August is a tough month to travel in the US. Most of the country is suffocating under heat and humidity, flights are at peak prices, and half the popular spots are so crowded you’re basically paying to stand in line with strangers. But, at the same time, I always crave a classic American summer trip.
So every year I find myself asking: where do I actually want to be right now?
After more than a decade of traveling the US every single summer, I’ve got opinions. A lot of them. This list covers the best places to visit in the USA in August, whether you’re after a beach trip, a national park adventure, a cool city escape, or somewhere that won’t make you want to die of heat. I’ve personally been to most of these places, and for the ones I haven’t visited myself, I’ve done the research so you’re getting real recs, not filler.
These are the best places to travel in the USA in August that I’ve loved. Bookmark this. You’re going to need it.
Where To Go In The USA In August (Quick Guide)
- Best for cooler weather: San Francisco, California
- Best beach destination: Outer Banks, North Carolina
- Best national park: Glacier National Park, Montana
- Best mountain getaway: Bend, Oregon
- Best city trip: Chicago, Illinois
- Best hidden gem: Madison, Wisconsin
- Best desert destination: Scottsdale, Arizona
Best Beaches to Visit in August USA
Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, Maine
Bar Harbor is what happens when a tiny fishing village decides to be the most beautiful place on the East Coast. You drive in, see the harbor, and immediately wonder why you ever went anywhere else. August is peak season here: the weather is genuinely perfect (think 70s, low humidity), the wildflowers along the park trails are in full bloom, and the lobster is exactly what you imagined.
The big draw is Acadia National Park, one of the most stunning national parks on the East Coast. Hike the Precipice Trail, one of the most thrilling hikes in the park, with iron rungs and exposed scrambling up a sheer cliff face. Then drive up Cadillac Mountain at sunrise to be one of the first people in the continental US to see the sun come up.
Worth every early alarm. There’s also a free Island Explorer bus that connects the town and the park, which means you can leave the car and actually enjoy yourself.
Stay: Sand Bar Cottage is a beautifully designed boutique hotel right on historic West Street, steps from the waterfront, fully redesigned by Ethan Allen’s Portland Old Port Design Center. For something more private and whimsical, book this charming cottage.
Eat: Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast for blueberry pancakes so stuffed with berries the edges turn blue. Geddy’s for the full lobster bake right on the waterfront. It’s an institution for a reason.
San Diego, California
August is the month for San Diego. Most people don’t know this, but June and early July here are called May Grey and June Gloom: a marine layer parks itself over the city and refuses to leave. By August it starts to finally burns off and you get long, warm, sunny days with just enough ocean breeze to keep it from feeling oppressive. I’ve been going once a year for years and even spent my 30th birthday here.
La Jolla Cove is a must. Snorkel with sea lions in the morning, and in August and September the leopard sharks gather at La Jolla Shores in huge numbers: completely harmless and incredibly cool to see. Hike the Guy Fleming Trail at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, a 1.6-mile loop with cliffside views of the Pacific that feel disproportionate to the effort.
Stay: La Jolla Cove Suites is steps from La Jolla Cove and where I stayed for my 30th. I loved being able to walk out the front door and be in the water 30 seconds later. For an Airbnb, a North Park bungalow puts you in walkable distance of the best restaurants and murals in the city.
Eat: Morning Glory for brunch (get there at opening, no reservations and the line fills fast). The Taco Stand in North Park. Half Door Brewing for the peanut butter stout and fried goat cheese.
End the night with a speakeasy crawl: start at Raised by Wolves in the UTC mall (yes, the mall, trust me) and end at Noble Experiment downtown.
Outer Banks, North Carolina
The Outer Banks are one of the best beaches to visit in August in the USA, full stop. It’s a 200-mile stretch of barrier islands off the North Carolina coast: wild horses in Corolla, the Wright Brothers Monument in Kill Devil Hills, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and miles of uncrowded beach that feel nothing like a Florida spring break situation.
August is warm, the water is swimmable, and OBX has seen a wave of cool new boutique hotels open in the last two years. Walk the Jockey’s Ridge State Park trail to climb the tallest active sand dune on the east coast, only about a 1.5-mile round trip but the views from the top feel enormous. Then head to the Bodie Island Lighthouse Trail, an easy 1.2-mile walk through coastal marsh with excellent bird watching.
Stay: The Pamlico Station Edgecamp is a hip mid-century modern feeling hotel with a sauna and vintage fireplaces. It’s a whole vibe. For a beach house experience, this cabin in Kill Devil Hill is 3 blocks from the beach and has such a cool, airy vibe for a weekend away or for groups and families.
Eat: Stack ’em High for a casual breakfast. Basnight’s Lone Cedar for waterfront dinner with local seafood that’s been a local favorite forever.
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport in August feels almost too beautiful to be real. The Gilded Age mansions line Bellevue Avenue, the Cliff Walk runs 3.5 miles along the eastern shore between the mansions and the ocean, and the town itself is walkable, charming, and genuinely great for food. It’s old-money east coast in the best way.
Walk the Cliff Walk trail for views of both the Atlantic and the back gardens of the Vanderbilt and Astor estates. It’s free, and August is peak wildflower season along the path. Then book a sail on Narragansett Bay with one of the classic wooden schooner tour companies and watch the sunset from the water.
Stay: Gardiner House is a stunning 21-room waterfront boutique hotel at Lee’s Wharf with one-of-a-kind rooms, Matouk linens, marble vanities, and coastal-inspired design. For an Airbnb, pick a historic home in the Historic Hill neighborhood or this Loft with exposed brick and that proper Newport character.
Eat: The Clarke Cooke House for a classic Newport dinner. Stoneacre Brasserie for brunch.
Gulf Shores, Alabama
I don’t think Gulf Shores gets enough credit. The water is warm and incredibly clear, the sand is white-powder soft, and it’s way less crowded than Florida beaches in August. The vibe is relaxed Southern beach town: fresh Gulf shrimp, local seafood shacks, and a lot of pelicans.
Walk the Gulf State Park Pier, the longest pier on the Gulf Coast, then kayak the Little Lagoon at sunset. The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail runs 11 miles through six different ecosystems inside Gulf State Park and it’s completely free.
Stay: The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton property set inside a 6,500-acre park with direct beach access. For a private balcony over the Gulf, a beachfront condo on West Beach Boulevard via Airbnb is the move for families.
Eat: The Hangout for the full Alabama beach experience with live music and seafood right on the sand. Cosmos Bar and Grill for a more local dinner on the bayou.
Best National Parks and Mountains to Visit in August USA
Glacier National Park, Montana
August is hands-down the best time to visit Glacier. Most of the high-altitude roads and trails don’t fully open until late July or early August, so you’ve got the full park available and the wildflowers are ridiculous. This is the national park that makes you stop mid-hike just to stare.
Drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road first thing in the morning before the crowds build. Then hike the Highline Trail from Logan Pass, an 11.8-mile route along the Continental Divide with unobstructed views the entire way and a very real chance of seeing mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and bears.
If that feels like too much, the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail from Logan Pass is only 2.7 miles round trip and still absolutely blows your mind. Bring bear spray either way.
Stay: Belton Chalet is a gorgeous 1910 historic lodge right at the west entrance with wood-paneled rooms and a wraparound porch. For a cabin near the park, search for Whitefish cabin rentals on Airbnb, just 25 minutes from the park entrance. Or, book this Silo, one of the top rated Airbnbs in the entire US.
Eat: Belton Chalet Tap Room for Montana whiskey after a long day. Serrano’s Mexican Restaurant in Whitefish for surprisingly great tacos.
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton is one of the most dramatic landscapes in the country and August is prime time. The Tetons shoot straight up from the valley floor with no foothills to soften the impact: just flat earth, then suddenly mountain, which sounds simple but in person takes your breath away.
Hike the Cascade Canyon Trail from Jenny Lake. Take the boat shuttle across the lake first (worth every dollar), then hike 4 miles up the canyon with views of the Cathedral Group the entire way. Rent a kayak on Jenny Lake in the morning before the afternoon thunderstorms roll in, because they almost always do in August.
Stay: The Anvil Hotel is that classic Jackson Hole experience: a little rustic, a little luxury and a lot of cozy. I plan on staying here next time I visit. For a log cabin feel, a Teton Village cabin on Airbnb is the move. Or if you love something a little unique, these glamping domes are very special.
Eat: The Bunnery Bakery in Jackson for breakfast. Snake River Grill for dinner.
Mount Rainier and the San Juan Islands Washington Road Trip
If you’re on the west coast in August and want to do a Washington state road trip, this combination is hard to beat. Start with Mount Rainier two hours from Seattle, then drive north to catch a ferry to the San Juan Islands for a completely different vibe.
