United States, North America
The best time to visit Seattle
The rain reputation is half true: summer here is one of the best in the country.
- Best months
- Jul to Sep
- Think twice
- Nov
- Quietest
- January
- Cheapest
- January
The straight answer
The best time to visit Seattle is July through September: dry, sunny days in the 70s F, clear views of Mount Rainier, and long evenings on the water.
Go from July through September. Seattle's summer is famously dry, with highs in the mid 70s F (about 24C), very little rain, and daylight stretching past 9pm around the solstice. The mountains are clear, the ferries are full of sunbathers, and Mount Rainier and the Olympic Peninsula are at their most accessible. It is the city's peak season, and hotel rates and cruise-ship crowds reflect it.
The famous rain is real, but it is mostly a light, steady drizzle from October through April rather than downpours. November and December are the darkest and wettest stretch, with sunset around 4:30pm. The city stays fully open, and the coffee shops and museums are cozy, but mountain views and outdoor plans are hit or miss.
Late spring and early fall are the shoulder sweet spots. May and June bring green everything and the start of dry season (with the local joke about 'June-uary' gray days), while September often delivers summer weather with fewer crowds. Late summer wildfire smoke drifting in from the region can reduce air quality some years, so watch forecasts in August.
Seattle, month by month
Every month gets a verdict. Tap one for its own page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
- 01JanuaryQuiet valueCool and wet, highs near 48F (9C)Dark, drizzly, and cheap. Great for museums, coffee, and food. Snoqualmie Pass skiing is close.CrowdsPrice
- 02FebruaryQuiet valueCool and wet, highs near 51F (11C)Still the quiet season. Longer days start to help.CrowdsPrice
- 03MarchQuiet valueCool, highs near 54F (12C), showersCherry blossoms at the University of Washington quad in late March.CrowdsPrice
- 04AprilGoodMild, highs near 59F (15C), showersThe Skagit Valley tulip fields, about an hour north, bloom this month.Hotels for April →CrowdsPrice
- 05MayGoodMild, highs near 65F (18C), drying outCruise season starts, gardens are lush, and Northwest Folklife runs Memorial Day weekend.Hotels for May →CrowdsPrice
- 06JuneGoodMild, highs near 70F (21C), some gray daysThe longest days of the year. Gray early June days are common; late June turns reliably nice.Hotels for June →CrowdsPrice
- 07JulyBestWarm and dry, highs near 76F (24C)Peak summer, peak crowds. The most reliable weather of the year.Hotels for July →CrowdsPrice
- 08AugustBestWarm and dry, highs near 77F (25C)Seafair's Blue Angels show over Lake Washington. Wildfire smoke can drift in some years.Hotels for August →CrowdsPrice
- 09SeptemberBestPleasant, highs near 71F (22C), mostly drySummer weather, thinner crowds after Labor Day. Arguably the best month.Hotels for September →CrowdsPrice
- 10OctoberQuiet valueCool, highs near 60F (16C), rain returnsFall color and the return of the rain late in the month.CrowdsPrice
- 11NovemberThink twiceWet and dark, highs near 51F (11C), the rainiest monthThe wettest month with the shortest days. Mountain roads start closing for winter.CrowdsPrice
- 12DecemberTradeoffsCold and wet, highs near 46F (8C), sunset around 4:20pmHoliday lights and cozy indoor life. Dark and wet, but festive.CrowdsPrice
Book Seattle for July.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for July
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in SeattleOpens a hotel search for Seattle in July, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in SeattleWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in SeattleTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Seattle for July. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Why go to Seattle
Mountains and water from downtown
On clear days Mount Rainier towers over the city, and the Olympics and Puget Sound fill the west side of every view.
The Pacific Northwest on your doorstep
Mount Rainier, Olympic National Park, the San Juan Islands, and the North Cascades are all within a few hours.
A great food and coffee city
Pike Place Market, Dungeness crab, oysters, salmon, and the coffee culture that started a global chain.
Ferries as the best cheap cruise
The Washington State Ferries ride to Bainbridge Island is 35 minutes of skyline and mountain views for the price of a ticket.
Things to do, and when to do them
Pike Place Market
Go before 10am on a weekday. Cruise-ship days pack it by late morning.
Space Needle
Time it for sunset on a clear day. Skip it on socked-in gray days.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Next to the Space Needle; the glasshouse is at its best on sunny afternoons.
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
Music, science fiction, and pop culture in a Frank Gehry building at Seattle Center.
Washington State Ferries to Bainbridge
The cheapest views in the city. Sunset sailings are the best.
Mount Rainier National Park
About 2 hours away. Paradise wildflowers peak late July into August. Check for timed-entry requirements in summer.
Olympic National Park
Rainforest, coastline, and mountains, reached by ferry and a long drive. Best from July to September.
Events and seasons worth planning around
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
April, with bloom timing set by the weather
Fields of tulips about an hour north of the city. Go on a weekday.
Northwest Folklife Festival
Memorial Day weekend
Free folk music and dance festival at Seattle Center.
Seafair
July into early August
Neighborhood parades, hydroplane races, and the Blue Angels air show over Lake Washington in early August.
Bumbershoot
Labor Day weekend
A long-running music and arts festival at Seattle Center.
Beat the crowds
- Check the cruise ship schedule. Pike Place and downtown are packed on big ship days from May through September.
- Visit Mount Rainier on a weekday and arrive before 9am; Paradise parking fills early in summer.
- September offers summer weather with far fewer visitors and lower rates.
- Book summer hotels early; the cruise season and conventions keep downtown full.
Open or closed
- Mount Rainier's Paradise road is open year-round but other park roads, like Sunrise, open only in summer, often from early July.
- Many North Cascades and Olympic high-country roads and trails are snowbound until early summer.
- Wildfire smoke can close trails and reduce air quality in August and September some years.
With kids in tow
- The Seattle Aquarium, the Pacific Science Center, the Woodland Park Zoo, and ferry rides make Seattle easy with kids.
- Kids love the Space Needle's glass floor and the Museum of Flight south of downtown.
- For homeschool families: Mount Rainier's Junior Ranger programs, the Burke Museum of natural history, and the locks at Ballard for salmon runs in summer.
Getting there
- Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) has nonstops from most US hubs, including Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
- Link light rail connects the airport to downtown in about 40 minutes.
- Downtown is walkable; rent a car for Rainier, the Olympic Peninsula, and the Cascades.
Packing? Packing cubes and the airport kit.
Seattle for the holidays
Holiday and school-break weeks where Seattle makes our ranked list.
Seattle timing, quick answers
What is the best month to visit Seattle?
August for the most reliable weather, or September for nearly the same with fewer crowds.
What is the cheapest time to visit Seattle?
November through February. Hotels drop sharply, but expect rain, gray skies, and short days.
When is the rainy season in Seattle?
October through April, with the wettest months November through January. Rain is usually light drizzle rather than heavy downpours.
When is the best time to see Mount Rainier?
July through September, when the skies are clearest and the high roads are open. Wildflowers peak late July into August.
Does Seattle get wildfire smoke?
Some years, mainly in August and September, smoke from regional fires lowers air quality for days at a time. Check forecasts before outdoor plans.
Weighing alternatives
Similar trips, with their best months.
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