These National Parks Are Dangerously Hot Right Now

U.S. National Parks are some of the country’s most beautiful places to visit, but this time of year, they can also be incredibly dangerous. While extremely hot summers aren’t new for many of the nation’s national parks, some of these parks are experiencing even higher temperatures this year.

Currently, most of the country is experiencing a dangerous heat wave. These sweltering temperatures can make any outdoor activity dangerous and even fatal if the proper precautions aren’t taken. Despite the extreme temperatures, this heat wave hasn’t stopped tourists from visiting places like Death Valley National Park, where temperatures have reached over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Even though national parks don’t close during a heat wave, it’s important to be alert and pay attention to heat warnings if you plan on visiting one. According to the National Weather Service, an excessive heat warning is issued when temperatures are expected to be over 105 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two days.

Extreme heat isn’t only uncomfortable–it can also be fatal. In extreme temperatures, you can experience heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and dehydration. When the temperature is too hot, your body isn’t able to effectively cool you down. If you plan on visiting any of the nation’s beautiful national parks this summer, be sure you take the proper precautions and try to stay cool. ( Check out The Highest Temperature in the US Every June Since 1950. )

To determine the national parks that are dangerously hot right now, 24/7 Tempo reviewed census tract level data on daily temperature from the NOAA’s nClimGrid-Daily program. National parks were ranked based on maximum temperature from July 1 to July 8, 2024. Temperature data was aggregated from census tracts to national parks using boundary data from the U.S. Census Bureau and National Park Service . Supplemental data on the number of annual visitors in 2023 is also from the NPS.

40. Voyageurs National Park

Source: BlueBarronPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 78.9°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 62.9°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 220,825
• Park area: 319.9 square miles
• Region: Northeast Minnesota

39. Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Wild mustang horses on the prairie, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota, USA ( Shutterstock.com ) by Sergey Demo SVDPhoto

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 79.6°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 64.7°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 746,862
• Park area: 110.1 square miles
• Region: Southwest North Dakota

38. Isle Royale National Park

Source: photosbysixfive / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 79.8°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 63.8°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 28,965
• Park area: 862.1 square miles
• Region: West Upper Michigan

37. Mesa Verde National Park

Pueblo Cliff Dwellings ( CC BY 2.0 ) by tomsaint

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 81.7°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 65.0°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 505,194
• Park area: 83.9 square miles
• Region: Colorado Colorado Drainage Basin

36. Mount Rainier National Park

Source: Drew Payne / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 82.2°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 59.4°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 1,674,294
• Park area: 369.4 square miles
• Region: Washington Cascade Mountains West

35. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Source: Boogich / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 82.8°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 65.9°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 357,069
• Park area: 48.8 square miles
• Region: Colorado Colorado Drainage Basin

34. North Cascades National Park

Source: SoisudaS / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 83.0°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 60.0°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 40,351
• Park area: 783.4 square miles
• Region: Washington Cascade Mountains West

33. Olympic National Park

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 83.4°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 61.1°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 2,947,503
• Park area: 1,429.9 square miles
• Region: Washington West Olympic Coast

32. Indiana Dunes National Park

Source: Jon Lauriat / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 86.0°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 70.3°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 2,765,892
• Park area: 25.4 square miles
• Region: Northwest Indiana

31. Badlands National Park

the road to color valley ( CC BY-SA 2.0 ) by Christian Collins

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 86.9°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 67.0°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 1,046,400
• Park area: 379.4 square miles
• Region: Southwest South Dakota

30. Wind Cave National Park

Source: Mark Newman / The Image Bank via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 87.0°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 64.5°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 592,459
• Park area: 53.0 square miles
• Region: South Dakota Black Hills

29. Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Source: LarryKnupp / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 89.3°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 71.1°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 2,860,059
• Park area: 51.2 square miles
• Region: Northeast Ohio

28. Great Basin National Park

Source: Kyle Kempf / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 89.8°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 68.3°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 143,265
• Park area: 120.3 square miles
• Region: Northeastern Nevada

27. Gateway Arch National Park

Source: amolson7 / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 90.9°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 75.1°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 2,422,836
• Park area: 0.3 square miles
• Region: Southwest Illinois

26. Capitol Reef National Park

Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 91.5°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 73.5°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 1,268,861
• Park area: 382.5 square miles
• Region: Southeast Utah

25. Mammoth Cave National Park

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• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 91.6°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 75.5°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 654,450
• Park area: 111.8 square miles
• Region: Central Kentucky

24. Arches National Park

Source: Yongyut Kumsri / Shutterstock.com

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 92.2°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 75.5°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 1,482,045
• Park area: 119.5 square miles
• Region: Southeast Utah

23. Biscayne National Park

Source: stockphoto52 / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 92.2°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 85.0°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 571,242
• Park area: 271.6 square miles
• Region: Florida Lower East Coast

22. Bryce Canyon National Park

Source: JimVallee / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 92.3°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 73.7°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 2,461,269
• Park area: 56.2 square miles
• Region: South Central Utah

21. Kings Canyon National Park

Source: MargaretW / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 93.0°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 72.6°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 643,065
• Park area: 717.1 square miles
• Region: California San Joaquin Drainage

20. Canyonlands National Park

Source: roman_slavik / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 93.0°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 74.8°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 800,322
• Park area: 522.3 square miles
• Region: Southeast Utah

19. Crater Lake National Park

Source: Photographer and videographer from Ukraine / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 93.2°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 65.0°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 559,976
• Park area: 285.2 square miles
• Region: Oregon High Plateau

18. Everglades National Park

Source: SimonSkafar / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 94.2°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 85.0°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 810,189
• Park area: 2,393.4 square miles
• Region: Florida Everglades

17. Sequoia National Park

Source: haveseen / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 94.6°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 74.6°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 980,567
• Park area: 635.6 square miles
• Region: California San Joaquin Drainage

16. Dry Tortugas National Park

Source: Dana Allen / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 94.7°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 85.3°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 84,285
• Park area: 102.5 square miles
• Region: Florida Keys

15. Shenandoah National Park

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• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 95.4°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 75.4°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 1,576,008
• Park area: 308.7 square miles
• Region: Northern Virginia

14. Redwood National Park

Source: YayaErnst / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 95.8°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 73.5°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 409,105
• Park area: 222.4 square miles
• Region: California North Coast Drainage

13. Hot Springs National Park

Source: Andy Wilcock / Shutterstock.com

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 96.7°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 82.3°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 2,502,967
• Park area: 8.5 square miles
• Region: Central Arkansas

12. Zion National Park

Source: Joecho-16 / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 97.7°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 77.1°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 4,623,238
• Park area: 232.4 square miles
• Region: South Central Utah

11. Congaree National Park

Source: ericfoltz / E+ via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 99.2°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 83.2°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 250,114
• Park area: 41.8 square miles
• Region: Central South Carolina

10. Lassen Volcanic National Park

Source: heyengel / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 100.2°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 77.3°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 418,978
• Park area: 168.0 square miles
• Region: California Sacramento Drainage

9. Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Source: Ron and Patty Thomas / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 100.6°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 83.2°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 227,340
• Park area: 136.3 square miles
• Region: Texas Trans Pecos

8. Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Source: douglastofoli / Flickr

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 101.1°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 82.9°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 394,121
• Park area: 73.1 square miles
• Region: New Mexico Southeastern Plains

7. Petrified Forest National Park

Source: tristanbnz / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 101.3°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 77.0°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 520,491
• Park area: 348.4 square miles
• Region: Northeast Arizona

6. Grand Canyon National Park

Source: jose1983 / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 101.5°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 81.5°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 4,733,705
• Park area: 1,880.1 square miles
• Region: Northeast Arizona

5. White Sands National Park

Source: YayaErnst / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 102.2°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 83.3°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 729,096
• Park area: 231.6 square miles
• Region: New Mexico Southern Desert

4. Big Bend National Park

Source: Rex_Wholster / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 102.5°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 86.1°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 509,129
• Park area: 1,267.0 square miles
• Region: Texas Trans Pecos

3. Saguaro National Park

Source: ericfoltz / E+ via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 105.0°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 86.5°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 1,010,906
• Park area: 146.2 square miles
• Region: Southeast Arizona

2. Pinnacles National Park

Source: NickLustPhotography / iStock via Getty Images

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 106.2°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 84.6°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 341,220
• Park area: 41.7 square miles
• Region: California Central Coast Drainage

1. Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park, Go… ( CC BY-SA 2.0 ) by Domenico Convertini

• Maximum temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 109.8°F
• Average temperature, July 1-8, 2024: 88.8°F
• Annual visitors, 2023: 1,099,589
• Park area: 5,367.1 square miles
• Region: California Southeast Desert Basin

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