Month guide · Seattle · United States
Seattle in August
What August is really like in Seattle: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
August is one of the best months to visit Seattle. Expect average highs of 26°C (79°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 4 rainy days and roughly 14.3 hours of daylight. Warmest and driest month and the best for Mount Rainier's wildflower meadows; wildfire smoke can haze the views some years.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 26°C (79°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 4
- Daylight
- About 14.3 hours
- Sea temperature
- 13°C (55°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in August
August is the 2nd-warmest month in Seattle: days average 26°C (79°F) against a yearly average high of 16°C (61°F), and nights fall to about 14°C (57°F). Rain falls on roughly 4 of its 31 days. Compared with July (26°C (79°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs drop to around 22°C (72°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 06:05
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 20:23
- Daylight
- About 14.3 hours
- Sea
- 13°C (55°F)
Summer (June–August). Dry, mild and sunny with long evenings, outdoor festivals and peak crowds and prices; occasional wildfire smoke in late summer.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 5 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in July). Book accommodation early: August is one of the pricier months.
Events in August
- Seafair Weekend with hydroplane races and an air show (usually early August)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in August
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Gallery · First Hill
Frye Art Museum
Seattle's free art museum, founded on the private collection of Charles and Emma Frye, shows 19th-century German and American paintings alongside contemporary exhibitions in a calm building on First Hill.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Landmark · Seattle Center
Space Needle
Save it for a clear day; if Rainier is hidden by cloud, the view loses much of its point.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- After dark
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Waterfront · Downtown and Pike Place
Waterfront and Pier 62
Since the removal of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the downtown waterfront has been rebuilt as a promenade with new parks and an Overlook Walk connecting Pike Place Market to the shore.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Kids
Park · Belltown
Olympic Sculpture Park
Combine it with a walk along Myrtle Edwards Park, which continues north along the water.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Views
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 26°C, lows near 14°C and 4 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Seattle?
One of the best months to visit Seattle, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are June–July and September. Compare every month.
Seattle in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Seattle?
It is one of the best months to visit Seattle. Warmest and driest month and the best for Mount Rainier's wildflower meadows; wildfire smoke can haze the views some years.
+How warm is Seattle in August?
Average highs are around 26°C (79°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Seattle in August?
Expect rain on about 4 days of the month, so it is usually dry.