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What to pack for United States in August
Typical August, built from ten years of weather
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Typical for your dates
Highs 82°F, lows 68°F, rain 12 of 31 days
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Sunset lands around 7:50pm. Wind averages 11 mph. No border paperwork on this one.
0 of 49 packed
Packing for
58 things on this list are on sale today
Essentials
11 items
12 rain days a month finds every seam. A real shell, not a windbreaker.
UV index of 8.6 burns exposed skin in under 15 minutes.
Glare off water and pavement at this UV level causes eye strain.
Warm humid nights and standing water bring insects to urban parks.
Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.
Insect bites and sunburn are common enough to warrant supplies.
Daylight stretches to 13.8 hours and drains phone batteries fast.
Overhead bins fill fast in August, so compact packing matters.
National park visits need separate storage from daily city gear.
Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.
For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.
Before you go
2 to sort
Recommended
14 items
Anything heavier than linen is a mistake at 82°F.
Heat and humidity at 74% make sweat stick to skin all day.
UV hits 8.6 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.
Coastal access and 82°F highs mean swimming happens most days.
Urban terrain and water access favor quick-dry footwear over regular shoes.
Thirteen-plus hours of daylight means sun exposure all waking hours.
Cold water at 3pm is worth the weight.
Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.
Tap water is safe but refilling saves money across a month.
One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.
Urban crowds and frequent transit make bag tracking worthwhile.
Twelve rain days mean wet and dry clothes need separation.
Coastal humidity and water access put phones at constant risk.
Heat and humidity make laundry necessary every few days.
Nice to have
8 items you could skip
Highs near 82°F rule out long pants for most of August.
Twelve rain days in the month soak through unprotected leather.
Lips crack fast in wind and sun without protection.
Urban areas and frequent water contact make hand washing essential.
Sunburned skin reacts badly to standard itch relief products.
Multiple devices need charging in rooms with few outlets.
Domestic travel requires TSA-compatible locks for checked luggage.
Toiletries spread across a backpack invite spills during travel.
Basics
16 things you probably own already