For Rainier, leave Seattle by 6am and enter through the Nisqually entrance. Stop to photograph the mountain the moment it’s visible since it hides in clouds constantly. Hike the Skyline Trail to Myrtle Falls, a 2-mile round trip with stunning waterfall views of the peak. Catch the rainbow in Narada Falls in the afternoon when the light hits right.
Then drive north to Anacortes for the ferry to Orcas Island, the most beautiful of the San Juan Islands. Rent a kayak and paddle in Eastsound, hike the Mount Constitution Trail in Moran State Park for 360-degree views of the islands below, and eat oysters at Brown Bear Baking. The San Juan Islands in August feel like the Pacific Northwest at its absolute best.
Stay at Rainier: This cozy cabin is near the park entrance and has a firepit for late night chats and s’mores!
Stay on Orcas Island: Book this cedar cabin for that Pacific Northwest in the trees experience.
Eat: Copper Creek Inn for a salmon omelet before entering Rainier. Brown Bear Baking on Orcas Island for the oysters.
Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
Lassen is one of the most underrated national parks in the US and late August is the time to go. Many of the roads don’t fully open until mid-August, so check road conditions before you plan. Fill up on gas before you enter (there’s one station inside and it’s expensive), and download Google Maps offline because there’s zero cell service.
Hike Bumpass Hell, a 3-mile round trip to an active hydrothermal area with boiling mudpots, steaming fumaroles, and bright pools that look like another planet. The whole thing smells intensely of sulfur. Fun fact: Bumpass Hell is named after Kendall Bumpass, who discovered it in the 1860s by breaking through the crust and badly burning his leg.
The trail warns you not to step off the path. They mean it. For a harder day, hike the Cinder Cone Trail to stand inside a volcanic crater.
Stay: Summit Lake Campground for $20 per night right on the water. I loved waking up and being able to swim 20 feet from our campsite. Or book Manzanita Lake Cabins inside the park if camping isn’t your thing.
Arnold, California
Arnold is a small mountain town in the Sierra Nevadas, about 2.5 hours from the Bay Area, and one of my favorite summer places. Partly because I spent a year there renovating a cabin, and partly because the whole area is truly stunning in August: alpine lakes, giant sequoias, lavender fields, and none of the crowds you’d fight at Yosemite or Lake Tahoe.
Visit Calaveras Big Trees State Park for giant sequoias without the Yosemite parking nightmare. Swim through Natural Bridges Cave, a swimming hole where you literally float through an underground cave, which is one of the coolest things I’ve done in California. Spend an afternoon wine tasting at Locke Vineyards, which has lavender fields and is one of my favorite wineries in the state.
Stay:Whimsy Homes is my own cabin rental in Arnold. Nordic hot tub, sleeps 9, completely dog-friendly, decorated with a lot of love. It’s the only place I’d tell you to stay.
Eat: The Watering Hole for kimchi cheesesteaks (best food in the county, no contest). Bistro Espresso for a cheesecake latte. Pablito’s Basecamp Taco Truck in nearby Murphys.
Best Cities to Visit in August USA
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is one of the best US cities in August because Lake Michigan changes everything. The city sits on a freshwater lake so enormous it feels like an ocean, and when the rest of the Midwest is sweltering, the lake breeze keeps Chicago comfortable. Like, still hot but easier to manage.
The beaches at Montrose and North Avenue are packed with locals in a festive, summer-in-the-city way that’s actually fun to be part of.
I spent a lot of time in Chicago as a teenager and it holds a special place for me. Walk the Chicago Riverwalk, eat your way down Division Street, and get the deep dish at Lou Malnati’s (non-negotiable). August also means Lollapalooza in Grant Park if that’s your thing.
Stay: The Robey in Wicker Park is a design-forward boutique hotel in a 1929 Art Deco skyscraper with a rooftop pool and an incredible neighborhood. Or, at the Hoxton, a national hotel brand with chic interiors and fantastic bars.
Eat: Au Cheval for the smashburger. Avec for a late-night dinner. Girl & the Goat for a group dinner worth planning around.
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville gets a reputation as a bachelorette party city, and that’s not inaccurate. But underneath the honky-tonks on Broadway is a genuinely great food city with a fantastic live music scene and some of the best boutique hotels in the South. August is hot, but the energy doesn’t slow down and rooftop bar season is fully alive.
