15 Best Places to Visit in July in USA 2023

Looking for the best places to visit in July in USA? These are the places you want to travel to this month.

Summer is in full swing! If you’re planning a trip this month, we’re here to help. Want to visit places that are only open a couple of months out of the year? Want to see wildflowers? We got you! We spent many hours cross-referencing our travel experiences with the most optimal weather, special events, natural phenomena, and travel deals to bring you the best places to visit in the US this July.

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Last Updated: July 2, 2023

1. Portland, Oregon →

7000 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97218, map

Weather Avg: 80° / 57° F

When we lived in Portland, we told everyone to only visit during July and August. It’s the most glorious summer you can experience after a brutally gloomy and rainy rest of the year. The city celebrates the beautiful weather with festivals and events happening throughout the month, and you can catch the Portland Rose Festival.

• TO DO: Pittock Mansion, Columbia River Gorge, Portland Bucket List
• EAT: Best Places to Eat in Portland
• STAY: Portland Hotel Deals
• EVENTS: Portland Rose Festival, Waterfront Blues Festival, Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, Portland Pride

See More: Ultimate Portland Bucket List

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2. Crater Lake National Park in July →

Crater Lake National Park, Rim Village, OR 97604, map

Weather Avg: 70° / 42° F

We visited Crater Lake in late May and didn’t realize how much of the park would be closed due to snow. All roads in Crater Lake National Park are typically fully open by mid-July, although this always depends on snowfall and other weather-related factors. Most of the year, only portions of the park are open. In July, you can enjoy the nice weather with fewer crowds since it’s one of the least visited National Parks in the US.

• TO DO: Rim Drive, Boat Tour, Visit Wizard Island
• EAT: Ponderosa Public House, Beckie’s Cafe, Prospect Pizza
• STAY: Crater Lake Hotels and Rentals

See More: The Ultimate Guide to Crater Lake National Park

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3. Oregon Coast, Oregon →

Weather Avg: 66° / 52° F

Can you tell that we have a soft spot for the PNW during the summer? Cannon Beach is a beautiful, touristy town in Oregon known for its iconic Haystack Rock. The weather in July is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and exploring the tide pools. If you want a quieter and less touristy pace of travel, locals like to go to Manzanita.

• TO DO: Crabbing, Drift Creek Falls, Samuel H Boardman
• EAT: Pronto Pup, Pelican Pub, Yachats Brewing
• STAY: Hotel Deals in Oregon

See More: Your Ultimate Oregon Coast Road Trip – All the Best Stops

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4. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah – Annual Geology Festival →

UT-63, Bryce Canyon City, UT 84764, map

Weather Avg: 80° / 48° F

July is a great time to visit Bryce Canyon. Even though it’s summer, Bryce is still one of the underrated national parks and doesn’t get the insane crowds that Zion does. In addition, they hold an annual Geology Festival every July, so if you like to nerd over rocks, join in on the festivities and talks.

• TO DO: 15 Amazing Things to Do in Bryce Canyon
• EAT: Idk BBQ, Pizza Place, Stone Hearth Grille
• STAY: Search for hotels
• EVENTS: Geology Festival

See More: 15 Amazing Things to DO in Bryce Canyon National Park

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5. Glacier National Park, Montana →

Logan’s Pass Visitor Center, Browning, MT 59417, map

Weather Avg: 75° / 44° F

People call Glacier National Park the Switzerland of America, with scenic views of glaciers, lakes, and mountains. We visited in late June, and some trails were still closed. If you want to ensure that Going to the Sun Road and hiking trails are all open, July and August are the best times to visit. The main road won’t be fully accessible until late June.

• TO DO: Going-to-the-Sun Road (requires a permit), Red Bus Tour, Lake McDonald, Goose Island (from The Shining)
• EAT: Johnson’s Cafe, Babb Bar Cattle Baron Supper Club, Rising Sun Pizza
• STAY: Find Nearby Hotels

See More: 9 Incredible Things to Do in Glacier National Park

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6. Seattle, Washington →

701 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101, map

Weather Avg: 73° / 56° F

Seattle also has a very similar climate to Portland and is beautiful in July and August. The weather is warm and sunny (finally!), and you’ll find several festivals and events throughout the month. Whenever we visit, we either go in July/August or in September/October if we plan to add a climbing trip to Leavenworth. If you’re spending more than a weekend here, check out these 15 best day trips from Seattle.

• TO DO: Museums, Space Needle, Pike Place Market
• EAT: Piroshky Priroshky, The Pink Door, Paseo
• STAY: Seattle Hotel Deals
• EVENTS: Bite of Seattle, Seafair Summer Festival

Local Tip: Don’t forget your rain jacket.

See More: 101 Things to Do in Seattle WA

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7. Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana

1215 IN-49, Porter, IN 46304, map

Weather Avg: 81° / 64° F

July is the perfect time to enjoy Indiana Dunes National Park’s beaches. The warm sun is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, picnicking, and more. In addition to that, it’s wildflower season making the park pop with color. To make your visit extra special, check out one of the ranger-led programs.

