Best Time to Visit Capitol Reef National Park
Best time to visit Capitol Reef National Park: May, June, July, August and September. Month-by-month temperature, rainfall and crowd guidance.
Best time to visit Capitol Reef National Park
Go in May, June, July, August and September. 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 Capitol Reef National Park 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 | 36° | 21° | 0,4 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| February | 43° | 24° | 0,7 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| March | 54° | 31° | 0,7 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| April | 61° | 35° | 0,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
| May | 70° | 44° | 0,7 in | ★★★★★ |
| June | 85° | 57° | 0,6 in | ★★★★★ |
| July | 88° | 62° | 0,7 in | ★★★★★ |
| August | 85° | 60° | 0,7 in | ★★★★★ |
| September | 76° | 51° | 0,5 in | ★★★★★ |
| October | 63° | 42° | 0,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 46° | 30° | 0,6 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 41° | 25° | 0,3 in | ★★★☆☆ |
Climate type: Semi-arid. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
How Capitol Reef National Park compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Capitol Reef National Park.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goblin Valley State Park | 33 mi | 57°F | +38°F warmer | 5 in |
| Bryce Canyon National Park | 73 mi | 46°F | 38°F cooler | 16 in |
| Canyonlands National Park | 75 mi | 58°F | +39°F warmer | 5 in |
| Dead Horse Point State Park | 83 mi | 55°F | +36°F warmer | 7 in |
| Lake Powell | 90 mi | 64°F | +44°F warmer | 6 in |
What to pack, what to skip
- Lightweight, light-coloured clothing and a refillable water bottle
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Capitol Reef National Park is a national park in Utah. Capitol Reef National Park is a US national park known for the Waterpocket Fold and orchards.
Right now it is 74°F (24°C) in Capitol Reef National Park with overcast. It feels like 71°F. Today runs from 63°F to 83°F. Chance of precipitation is 24%. Sightseeing conditions score 9.1/10 - excellent - go now.
The best time to visit Capitol Reef National Park is May, June, July, August and September. The climate is semi-arid. January, February and December tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 88°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 21°F.
The closest major airport is Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), about 172 mi away. Nearby highlights include Goblin Valley State Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park.
In plain terms. Today is about average for August. The forecast high of 83°F is in line with the 85°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 8 AM to 11 AM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. fishing is the strongest bet in Capitol Reef National Park today at 9.4/10. No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Weather in Capitol Reef National Park right now
Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 5:32 AM, Aug 24 local time.
Weekend outlook
🌦️ 83° / 63°
Drizzle · 24% rain · wind 18 mph
☁️ 83° / 63°
Overcast · 17% rain · wind 17 mph
Things to do in Capitol Reef National Park
Attractions, parks and landmarks in and around Capitol Reef National Park.
Quick facts about Capitol Reef National Park
| Type | National park |
|---|---|
| State | Utah |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 38°22′1.2″N 111°15′41.4″W (38.367, -111.2615) |
| Established | 1971 |
| Known for | the Waterpocket Fold and orchards |
| Local time | 5:32 AM (UTC-06:00) |
| Best months | May, June, July, August and September |
| Climate | Semi-arid |
Explore Capitol Reef National Park
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 Capitol Reef National Park?
Capitol Reef National Park is a national park in Utah. Its coordinates are 38.367, -111.2615. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in Capitol Reef National Park right now?
It is currently 74°F (24°C) with overcast. Humidity is 35% and wind is 6 mph.
When is the best time to visit Capitol Reef National Park?
May, June, July, August and September offer the most comfortable conditions in Capitol Reef National Park, which has a semi-arid climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Capitol Reef National Park in?
Capitol Reef National Park observes America/Denver (UTC-06:00). The local time is 5:32 AM.
What is the nearest airport to Capitol Reef National Park?
The closest airports are Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), 172 mi away and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), 266 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Capitol Reef National Park?
Popular options include Goblin Valley State Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, Lake Powell and Arches National Park.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (national-parks) - 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 August 24, 2026 at 5:32 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
