Washington RV seasonal calendar

Washington summer-peak RV state. Olympic, Mt Rainier, Cascades. Winter rainy at coast; snowy at elevation.

1. January· off-season cautionWet and mild in the lowlands, deep snow in the mountains. Typical 46°F high / 35°F low.

   Activities: Winter storm watching on the Olympic coast · Moss-deep rainforest walks in the Hoh · Cozy harbor-town weekends

   RV trip: January is storm-watching season — the Olympic coast puts on huge surf, the rainforests glow their deepest green, and lowland travel stays perfectly doable between fronts.

   Considerations: Mountain passes require chains or close in storms; keep itineraries at low elevation.

   Best rigs: Motorhomes & RVs · Trucks & van conversions

2. February· off-season cautionGray and showery with brightening breaks. Typical 51°F high / 36°F low.

   Activities: Wintering bald eagles along lowland rivers · Puget Sound ferry rides on clear days · Seattle museum and market days

   RV trip: February suits unhurried coastal and city trips — eagles winter on the rivers, and clear days deliver surprise mountain views that stop traffic.

   Considerations: Rain is steady company; waterproof layers make or break the month.

   Best rigs: Motorhomes & RVs · Trucks & van conversions

3. March· off-season cautionSoftening late winter; blossoms open in the lowlands. Typical 55°F high / 38°F low.

   Activities: Cherry blossoms on the University of Washington Quad · Early wildflowers at the Columbia Gorge's dry east end · Stormy-to-sunny beach walks

   RV trip: March brings the University of Washington Quad's famous cherry trees into bloom — Seattle's rite of spring — while the high country stays buried.

   Considerations: Mountain recreation is still winter recreation; the snowpack is usually near its deepest about now.

   Best rigs: Motorhomes & RVs · Trucks & van conversions

4. AprilShowers and sun trading places over green valleys. Typical 60°F high / 42°F low.

   Activities: Skagit Valley tulip fields in bloom · Sunny-side camping east of the Cascades · Waterfalls at full spring flow

   RV trip: April is tulip month — the Skagit Valley's fields run in solid stripes of color — and the state's east side dries out first for early camping.

   Considerations: Tulip-season weekends jam the small Skagit farm roads; weekday mornings are the move.

   Best rigs: Motorhomes & RVs · Trucks & van conversions

5. MayLengthening bright spells, lowlands in full leaf. Typical 67°F high / 48°F low.

   Activities: Shore-based orca watching on the Salish Sea · San Juan Islands ferry camping · Lowland lake paddling

   RV trip: May starts the good stuff — orca shore-watching picks up along the Salish Sea, lowland trails dry, and the campgrounds that are open feel half-secret.

   Considerations: High-country trails and campgrounds remain snowbound well into summer — trust melt-out reports, not the calendar.

   Best rigs: Motorhomes & RVs · Trucks & van conversions · Boats & on-water

6. JuneMild with morning gray on the coast, brighter inland. Typical 72°F high / 53°F low.

   Activities: Sockeye at the Ballard Locks fish-ladder windows · Long-daylight island hopping · Eastern Washington river valleys in early summer

   RV trip: June is the state warming up its orchestra — sockeye start climbing the Ballard Locks fish ladder, ferries fill with summer energy, and the east side is already golden.

   Considerations: Coastal June mornings are famously gray; afternoons usually pay the sunshine back.

   Best rigs: Motorhomes & RVs · Trucks & van conversions · Boats & on-water

7. JulyDry, warm, and reliably blue — the payoff month. Typical 78°F high / 57°F low.

   Activities: Subalpine wildflowers at Paradise and Sunrise · Hurricane Ridge day trips · Alpine lake swims on hot afternoons

   RV trip: July opens the high country: Mount Rainier's meadows begin their wildflower run by mid-month, Hurricane Ridge stretches out under long days, and the whole state is finally on the table.

   Considerations: The famous national-park corridors run at capacity — arrive at entrances early and hold permits where required.

   Best rigs: Motorhomes & RVs · Trucks & van conversions

8. August· prime monthWarmest and driest of the year. Typical 78°F high / 58°F low.

   Activities: Peak meadow color below the glaciers · Olympic beach camping · Salish Sea whale watching by ferry and shore

   RV trip: August is peak Washington — Rainier's meadows often crest around the month's start, the coast finally warms, and every ferry line proves the state's summer reputation.

   Considerations: Wildfire smoke can drift in during dry spells — check air quality when planning strenuous days.

   Best rigs: Motorhomes & RVs · Trucks & van conversions · Boats & on-water

9. SeptemberCrisp, clear, and quieter by the day. Typical 71°F high / 53°F low.

   Activities: Salmon Cascades viewing on the Sol Duc · Golden larch hikes in the North Cascades · Warm-day harvest stops in orchard country

   RV trip: September is the local favorite — salmon leap the Sol Duc cascades, larches begin turning gold in the North Cascades late month, and summer's crowds head home first.

   Considerations: Mountain weather turns fast now; carry real layers above 4,000 feet.

   Best rigs: Motorhomes & RVs · Trucks & van conversions

10. OctoberFall storms return between golden days. Typical 60°F high / 45°F low.

    Activities: Fall salmon runs at the Issaquah hatchery · Big-leaf maple color in river valleys · Storm-front beach walks

    RV trip: October runs on salmon and color — Chinook and coho fill the Issaquah hatchery ladder, valley maples turn, and the rain begins reclaiming the coast.

    Considerations: High-elevation roads and campgrounds begin closing with the first lasting snow — check status daily.

    Best rigs: Motorhomes & RVs · Trucks & van conversions

11. NovemberWet season fully installed; short bright windows. Typical 50°F high / 40°F low.

    Activities: Rainforest walks at maximum green · King-tide and storm watching · Hot-springs soaks on cold days

    RV trip: November is for rain lovers, and the Olympics reward them — rivers roar, storms hammer the sea stacks, and the rainforest does its best work.

    Considerations: Flooding can close river-valley roads after big storms — build alternatives into coastal loops.

    Best rigs: Motorhomes & RVs · Trucks & van conversions

12. December· off-season cautionShort, dim, wet days; snow stacking high above. Typical 44°F high / 35°F low.

    Activities: Quiet harbor-town holiday visits · Winter wildlife on the tide flats · Ski-area snow days for equipped travelers

    RV trip: December keeps the lowlands travelable for hardy, unhurried trips — think ferry towns, tide flats, and rain drumming pleasantly on the roof.

    Considerations: Only a few hours of usable daylight — plan short drives and early camp setups.

    Best rigs: Motorhomes & RVs · Trucks & van conversions