🗓️ Best Time to Visit
When Should You Visit Seattle?
Top months: Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep. Compare 12-month weather, festivals, and pricing on one page to find your match.
Best Time to Visit Seattle — Quick Answer
As of 2026- Best months
- Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
As of 2026, the best time to visit Seattle is Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep. These months balance pleasant weather, festival programming, and manageable crowds — the go-to first-visit pick.
Seattle by Season
🌸 Spring (Mar-May)
Avg 14°C / 7°C
- • UW Cherry Blossoms (mid-late March)
- • Daylight Saving begins (clocks forward 1h)
- • Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (1h north, April)
★ Top Pick
☀️ Summer (Jun-Aug)
Avg 23°C / 12°C
- • Seattle Pride Parade (last Sunday in June, 500,000+ attendees)
- • Start of summer
- • July 4 fireworks (Lake Union 'Seafair Summer Fourth')
★ Top Pick
🍁 Fall (Sep-Nov)
Avg 16°C / 8°C
- • Bumbershoot Music Festival (Labor Day weekend, Seattle Center)
- • Mt Rainier wildflowers ending
- • Earshot Jazz Festival
❄️ Winter (Dec-Feb)
Avg 9°C / 3°C
- • New Year (Jan 1)
- • Seattle Restaurant Week (mid-late January)
- • Valentine's Day
Month-by-Month at a Glance
| Month | Temp (°C) | Rain | What to Pack | Crowds·Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8/3 | 18d | Winter — high 8°C, low 3°C. Warm waterproof jacket + sweater + hat. 18 rainy days. Indoor heat is the norm; layers to peel off inside. | Low |
| February | 10/4 | 16d | Late winter — high 10°C, low 4°C. Same layering as January. Some clearing afternoons. | Low |
| March | 12/5 | 16d | Early spring — high 12°C, low 5°C. Light waterproof jacket + sweater. First cherry blossoms begin late month at University of Washington. | Mid |
| April | 14/6 | 14d | Spring — high 14°C, low 6°C. Light layers + waterproof shell. UV beginning to matter; sunglasses + light sunscreen. | Mid |
| May | 17/9 | 10d | Late spring — high 17°C, low 9°C. Light layers + sunglasses + sunscreen. Long daylight; light jacket for evenings. | Mid |
| ★ June | 20/11 | 8d | Early summer — high 20°C, low 11°C. T-shirt during sunny afternoons; light jacket evenings. Sunscreen + sunglasses. | High |
| ★ July (peak month) | 24/13 | 3d | Peak summer — high 24°C, low 13°C. T-shirt all day; light layer for cool evenings. Sunscreen mandatory. | High |
| ★ August | 24/13 | 4d | Peak summer — same as July. Slight chance of wildfire smoke affecting air quality some years. | High |
| ★ September (sleeper-best month) | 21/11 | 7d | Early autumn — high 21°C, low 11°C. T-shirt + cardigan. Light jacket evenings. Sunglasses. | Mid |
| October | 15/8 | 13d | Autumn — high 15°C, low 8°C. Light waterproof jacket + sweater. Daylight saving ends first Sunday of November (clocks back 1h). | Mid |
| November | 11/5 | 19d | Late autumn — high 11°C, low 5°C. Warm waterproof jacket + sweater + hat. 19 rainy days — Seattle's wettest month. | Low |
| December (holiday season) | 8/3 | 18d | Winter — high 8°C, low 3°C. Warm waterproof jacket + sweater + scarf + gloves. 18 rainy days. | High |
★ = recommended season. Full month guides on the monthly weather pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit Seattle?
The best time to visit Seattle is Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep. These months offer the most pleasant weather and full outdoor activity calendars. June is when summer arrives. **Seattle Pride Parade** (last Sunday) draws 500,000+ — among the largest US Pride parades. Capitol Hill is the heart of the celebration; entire weekend is festive city-wi
What's the price difference between peak and off-season in Seattle?
Prices vary significantly by season. Weekday departures during shoulder season offer the best value.
Is it okay to visit Seattle in winter?
Seattle winter averages 9°C / 3°C. It's cold, but you trade weather for off-season pricing and seasonal events (Christmas markets, indoor museums, winter festivals). Bring a heavy parka, scarf, and gloves.
Should I visit Seattle during summer holiday season?
Seattle mid-summer (July-August) averages 24°C highs. This is the most expensive season — airfare and hotels peak — but outdoor festivals run at full capacity. Book 3-6 months ahead and prepare for heat.
What's the cheapest month to visit Seattle?
January, February, November is the off-season — flights and hotels are at annual lows. Trade-off: this is usually cold or rainy season, so adjust packing and indoor-activity weight accordingly.
Why you can trust best time guide
Jimmy Kong
TripPick founder · Travel content creator
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.
8+ years analyzing travel data
30+ countries visited
Live exchange rate verified
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