Month guide · Washington, D.C. · United States
Washington, D.C. in August
What August is really like in Washington, D.C.: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Duane Lempke, CC0
Quick answer
August is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 31°C (88°F), lows of 21°C (70°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 13.7 hours of daylight. Hot and humid, but with Congress in recess and locals away, it is one of the better-value months for hotels.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 31°C (88°F) / 21°C (70°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 13.7 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in August
August is the 2nd-warmest month in Washington, D.C.: days average 31°C (88°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about 21°C (70°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with July (32°C (90°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs drop to around 27°C (81°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 06:22
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 20:04
- Daylight
- About 13.7 hours
Summer (June–August). Hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms, but full of free events such as the Folklife Festival and Fourth of July fireworks; August hotel rates are often lower.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 3 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in April). That makes August one of the better-value months to book.
Events in August
- Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week (usually 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.
Museum · National Mall
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The museum's permanent exhibition tells the history of the Holocaust over three floors, through personal artefacts, film and testimony, starting with an identification card of a real person whose fate you follow.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Rainy day
Museum · Chantilly, Virginia
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
It is easiest by car or ride-hailing; combine it with a flight in or out of Dulles to save a separate trip.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- History
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Historic site · Penn Quarter
Ford's Theatre
Abraham Lincoln was shot in the presidential box here on 14 April 1865.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Gallery · Penn Quarter
National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum
Go up to the third-floor Lunder Conservation Center, where you can watch conservators at work through the glass.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 31°C, lows near 21°C and 9 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Washington, D.C.?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Washington, D.C. in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Washington, D.C.?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Hot and humid, but with Congress in recess and locals away, it is one of the better-value months for hotels.
+How warm is Washington, D.C. in August?
Average highs are around 31°C (88°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Washington, D.C. in August?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.