We’ve discussed the best national parks to visit in winter, fall, and spring, but what about summer? Summer is, after all, prime travel season. Honestly, I’ve put off writing this one because there are so many amazing national parks to visit in summer that I wasn’t sure I could narrow it down. I did manage it though.
Below is a list of my very favorite national parks to visit when the weather is hot.
Olympic National Park
Easily my favorite national park in the whole country, Olympic National Park in Washington is a must-see. This is one of the most ecologically diverse parks out there, meaning you get three completely different ecosystems in one amazing park. These include glacier capped mountains, a temperate rainforest (yes, an actual rainforest), and some of the most gorgeous coastline I’ve ever seen.
The Hoh Rainforest is the most unique part of the park and really is magical. It features countless knobby, misshapen, moss draped trees that feel like something from another planet and the giant banana slugs found all over the rainforest are incredible.
Across from the rainforest, is the coastline. My family absolutely adored Ruby beach and I’d even go so far as to say it’s one of my favorite beaches in the country. The driftwood found in the water is perfect for making make-shift rafts and the seastacks provide an interesting view, especially as the sun sets.
We have yet to make it to the mountains of this park, but I assume they are equally awesome.
Glacier National Park
Olympic National Park is my favorite, but my husband’s favorite is Glacier National Park in Montana. Summer is the time to visit this one because this is the only time the entire park is open, including the amazing Going-to-the-Sun Road.
The crystal clear lakes in this park are unlike anything I’ve ever seen and the mountains provide some of the most dramatic scenery in the country. We also spotted lots of wildlife in this park, including mountain goats and bighorn sheep.
It is important to note that Glacier requires timed entry passes in the summer. When we were there, we did manage to snag a pass, but we just went in the evenings and because sunset is so late in Montana in the summer, we had plenty of time to see the park.
North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park in Washington surprised me. It’s not a very popular park, so I didn’t expect much. What we got was some seriously spectacular scenery that I will never forget. The feature that stood out the most? The insanely turquoise waters.
Summer is the best time to visit because the park is super far north, meaning it’s cold most of the year. In summer though, the sun shines, the snow melts and all the park’s amazing trails are accessible. Even in summer, this park doesn’t see a whole lot of visitors, so expect plenty of solitude, which is exactly what I like.
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park in Maine is probably my second favorite national park. The granite cliffs that butt right up to the Atlantic shoreline are just breathtaking, and the pine forests are perfect for hiking.
While in the park, be sure to walk across the water at low tide and visit Bar Island and drive up Cadillac Mountain to be among the first in the US to see the sunrise. We also really enjoyed Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, discovering a sea cave, and exploring the trails on Mount Desert Island.
Note that Acadia is VERY busy during the summer months. Pack your patience!
Lassen Volcanic National Park
I love Yellowstone National Park and wanted to include it on this list, but honestly, the park is so crowded during the summer months that I have a hard time recommending a summertime visit. Instead, I recommend a visit to the lesser known Lassen Volcanic National Park in California.
This park features some geothermal features that are reminiscent of Yellowstone. It also offers a fascinating mix of volcanic landscapes and includes every type of volcano there is. Summer is the only time that all roads and trails are accessible, and I highly recommend exploring as many of these roads and trails as you can.
We visited in later summer and still ended up chilly and wearing jackets during our time there. Keep that in mind as you plan.
Rocky Mountain National Park
It took us a long time to finally make our way to Rocky Mountain National Park. In fact, we just finished up our visit to this incredible place and honestly, it’s a shame we waited so long.
This is easily one of the best national parks to visit in summer. Thanks to the higher elevation of the park, it is rarely hot and the whole place comes to live during the summer months. We saw all sorts of animals, including elk, mule deer, and lots and lots of birds. The entire place was green, and the waterfalls, rivers, and creeks were running strong thanks to the snow melt that happens in late spring and early summer.
Because we visited early in the season, Trail Ridge Road was still closed at a certain point. If you’re hoping to drive across the park, this is something to keep in mind. That said, we still found plenty to see and do on the Estes Park side of the park. We especially loved Bear Lake Road.
Note that you do need a timed entry pass to get into the park during the summer and if you hope to see Bear Lake Road, you will need to ensure you get the pass that includes this area of the park.
Planning a Summer National Parks Trip
Want to see multiple parks in one summer? That’s totally possible. You might consider visiting North Cascades and Olympic together and tossing Mount Rainier and Crater Lake in for good measure. Glacier and Yellowstone can also go together. Sit down with a map and see what kinds of awesome routes you can come up with!
Practical summer tips:
- Book early: Lodging inside parks often fills months ahead.
- Expect crowds: Arrive early in the morning or late afternoon for quieter experiences.
- Prepare for weather swings: Even in summer, high elevations can drop near freezing at night.
- Wildlife safety: Maintain distance, especially in Yellowstone and Glacier.
- Flexibility matters: Wildfires, road closures, or snowpack can shift access even in peak summer.
As you can see, there are lots of amazing national parks to visit in summer. Don’t think these are right for you? Don’t be afraid to look at other options. These are my favorites, but they are far from the only great choices.
