Capitol Reef National Park Climate and Average Weather
Climate of Capitol Reef National Park: average temperatures, rainfall and seasons month by month.
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).
Recent extremes in Capitol Reef National Park
Highest and lowest readings observed in the last 3 years of reanalysis data - not all-time records.
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 |
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.
What this means for Capitol Reef National Park
Today is slightly warmer than average for August. The forecast high of 91°F is 6.7°F above the 85°F typical for this month.
Rain is very unlikely today - plans do not need a backup.
No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Northern Hemisphere, so peak summer falls in June to August.
The gap between the warmest and coldest month averages 80°F.
What to pack, what to skip
- Lightweight, light-coloured clothing and a refillable water bottle
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- A packable rain shell - 2 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- Avoid long hikes after mid-morning; start at dawn or leave it for a cooler day.
- 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 76°F (25°C) in Capitol Reef National Park with overcast. It feels like 65°F. Today runs from 71°F to 91°F. Chance of precipitation is 7%. Sightseeing conditions score 8.8/10 - 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 slightly warmer than average for August. The forecast high of 91°F is 6.7°F above the 85°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. sightseeing is the strongest bet in Capitol Reef National Park today at 8.8/10. 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.
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 | 3:38 AM (UTC-06:00) |
| Best months | May, June, July, August and September |
| Climate | Semi-arid |
Weather map for Capitol Reef National Park
Animated model layers. Pick a layer to load it.
Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Explore Capitol Reef National Park
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Climate 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 76°F (25°C) with overcast. Humidity is 22% and wind is 19 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 3:38 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 21, 2026 at 3:38 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.