Walk Broadway and duck into Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge for a drink. But also get to the Bluebird Cafe in Green Hills for a writers’ round show, where Nashville songwriters perform the songs they’ve written for other artists. It’s one of the most genuinely cool live music experiences in the country. Book ahead.
Stay: The Joseph, a Luxury Collection Hotel, is stunning: converted historic building, a million dollars of Tennessee-curated artwork, and a rooftop bar with city views.
Eat: Husk Nashville for Southern food worth the hype. Arnold’s Country Kitchen for a meat-and-three lunch like a local.
Bend, Oregon
Bend in August is the dream. Sunny, dry, warm but not brutal, surrounded by the Cascades, and home to what feels like 400 breweries per capita. I grew up in the Midwest and I always compare Bend to my hometown of Madison in terms of friendliness: it has that same energy of a college town that grew up but kept its warmth.
Tube the Deschutes River in the afternoon (rental spots are right downtown), and go spelunking in the Lava River Cave with Wanderlust Tours: helmets and headlamps provided, and you descend into a mile-long lava tube that stays a consistent 42 degrees inside, which in August feels AMAZING. Also: Bend is home to the last Blockbuster Video on earth and you are legally required to go.
Stay: Campfire Hotel is a revamped roadside motel with mountain views from the rooms, a fire pit, a hot tub, and live music. Very Bend. Or, if you want to stay in a very cool dome home, this one is near town and very unique.
Eat: Sparrow Bakery for a lox bagel before anything else. Bevel Craft Brewing in the evening for fire pits, food trucks, and the full Bend experience.
San Francisco, California
I live in San Francisco, so I’m slightly biased. But here’s the thing: August in SF is the city’s best-kept secret. While the rest of the country is melting, San Francisco is wrapped in Karl the Fog, a cool marine layer that keeps temperatures in the low 60s. It’s basically natural air conditioning. Don’t call it San Fran (locals cringe). Do bring layers every single day.
Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, spend a Saturday morning at the Ferry Building farmers market, then eat tacos in the Mission and have a picnic in Dolores Park. Take a day trip to Sausalito for a waterfront lunch and a totally different view of the city.
Stay: The Fairmont San Francisco is the first Fairmont ever. It sits high on a hill with epic views of San Francisco and tons of history, I send everyone there when they’re visiting. Or, you can book this stunning Airbnb in the Castro, I put my mom up here recently and we both fell in love with the design.
Eat: Tartine Manufactory for pastries. La Ciccia in Noe Valley for the best Italian in the city. Zuni Cafe for the roast chicken if you’re celebrating something.
Austin, Texas
Austin in August is aggressively hot. Like, step outside and understand why Texans are the way they are hot. But every single swimming hole is open and that changes everything. I fell in love with Austin at a bachelorette party and have been back multiple times.
Barton Springs Pool is a natural spring-fed pool in the middle of the city and I went three times in one trip. Jacob’s Well swimming hole requires reservations now, so book ahead. Watch the Congress Avenue Bridge bat emergence at sunset: 1.5 million bats fly out from under the bridge over about 45 minutes and it’s one of the wildest things you’ll ever see.
Buy the cowboy boots at Allen’s Boots. I didn’t on my first trip and I’m still not over it.
Stay: South Congress Hotel for the planty, airy, perfect Austin vibe. For an Airbnb, I have a list of all the wacky, bougie and unique Airbnbs in Austin for you.
Eat: Cosmic Coffee for breakfast with LeRoy & Lewis BBQ food truck outside. OMG Squee Donuts (arrive before opening). Fresa’s for tacos and elote.
Pack Thigh Rescue anti-chafe balm. I said what I said.
Best Places to Visit in USA in August: Desert and Southwest
Scottsdale, Arizona
Yes, August in Scottsdale is hot. We’re talking 108 degrees hot. But Robin and I go every year for one very specific reason: the hotels drop their rates by up to 60% in summer. The same resorts that cost $600 a night in March go for $180 in August. You just have to be strategic: mornings are for hiking or seeing things, afternoons are for the pool.
Do sunrise at McDowell Sonoran Preserve before 7am (we had the trails completely to ourselves, it felt like the desert belonged to us). Then get a cabana at your resort and don’t feel guilty about it. That IS the activity. Go to The Mission for the avocado margarita, genuinely the best margarita of my life, and Diego Pops for prickly pear margaritas on the open patio. Pack a cardigan: the AC inside restaurants in August is arctic.
