Winter
Dec → Feb-2 to 1°
nights -7°
- 12 rainy days · 76 mm
When is the best time to visit Glacier National Park?
- Jan-1°not recommended
- Feb1°not recommended
- Mar6°not recommended
- Apr11°not recommended
- May18°not recommended
- Jun21°fair
- Jul27°recommended
- Aug26°recommended
- Sep20°recommended
- Oct11°fair
- Nov3°not recommended
- Dec-2°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Glacier National Park, month by month
The table of averages, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -1° | -7° | 90 mm | 13 d | |
| February | 1° | -7° | 55 mm | 10 d | |
| March | 6° | -4° | 66 mm | 11 d | |
| April | 11° | 0° | 55 mm | 10 d | |
| May | 18° | 4° | 67 mm | 10 d | |
| June | 21° | 7° | 97 mm | 11 d | |
| July | 27° | 10° | 35 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| August | 26° | 9° | 30 mm | 5 d | ✓ |
| September | 20° | 5° | 50 mm | 7 d | ✓ |
| October | 11° | 1° | 78 mm | 10 d | |
| November | 3° | -3° | 82 mm | 12 d | |
| December | -2° | -7° | 82 mm | 13 d |
The four seasons in Glacier National Park, in figures
What the 2015-2024 averages (West Glacier) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May6 to 18°
nights -4 to 4°
- 10 rainy days · 63 mm
Summer
Jun → Aug21 to 27°
nights 7 to 10°
- 7 rainy days · 54 mm
Autumn
Sep → Nov3 to 20°
nights -3 to 5°
- 10 rainy days · 70 mm
Book early for July to September
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Glacier National Park, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 16h06 of daylight, in December 8h19, a difference of 7h47.
8h43Jan
10h07Feb
11h45Mar
13h37Apr
15h12May
16h06Jun
15h44Jul
14h20Aug
12h30Sep
10h42Oct
9h07Nov
8h19Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "West Glacier" (48.50°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Glacier National Park, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Long days |
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: July, August, September
- Towns & culture: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
- Long days: May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the climate averages (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended-1°-7° at night
- 90 mm · 13 d
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended1°-7° at night
- 55 mm · 10 d
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended6°-4° at night
- 66 mm · 11 d
Low season, lower prices
April
Not recommended11°0° at night
- 55 mm · 10 d
Low season, lower prices
May
Not recommended18°4° at night
- 67 mm · 10 d
Low season, lower prices
June
Fair21°7° at night
- 97 mm · 11 d
Low season, lower prices
July
Recommended27°10° at night
- 35 mm · 6 d
High season, book early
August
Recommended26°9° at night
- 30 mm · 5 d
High season, book early
September
Recommended20°5° at night
- 50 mm · 7 d
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair11°1° at night
- 78 mm · 10 d
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended3°-3° at night
- 82 mm · 12 d
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended-2°-7° at night
- 82 mm · 13 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: -1 °C at the warmest of the day, -7 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (90 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Deep winter: 1 °C at the warmest of the day, -7 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (55 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Deep winter: 6 °C at the warmest of the day, -4 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (66 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 11 °C at best, 0 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (55 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 4 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (67 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 7 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (97 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 27 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C at night. Rain stays light: 35 mm over 6 days. High season: book early.
August. 26 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C at night. Rain stays light: 30 mm over 5 days. High season: book early.
September. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 5 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 50 mm over 7 days. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 11 °C at best, 1 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (78 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Deep winter: 3 °C at the warmest of the day, -3 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (82 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: -2 °C at the warmest of the day, -7 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (82 mm). Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Glacier National Park?
July to September: over these months, average highs range from 20 to 27 °C, with 6 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 averages, West Glacier).
Which month should you avoid in Glacier National Park?
January: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 90 mm over 13 days of rain on average over 2015-2024 at the reference point (West Glacier).
What is the hottest month in Glacier National Park?
July, with 27 °C on average in the afternoon and 10 °C at night. 2015-2024 averages (West Glacier).
What is the coldest month in Glacier National Park?
December, with -2 °C at best during the day and -7 °C at night. 2015-2024 averages (West Glacier).
What is the driest month in Glacier National Park?
August: 30 mm over 5 days of rain, against 97 mm in June, the wettest month.
Does it get cold at night in Glacier National Park?
The gap between day and night reaches 17 °C in July: 27 °C in the afternoon, 10 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When is the best time to hike in Glacier National Park?
July, August, September: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month on 2015-2024 averages (West Glacier), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Glacier National Park guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit the American West: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: LGalcan / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Marije Kouyzer / Pexels · Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Tony Webster / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Dirtsc / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Ken Thomas ( talk · contribs ) / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)