• TO DO:  Sand Dunes, Historic Homes, Hiking Trails
• EAT: Chesterton Brewery, Craft House, Ivy’s Bohemia House
• STAY: Indiana Dunes Hotels and Rentals

See More: 15 Spectacular Day Trips from Chicago IL

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8. Kings Canyon National Park, California →

83918 CA-180, Grant Grove Village, CA 93633, map

Weather Avg: 71° / 33° F

July offers some of the best weather to visit Kings Canyon National Park. It’s an ideal time for hiking, backpacking, camping, and viewing wildlife. As the snow melts, vegetation flourishes and brings out the animals.

• TO DO: Grizzly Falls, Boyden Cavern, Road’s End
• EAT: Copper Top BBQ, Brewed Awakening, Still Life Cafe
• STAY: Kings Canyon Hotel Deals

See More: 11 Breathtaking Canyons in the US You Can’t Miss

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9. Olympic National Park, Washington →

3002 Mt Angeles Rd, Port Angeles, WA 98362, map

Weather Avg: 62° / 44° F

July is the peak wildflower season in Olympic National Park. The alpine meadows burst with vibrant colors, and the weather is also lovely for exploring the coast. It’s also one of the best times to go camping and backpacking in the park.

• TO DO: Hurricane Ridge, Hoh Rainforest, Rialto Beach, Storm King, Sol Duc Falls, Shi Shi Beach
• EAT: Salmon House Restaurant, Dino’s Pizza and Grill, Granny’s Cafe
• STAY: Look for Olympic National Park Hotels

Local Tip: It’s always smart to have a raincoat with you just in case.

See More: 4 Things to Do in Olympic National Park Washington

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10. Sequoia National Park, California →

47050 Generals Hwy, Three Rivers, CA 93271, map

Weather Avg: 63° / 32° F

July is the most popular time to visit Sequoia National Park, and for good reason. The weather is perfect for exploring the trails, and the skies are clear, making it a great time to admire the massive trees. It’s also peak wildflower season! Just be sure to book campgrounds and reservations early since it’s so busy.

• TO DO: General Sherman, Moro Rock, Tunnel Log
• EAT: Ol Buckaroo, Sierra Subs and Salads, Still Life Cafe
• STAY: Best Place to Stay in Sequoia National Park

See More: 11 Most Beautiful Trees in the World to Put On Your BUcket List

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11. Vail, Colorado →

241 South Frontage Rd. #8150, Vail CO, 81657, map

Weather Avg: 77° / 42° F

Although Vail is known as a world-famous ski town, if you come during July, the wildflowers are typically in peak bloom. We went in late June, and we saw some flowers starting to bloom and wished we timed our trip a couple of weeks later. The weather is mild all summer, so it’s perfect for hiking, biking, climbing, and other outdoor activities. You can also find better travel and hotel deals than during winter, although visiting in the summer is also gaining popularity.

• TO DO: Piney River Ranch, Shrine Ridge Trail, Eagle Bahn Gondola
• EAT: Alpenrose, Annapurna
• STAY: Search for Hotels in Vail Colorado

See More: Your Ultimate First Timer’s Guide to Vail Colorado in Summer

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12. Chicago, Illinois – Pitchfork Music Festival

301 E Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616, map

Weather Avg: 82° / 70° F

July is a great time to enjoy the outdoors in Chicago, including the city’s beaches, parks, trails, and some great festivals and events. If you don’t plan on attending any events, avoid those weekends since prices will be steeper then.

• TO DO: Millennium Park, Willis Tower, Navy Pier
• EAT: Au Cheval, Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings, Smoque BBQ
• STAY: Find hotels in Chicago
• EVENTS: Pitchfork Music Festival, Taste of Chicago, Chicago SummerDance Festival

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13. Lake Tahoe, California / Nevada

169 US-50, Stateline, NV 89449, map

Weather Avg: 80° / 50° F

July is the warmest month to visit Tahoe if you’re going more for the lake activities vs. winter sports. It’s a great time to enjoy the trails and the water. Since the water stays cold year-round, summer is the perfect time to cool off in the crystal clear lake.

• TO DO: Emerald Bay State Park, Squaw Valley, Donner Memorial State Park
• EAT: Himmel House, Base Camp Pizza, MacDuff’s Pub
• STAY: Lake Tahoe Hotels (We recently stayed at Desolation Hotel, which we loved).

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14. Seward, Alaska →

2001 Seward Hwy, Seward, AK 99664, map

Weather Avg: 62° F / 50° F

August is ideal for visiting Seward (when we went), but July is the runner-up. The weather is mild and pleasant for outdoor activities. You also get exceptionally long days (the sun remains visible nearly 24 hours a day), so the only limitation to your adventures is how much energy you have. There are also excellent salmon fishing opportunities!

• TO DO: Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska Sealife Center, Exit Glacier
• EAT: Yukon Bar, Sweet Darlings, Ressurection Roadhouse 
• STAY: Seward Hotel Deals

See More: 9 Breathtaking Things to Do in Seward Alaska

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15. Acadia National Park, Maine →

25 Visitor Center Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, map

Weather Avg: 76° / 55° F

If you don’t care about leaf peeping, July is the best combination of weather and activities in Acadia National Park. You can hike the trails, kayak on the beautiful waters, swim, and more. Although it’s the busiest month in the park, you can avoid the crowds by getting on some of the longer trails.

• TO DO: Cadillac Mountain, Scenic Park Loop Road, Precipice Trail, or Beehive Trail
• EAT: Havana, Café This Way, Café This Way
• STAY: Acadia Hotel and Rental Deals

See More: 15 Breathtaking Things to Do in Acadia National Park

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