Weather can make or break a national park visit. A day with clear skies, comfortable temperatures, and low humidity is a completely different experience than one spent in heat, wind, or rain — and the difference often comes down to timing. This page helps you find that timing, whether you're planning a trip weeks out or deciding where to go this weekend.
Popular parks: Zion · Yosemite · Yellowstone · Grand Canyon · Great Smoky Mountains
Explore by Region: Desert National Parks · Mountain National Parks · Eastern National Parks
Loading…
Explore detailed 7-day weather rankings for some of the most visited national parks in the United States.
Search a park/monument to see how today ranks nationwide.
Each national park ranking is calculated from forecast temperature, clouds, precipitation, wind, and humidity.
Today’s best and worst national park weather.
All rankings are calculated consistently across every U.S. national park using the same forecast-based criteria.
Tomorrow’s forecast-based park rankings.
Day 3 national park weather outlook.
Day 4 forecast ranking snapshot.
Day 5 national park weather outlook.
Day 6 forecast ranking overview.
Day 7 national park weather summary.
Every park on this page is scored daily using the Perfect Weather Index (PWI) — a 1 to 10 comfort rating that combines five forecast factors: temperature, sunshine and cloud cover, humidity, wind speed, and precipitation probability. A score of 8 or higher generally means excellent conditions for hiking, sightseeing, and outdoor activity. Scores below 4 reflect heat, storms, or other conditions that may limit enjoyment.
Rankings are recalculated each morning using National Weather Service forecast data, so the scores you see reflect current conditions — not historical averages.
Not all national parks experience the same seasons. Desert parks like Zion, Grand Canyon, and Death Valley tend to peak in spring and fall, when temperatures are moderate and skies are clear. Mountain parks like Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, and Yosemite are often best in summer, when snow has cleared and trails are accessible. Coastal and eastern parks like Acadia and Great Smoky Mountains can offer strong conditions across a wider range of months.
Use this week's rankings to compare conditions across parks side by side — or explore the links below to plan around the best weather for a specific park or time of year.
The 7-day rankings on this page are ideal for near-term planning. For longer-range trip planning, our Best Weather by Month guide shows which regions and parks tend to perform best throughout the year. You can also explore individual park pages for a more detailed look at seasonal weather patterns: