Best time to visit Gateway Arch National Park
The short answer
Best months to visit Gateway Arch National Park: September–October. Daily highs run about 70–80°F, with about 30% of July's visitors.
Hardest months: December–February and July, mostly because of cold weather.
How we picked these months: each month is scored on daily highs (65–82°F is ideal), rain, snow and seasonal closures, then reduced by up to 30% for crowds, measured against the park's busiest month. We list the months within 15% of the top score (at most 5).
Weather and crowds by month
Gateway Arch National Park month by month
Park-wide averages. Crowds compare each month with the park's busiest month: Quiet is under 35% of it, Moderate under 60%, Busy under 85%, Peak above that.
| Month | Rating | High / low | Rain | Snow | Crowds | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 40° / 24°F | 2.3 in | 4.0 in | Quiet | – |
| February | Poor | 44° / 24°F | 2.2 in | 4.7 in | Quiet | – |
| March | Fair | 56° / 36°F | 5.2 in | 1.1 in | Quiet | – |
| April | Good | 66° / 45°F | 5.1 in | – | Quiet | – |
| May | Good | 76° / 57°F | 5.2 in | – | Quiet | – |
| June | Fair | 86° / 67°F | 4.9 in | – | Moderate | – |
| July | Poor | 88° / 70°F | 6.4 in | – | Peak | – |
| August | Fair | 85° / 68°F | 5.5 in | – | Moderate | – |
| September | Best | 81° / 63°F | 4.5 in | – | Quiet | – |
| October | Best | 68° / 50°F | 4.1 in | – | Quiet | – |
| November | Fair | 54° / 37°F | 2.8 in | 1.1 in | Quiet | – |
| December | Poor | 46° / 31°F | 2.8 in | 1.8 in | Quiet | – |
Gateway Arch National Park by season
Spring (March–May)
Spring (March–May) is a good time to visit Gateway Arch National Park. Daily highs average 56–76°F and lows 36–57°F. Expect about 5.2 in of rain a month and little or no snow. Visitor numbers run 30–33% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards.
Summer (June–August)
Summer (June–August) is a mixed time to visit Gateway Arch National Park. Daily highs average 85–88°F and lows 67–70°F. Expect about 5.6 in of rain a month and little or no snow. Visitor numbers run 45–100% of the busiest month, which is busy by this park's standards.
Fall (September–November)
Fall (September–November) is a good time to visit Gateway Arch National Park. Daily highs average 54–81°F and lows 37–63°F. Expect about 3.8 in of rain a month and little or no snow. Visitor numbers run 22–29% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards.
Winter (December–February)
Winter (December–February) is a difficult time to visit Gateway Arch National Park. Daily highs average 40–46°F and lows 24–31°F. Expect about 2.4 in of rain a month and 3.5 in of snow, with up to 1 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 11–19% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards.
For what to do in each season, see our guides to trip planning, fees and hours and things to do, where the planning page also has our written advice on when to go. In-depth topic guides cover individual places and hikes.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Normal Daily Mean Temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit)* January - 29.3 February - 33.9 March - 45.1 April - 56.7 May - 66.1 June - 75.4 July - 79.8 August - 77.6 September - 70.2 October - 58.4 November - 46.2 December - 33.9 Average Percent of Days with Sunshine* January - 50% February - 52% March - 54% April - 56% May - 59% June - 66% July - 68% August - 65% September - 63% October - 60% November - 46% December - 53% *Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Weather: modeled monthly averages for 2014-2023 (Open-Meteo Archive API), averaged over 1 location. Modeled grid cells can read cooler than weather stations in deep canyons and deserts, and warmer or colder at high elevation. Visits: monthly recreation visits for 2021-2024, National Park Service.
