of wilderness. This is a place where you can enjoy true solitude. While Wrangell is a bit hard to reach, you don’t need a small plane to get there (unlike other Alaskan parks). You can drive in on the McCarthy Highway (unpaved and remote), and stay in the small but vibrant town of McCarthy. You can also camp, or even venture out on multi-day treks.
This area receives a lot of winter snow, so the primary time to visit Wrangell-St. Elias is between mid-May to mid-September. However, the best window to visit tends to be mid-July to mid-August.
When you visit, I recommend doing at least one guided activity, such as flightseeing, rafting, a glacier hike, touring the Kennecott Mill, or ice climbing. The guides at St. Elias Alpine Guides are amazing, and will ensure you’re safe in such an unforgiving region.
Read my guide to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Honorable Mentions
- Olympic
- Isle Royale
- Yosemite
- Mesa Verde
- Acadia
- Gates of the Arctic
- Kobuk Valley
- Denali
- Glacier Bay
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide helps you plan an amazing summer national park trip! From the far out coast of American Samoa, to some of the tallest peaks in the United States, so many US national parks are magical in the summer.
For more US National Park Guides, check out these blogs:
- The Best National Park to Visit in the Spring
- The Best National Parks to Visit in the Summer
- The Best National Parks to Visit in the Fall
- The Best National Parks to Visit in the Winter
- How to Avoid Crowds in National Parks
- A Guide to Which National Parks Require Reservations
- Exactly How to Plan a National Park Road Trip
Thanks for Reading!
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