Washington in August: a seasonal travel plan
Washington, United States. In august, the average daytime high is 30.5 °C and the night-time low is 20.5 °C. Start long walks in the morning and keep the hottest hours for shade, museums or a relaxed lunch.
Choose a month
Selected month: August
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Washington
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 30.5 °C
- Nighttime low
- 20.5 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 115.9 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 15.2
- Daylight
- 13.7 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 30.8 | 21.0 | 5.8 |
| Days 11–20 | 30.7 | 20.9 | 5.3 |
| From day 21 | 30.2 | 19.7 | 4.1 |
What this month is like
Washington, United States. In august, the average daytime high is 30.5 °C and the night-time low is 20.5 °C. Start long walks in the morning and keep the hottest hours for shade, museums or a relaxed lunch.
There are 15.2 wet days on average, with about 115.9 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Start long walks in the morning and keep the hottest hours for shade, museums or a relaxed lunch.
Average daylight is 13.7 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack light breathable clothes, a hat, sunglasses and water. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What to pack
Pack light loose clothing, a hat, sunglasses and a water bottle. The day-to-night temperature difference is noticeable, so dressing in layers is practical. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 31.6 °C, August — 30.5 °C, next month — 27.3 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 15.8, 15.2 and 9.7.
Things to do
Washington is built around the National Mall, a wide green strip from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, with free Smithsonian museums along its edges. The city is low and spacious, and almost every major sight sits on a walkable route or a short Metro ride from the next.
The National Mall
Walk the mall from the Lincoln Memorial past the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument. The World War II and Vietnam memorials stand close by, and after dark the lighting makes the same route cooler and quieter.
Smithsonian museums
The National Air and Space Museum holds the Wright brothers' aircraft and a lunar module, while the National Museum of American History covers everyday life in the country. Both stand on the mall and admission is free.
Georgetown and the canal
Follow the cobbled stretch of M Street past eighteenth-century houses and drop down to the C&O Canal, where a towpath runs beside the water. From the waterfront you see the Potomac and the Kennedy Center on the far bank.
Where to stay
Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill puts the Capitol, the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court within a few minutes of each other. Behind them are quiet residential streets of row houses, and Eastern Market draws the neighbourhood on weekend mornings.
Georgetown
Georgetown suits anyone who wants colonial brick streets, small shops and dinners by the water. The Metro is far from the centre of the district, so it works best for evenings rather than as a base for early starts.
Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle is a calm district of embassies and cafés with good bookshops, and the mall is an easy walk away. Rooms cost more here, but the Metro is on the doorstep and the evening needs no extra trip.
Getting there and around
Reagan National Airport sits on the Potomac, and Blue, Yellow and Silver line trains reach the centre in about fifteen minutes. From Dulles, the Silver Line Express bus runs to Wiehle-Reston East station, where Metro continues into the city. Inside Washington the Metro covers every main district, but the distances along the mall are long, so comfortable shoes matter more than tickets.
Three days in Washington
The western mall
Start at the Lincoln Memorial and follow the Reflecting Pool past the Korean War and Vietnam memorials. Climb to the Washington Monument, then finish at the White House and Lafayette Square, where St John's Church stands.
Capitol and museums
Tour the Capitol and the Library of Congress, then cross to the Air and Space Museum. Stay in the Museum of American History through the afternoon instead of walking in the heat.
Georgetown and Dupont Circle
Buses on M Street connect with Foggy Bottom station, and the walk up to Georgetown starts along the canal towpath. Have lunch there, then move to Dupont Circle for the evening and its bookshops around P Street.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5.0 | -2.9 | 76.9 | 8.1 | 9.8 |
| February | 7.5 | -1.6 | 73.5 | 9.7 | 10.7 |
| March | 12.0 | 1.4 | 80.5 | 9.1 | 11.9 |
| April | 18.1 | 6.8 | 79.4 | 10.1 | 13.2 |
| May | 22.9 | 12.8 | 110.3 | 13.3 | 14.3 |
| June | 28.2 | 17.8 | 103.1 | 12.5 | 14.8 |
| July | 31.6 | 21.5 | 132.7 | 15.8 | 14.6 |
| August | 30.5 | 20.5 | 115.9 | 15.2 | 13.7 |
| September | 27.3 | 17.1 | 102.7 | 9.7 | 12.5 |
| October | 21.0 | 10.3 | 77.8 | 6.4 | 11.2 |
| November | 13.7 | 3.5 | 70.7 | 6.6 | 10.1 |
| December | 8.3 | -0.1 | 95.4 | 8.6 | 9.5 |
Frequently asked questions
Washington: what is the temperature in August?
The average daytime high is 30.5 °C and the night-time low is 20.5 °C. Daytime is hot. Plan the main walk for the morning and spend the warmest hours in shade or indoors.
How many days with precipitation are there in August?
On average, there are 15.2 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 115.9 mm. Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What should I pack for walks in August?
Pack light loose clothing, a hat, sunglasses and a water bottle. The day-to-night temperature difference is noticeable, so dressing in layers is practical. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 30.8 °C; 11–20 — 30.7 °C; 21 to month-end — 30.2 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in August?
The average is 13.7 hours. Spread walks between the morning and afternoon, then leave the evening for dinner or indoor activities.
Is Washington worth visiting in August?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 30.5 °C and nights around 20.5 °C work for you. Start long walks in the morning and keep the hottest hours for shade, museums or a relaxed lunch.
What can I do in Washington on a wet day in August?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Washington in August?
Pack light breathable clothes, a hat, sunglasses and water. Average daylight is 13.7 hours.