Crater Lake Travel Guide
Crater Lake travel guide: interactive map, live weather, best time to visit, things to do and nearby places.
Active alerts for Crater Lake
Derived from the forecast. No official alert feed is wired for this country yet.
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.
Map of Crater Lake
Interactive map with nearby places. Switch between street, terrain and satellite views.
Coordinates: 42°56′40.6″N 122°6′32.4″W (42.9446, -122.109)
Weather in Crater Lake right now
Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 8:18 PM, Oct 28 local time.
Weekend outlook
☁️ 40° / 22°
Overcast · 14% rain · wind 10 mph
⛅ 40° / 20°
Partly cloudy · 8% rain · wind 5 mph
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 | 8:18 PM (UTC-07:00) |
| Best months | July and August |
| Climate | Subarctic |
Things to do in Crater Lake
Attractions, parks and landmarks in and around Crater Lake.
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.
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.
Airports near Crater Lake
Closest airports with IATA codes and distances.
| Airport | Code | Distance | Serves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland International Airport | PDX | 184 mi | Portland |
Explore Crater Lake
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Travel Guide 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 8:18 PM.
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. |
|---|---|
| Map tiles | OpenStreetMap contributors, CARTO and Esri. |
| Elevation | Open-Meteo digital elevation model where the dataset has no value. |
| 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 8:18 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
