Best Time to Visit Crater Lake
Best time to visit Crater Lake: July and August. Month-by-month temperature, rainfall and crowd guidance.
Best time to visit Crater Lake
Go in July and August. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
Climate in Crater Lake month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 26° | 8,3 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| February | 34° | 23° | 8,6 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| March | 38° | 26° | 7,8 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| April | 43° | 28° | 2,8 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 51° | 33° | 2,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| June | 62° | 40° | 1,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| July | 74° | 50° | 0,9 in | ★★★★★ |
| August | 71° | 50° | 1,3 in | ★★★★★ |
| September | 62° | 44° | 2,3 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 52° | 36° | 4,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| November | 40° | 31° | 6,9 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| December | 38° | 29° | 11,7 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Subarctic. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
How Crater Lake compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Crater Lake.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crater Lake National Park | 6 mi | 42°F | about the same | 61 in |
| Mount Shasta | 106 mi | 16°F | 58°F cooler | 71 in |
| Smith Rock State Park | 110 mi | 51°F | +41°F warmer | 20 in |
| Silver Falls State Park | 136 mi | 51°F | +41°F warmer | 79 in |
| Redwood National and State Parks | 154 mi | 52°F | +42°F warmer | 64 in |
What to pack, what to skip
- A warm mid-layer and gloves for early mornings and evenings
- Insulated outer layer, hat and boots with grip for ice
- Avoid high-elevation trails without traction devices - frozen surfaces persist in shade all day.
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Crater Lake is a lake in Oregon. Crater Lake is a lake known as the deepest lake in the United States.
Right now it is 23°F (-5°C) in Crater Lake with overcast. It feels like 16°F. Today runs from 22°F to 31°F. Chance of precipitation is 69%. Sightseeing conditions score 5.5/10 - fair - plan around the weather.
The best time to visit Crater Lake is July and August. The climate is subarctic. January, February and December tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 74°F, while February is the coldest with lows near 23°F.
The closest major airport is Portland International Airport (PDX), about 184 mi away. Nearby highlights include Crater Lake National Park, Mount Shasta, Smith Rock State Park and Silver Falls State Park.
In plain terms. Today is much colder than average for October. The forecast high of 31°F is 20.9°F below the 52°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 7 AM to 10 AM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. driving is the strongest bet in Crater Lake today at 7.3/10. Overnight lows near 22°F mean ice is possible on bridges before dawn. Wet roads are likely; braking distances roughly double in heavy rain.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Weather in Crater Lake right now
Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 11:59 AM, Oct 28 local time.
Weekend outlook
☁️ 40° / 22°
Overcast · 14% rain · wind 10 mph
⛅ 40° / 20°
Partly cloudy · 8% rain · wind 5 mph
Things to do in Crater Lake
Attractions, parks and landmarks in and around Crater Lake.
Quick facts about Crater Lake
| Type | Lake |
|---|---|
| State | Oregon |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 42°56′40.6″N 122°6′32.4″W (42.9446, -122.109) |
| Maximum depth | 1.949 ft |
| Known for | the deepest lake in the United States |
| Local time | 11:59 AM (UTC-07:00) |
| Best months | July and August |
| Climate | Subarctic |
Explore Crater Lake
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Best Time to Visit for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Crater Lake?
Crater Lake is a lake in Oregon. Its coordinates are 42.9446, -122.109. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in Crater Lake right now?
It is currently 23°F (-5°C) with overcast. Humidity is 85% and wind is 5 mph.
When is the best time to visit Crater Lake?
July and August offer the most comfortable conditions in Crater Lake, which has a subarctic climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Crater Lake in?
Crater Lake observes America/Los_Angeles (UTC-07:00). The local time is 11:59 AM.
What is the nearest airport to Crater Lake?
The closest airports are Portland International Airport (PDX), 184 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Crater Lake?
Popular options include Crater Lake National Park, Mount Shasta, Smith Rock State Park, Silver Falls State Park, Redwood National and State Parks and Mount Hood.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (lakes) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated October 28, 2026 at 11:59 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