Stay: CIVANA Wellness Resort has free fitness classes and group hikes included with your room. Hotel Valley Ho for the historic retro-chic vibe and that fantastic pool. We stay here when we want to be closer to town.
Eat: Prep & Pastry for breakfast (get The Beni). The Mission for dinner and that avocado margarita.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe sits at 7,000 feet, which means August temperatures stay in the low 80s even when it’s brutal everywhere else. It’s the City Different: adobe architecture, world-class galleries, incredible food, and a pace of life that makes you slow down. The afternoon monsoon thunderstorms roll in most days around 3pm and then clear to the most dramatic skies you’ll ever see.
Walk Canyon Road for gallery after gallery of Southwestern and contemporary art. Then hike the Dale Ball Trails right from the city, a 22-mile trail system starting just above downtown with mountain views and pinon forest. Go early to beat the afternoon weather.
Stay: The Inn of the Five Graces is Travel + Leisure’s number one hotel in Santa Fe three years running. It’s built into a cluster of historic adobe buildings from the 1600s, every suite covered in handmade art, tribal textiles, and mosaic tile. It’s unlike anything else in the country. For an Airbnb, an adobe casita in the Eastside neighborhood gives you a private courtyard and the full Santa Fe feel.
Eat: The Shed for the red chile enchiladas, a 75-year-old Santa Fe institution. Eloisa at the Drury Plaza Hotel for a special dinner.
Best Hidden Gems to Visit in August USA
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is one of the most interesting small cities in the US. It’s got a world-class food scene, a massive craft brewery culture, the Blue Ridge Parkway running right through it, and the Biltmore Estate, the largest private home in America, right on the edge of town. August is warm but the elevation at 2,100 feet keeps it cooler than the rest of the South, and the hiking is excellent.
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway to Black Balsam Knob, a 3.2-mile out-and-back hike above the tree line with panoramic views of the Appalachians. It’s one of the best short hikes in the entire South. Then spend an evening on the South Slope brewery district hopping between Burial Beer Co. and Hi-Wire Brewing.
Stay: The Radical in the River Arts District is a posh-punk boutique hotel in a converted red brick factory and one of the coolest hotel designs going right now. Or, book this wizarding treehouse for a unique once-in-a-lifetime stay.
Eat: Buxton Hall BBQ for whole-hog barbecue. Biscuit Head for the most obscene biscuits and gravy situation you’ll encounter in your life.
Madison, Wisconsin
Everyone talks about Traverse City, Michigan in summer and I respect it. But Madison, Wisconsin is better, and most people outside the Midwest still haven’t figured that out. I grew up 20 minutes outside Madison, Robin grew up on the East Side, and summer is when this city is genuinely at its best. Locals spend nine months enduring brutal winters just to earn these three months, and the energy is electric.
August brings the Dane County Fair and sunflower farms blooming outside the city. On a Saturday morning, go to the Dane County Farmers Market around the Capitol Square, the largest producer-only farmers market in the country, then get squeaky fresh cheese curds from a vendor.
In the afternoon, have sunset beers at the UW Memorial Union Terrace with a pitcher of Spotted Cow, a Wisconsin-only beer that cannot legally be sold outside the state (a form of heartbreak). Kayak Lake Monona at golden hour and rent from Brittingham Boats.
Stay: Graduate Hotel right off State Street is a pet-friendly boutique hotel steps from the farmers market and everything downtown.
Eat: Marigold Kitchen for brunch (get the Huevos Rancheros). Ian’s Pizza for mac and cheese pizza by the slice. Babcock Ice Cream on campus for Blue Moon flavor. I’ve been eating this since childhood and it’s one of the things I miss most about living there.
Vail, Colorado
Most people think Vail equals skiing. But summer Vail is genuinely incredible and almost nobody goes, which means you get the whole mountain without the January crowds or the prices. I went for the Taste of Vail food festival with my best friend Justina, and fair warning: the altitude is real at 8,000 feet. Buy canned oxygen at the first pharmacy you see and take it easy the first day.
Hike the Booth Falls Trail, a 4.2-mile out-and-back to a gorgeous waterfall through aspen groves. Ride the Eagle Bahn Gondola up the mountain for views that make you understand why people build their lives around this place. The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens at the base of the gondola are the highest botanical gardens in the world, and they’re free.
Stay: Four Seasons Vail for the splurge of your life. Or, rent this cozy condo in Vail Village nearby all the best hiking trails and eats.
