Warmest parks in winter
These 11 parks average highs of 62°F or more from December to February, near their main visitor center.
| