Month guide · Washington, D.C. · United States
Washington, D.C. in July
What July is really like in Washington, D.C.: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
July is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 32°C (90°F), lows of 22°C (72°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 14.6 hours of daylight. The hottest month, sticky and stormy; Congress usually breaks later in summer and hotel rates ease.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 32°C (90°F) / 22°C (72°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 14.6 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in July
July is the warmest month in Washington, D.C.: days average 32°C (90°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about 22°C (72°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with June (29°C (84°F)), July is warmer; by August highs stay near 31°C (88°F).
- Sunrise (15 July)
- About 05:55
- Sunset (15 July)
- About 20:33
- Daylight
- About 14.6 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, July rates 4 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in April). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in July
- Independence Day fireworks over the National Mall (4 July)
- A Capitol Fourth concert on the Capitol's West Lawn (4 July)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in July
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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
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Park · National Mall
National Mall
The Mall runs about 3 km from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, lined by the Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery, with the Washington Monument at its centre.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Outdoors
- History
- Kids
Landmark · National Mall
Lincoln Memorial
Come back after dark, when the memorial is floodlit, crowds are thin and the view down the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument is at its best.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- After dark
- Views
Landmark · National Mall
Washington Monument
The 169-metre marble obelisk, finished in 1884, was built in two phases, and a change in the stone's shade about a quarter of the way up shows where work stopped for more than 20 years.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Kids
What to pack
For highs near 32°C, lows near 22°C and 10 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is July a good time to visit Washington, D.C.?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events 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 July a good time to visit Washington, D.C.?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. The hottest month, sticky and stormy; Congress usually breaks later in summer and hotel rates ease.
+How warm is Washington, D.C. in July?
Average highs are around 32°C (90°F) and lows around 22°C (72°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Washington, D.C. in July?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.