Best places to visit in North America in August

North America

Canada · 25°C (77°F) · 11 rainy days

Montreal

French-speaking bistros, cobbled Old Montreal and a festival nearly every summer week. Summer continues, with big music festivals and Pride filling the calendar.

Canada · 26°C (79°F) · 9 rainy days

Toronto

Lakefront towers, global food neighbourhoods and Niagara Falls within reach. Summer continues; the Caribbean Carnival parade and the CNE fair draw huge crowds.

Canada · 22°C (72°F) · 5 rainy days

Vancouver

Seawall walks, mountains across the harbour and Pacific seafood. Warm and dry; smoke from wildfires in the interior occasionally brings hazy days.

United States · 18°C (64°F) · 14 rainy days

Anchorage

Alaska's gateway city, with mountains, moose and glaciers on the doorstep. Wetter, with berries ripening and silver salmon running; nights begin to darken.

Canada · 23°C (73°F) · 9 rainy days

Calgary

Stampede city on the Bow River, an hour from the Rocky Mountains. Warm and dry; wildfire smoke from distant fires can haze the sky some years.

United States · 30°C (86°F) · 9 rainy days

Denver

Mile-high city of craft beer, museums and Rocky Mountain day trips. Warm with afternoon storms; peak mountain hiking and Palisade peach season.

Canada · 22°C (72°F) · 12 rainy days

Banff

Turquoise lakes, hot springs and a mountain town inside a national park. Still peak season; wildfire smoke can haze the views in some years.

United States · 28°C (82°F) · 3 rainy days

Portland

Food carts, gardens, bookshops and the Columbia Gorge on the doorstep. Warm and dry; wildfire smoke can occasionally haze the sky in late summer.

Canada · 24°C (75°F) · 14 rainy days

Quebec City

A walled French-speaking old town on a cliff above the St. Lawrence. Warm and busy, with cooler nights by the end of the month.

United States · 26°C (79°F) · 4 rainy days

Seattle

Pike Place Market, Puget Sound ferries and mountain views on clear days. Warmest and driest month and the best for Mount Rainier's wildflower meadows; wildfire smoke can haze the views some years.

Beach, city or budget: August picks by trip type

What's on in August

Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.

• Montreal: Osheaga — music festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau (usually early August)
• Toronto: Toronto Caribbean Carnival grand parade (usually the Civic Holiday weekend in early August)
• Vancouver: Vancouver Pride Parade (usually the BC Day weekend in early August)
• Anchorage: Alaska State Fair in Palmer (usually late August to early September)
• Calgary: GlobalFest — international fireworks festival (usually mid-to-late August)
• Quebec City: Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France — costumed festival of New France history (usually early August)
• Seattle: Seafair Weekend with hydroplane races and an air show (usually early August)

Daylight in August

Day length on these trips ranges from about 13.7 hours in Denver to 15.8 hours in Anchorage (sunrise to sunset on 15 August). Longer days mean more sightseeing time; shorter ones favour museums, food and evenings.

August weather compared

Questions travellers ask