Best places to visit in North America in July

North America

Canada · 26°C (79°F) · 12 rainy days

Montreal

French-speaking bistros, cobbled Old Montreal and a festival nearly every summer week. Warm to hot and sometimes humid, with outdoor festivals almost every week; 1 July is also Quebec's Moving Day, when many leases end and streets fill with furniture.

Canada · 27°C (81°F) · 10 rainy days

Toronto

Lakefront towers, global food neighbourhoods and Niagara Falls within reach. Hot and humid with occasional thunderstorms; the islands, beaches and patios are at their busiest.

Canada · 22°C (72°F) · 5 rainy days

Vancouver

Seawall walks, mountains across the harbour and Pacific seafood. Dry, sunny and comfortable: peak season for beaches, hiking and festivals, with the highest hotel prices.

United States · 19°C (66°F) · 11 rainy days

Anchorage

Alaska's gateway city, with mountains, moose and glaciers on the doorstep. The warmest month, with salmon in Ship Creek and the busiest tours and hotels.

Canada · 22°C (72°F) · 13 rainy days

Banff

Turquoise lakes, hot springs and a mountain town inside a national park. Warmest and busiest month: all trails open, lakes at their brightest, and very busy roads and parking.

Canada · 23°C (73°F) · 11 rainy days

Calgary

Stampede city on the Bow River, an hour from the Rocky Mountains. Warm, sunny days and cool nights; the Stampede makes it the busiest and most expensive month.

United States · 31°C (88°F) · 9 rainy days

Denver

Mile-high city of craft beer, museums and Rocky Mountain day trips. Hottest month, though dry air makes evenings cool; afternoon storms are common in the mountains.

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

Portland

Food carts, gardens, bookshops and the Columbia Gorge on the doorstep. Dry and sunny, ideal for the Gorge and Mount Hood; heatwaves can push temperatures well above 35°C.

Canada · 25°C (77°F) · 15 rainy days

Quebec City

A walled French-speaking old town on a cliff above the St. Lawrence. Peak summer: warm, occasionally humid, and the busiest month in the old town.

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

Seattle

Pike Place Market, Puget Sound ferries and mountain views on clear days. Dry, sunny and warm — peak season, with the highest hotel rates and busy ferries; occasional wildfire smoke from late July.

Beach, city or budget: July picks by trip type

What's on in July

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

• Montreal: Canada Day (1 July)
• Toronto: Canada Day — fireworks and events citywide (1 July)
• Vancouver: Canada Day at Canada Place (1 July)
• Anchorage: Fourth of July parade and events downtown (4 July)
• Banff: Canada Day parade and celebrations in Banff (1 July)
• Calgary: Calgary Stampede (ten days, usually early-to-mid July)
• Denver: Fourth of July fireworks (4 July)
• Portland: Waterfront Blues Festival (usually around 4 July)
• Quebec City: Festival d'été de Québec — large outdoor music festival (usually early-to-mid July)
• Seattle: Seafair festival events (usually July to early August)

Daylight in July

Day length on these trips ranges from about 14.7 hours in Denver to 18.5 hours in Anchorage (sunrise to sunset on 15 July). Longer days mean more sightseeing time; shorter ones favour museums, food and evenings.

July weather compared

Questions travellers ask