Eat: Alpenrose Gondola Dinner: they load you into converted gondola cars and serve fondue while you ride up the mountain, including a burning sugar log drink that is the most theatrically fun cocktail I’ve ever had. Book this way, way ahead. 10th Mountain Whiskey tasting room for a laid-back afternoon.
Whidbey Island, Washington
If you’ve ever seen Practical Magic, the 1998 movie was filmed in Coupeville on Whidbey Island. The harbor town looks exactly the same today, and walking down Front Street near the Coupeville Wharf, past the original filming locations including the building that was Sally’s botanical shop, is one of those genuinely fun niche travel experiences that fully delivers.
Beyond the movie nostalgia, Whidbey Island is just a beautiful place. It’s about an hour from Seattle via ferry and drive, and it feels completely separate from the city. Hike the Ebey’s Landing Trail, a 5.5-mile loop along a bluff above the Strait of Juan de Fuca with whale sighting opportunities and wildflowers in summer. Watch the sunset from Fort Ebey State Park with unobstructed views of the Olympic Mountain Range and Mount Rainier off in the distance.
Stay: The Inn at Langley is a stunning waterfront boutique inn with individually designed rooms and one of the best tasting menu dinners in the state (budget 3 hours). For an Airbnb, a cedar cabin in the Greenbank area is that Pacific Northwest in the trees experience.
Eat: Prima Bistro in Langley for French-inspired Northwest fare. Toby’s Tavern in Coupeville for a local beer and clam chowder.
The Ozarks, Missouri and Arkansas
The Ozarks is having a moment, partly because of the Netflix show, mostly because people are finally discovering it’s one of the most beautiful and underrated natural areas in the country. Crystal-clear spring-fed rivers, limestone bluffs, old-growth forests, and a real outdoors culture that feels nothing like a tourist destination.
August is peak floating season on the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. Rent an inflatable kayak and spend a half-day or full day floating through bluff canyon scenery: it’s one of the best things to do in the South in summer. For a drive, the Pig Trail Scenic Byway winds through the Ozark National Forest and is one of the prettiest road trip routes in the whole country.
Stay: Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri is a beautifully designed wilderness resort on Table Rock Lake with multiple pools and watercraft rentals.
Eat: Preacher’s Son in Fayetteville, Arkansas for dinner in a converted 1891 church. AQ Chicken House in Springdale for the broasted chicken, a 1940s institution.
FAQ: Best Places to Visit in the USA in August
Is August a good time to travel in the United States?
August can actually be a great time to travel in the US if you choose the right destinations. Many national parks reach peak accessibility in late summer when high-elevation roads and trails finally open. Coastal destinations, mountain towns, and northern states often have their best weather in August.
Where is the coolest place to visit in the USA in August?
Some of the best cooler-weather destinations in the US during August include San Francisco, Bend in Oregon, Santa Fe in New Mexico, and Madison in Wisconsin. Coastal California and mountain towns tend to stay significantly cooler than the rest of the country.
What national parks are best to visit in August?
Some of the best national parks to visit in August include Glacier National Park in Montana, Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, Mount Rainier National Park in Washington, and Lassen Volcanic National Park in California. Many high-altitude roads and trails only open fully in late July or August.
Where should I avoid traveling in the US in August?
Many southern cities and humid destinations can be extremely hot in August. Places like New York City, Washington DC, and parts of Florida often experience high heat, humidity, and large crowds during this time of year. I somehow end up in NYC every August and regret it since it can be so humid and sticky.
What are the best beach destinations in the US in August?
Some of the best beach destinations in August include the Outer Banks in North Carolina, Newport in Rhode Island, San Diego in California, Gulf Shores in Alabama, and Bar Harbor in Maine near Acadia National Park.
My Top Picks for the Best Places to Visit in the USA in August
The common thread across all of these is that they’re places where the weather actually works in your favor in August, or where there’s something so specific to the season, whether it’s the leopard sharks in San Diego, the swimming holes in Austin, the wildflowers at Glacier, or the discounted resort rates in Scottsdale, that August becomes the right time rather than just a time.
Whether you’re planning a beach trip, a national park road trip, a west coast or east coast summer drive, or a city escape from the heat, there’s genuinely nowhere else I’d want to be than somewhere on this list. If you make it to any of these places this summer, drop a comment below. I want to hear everything.
Happy travels.
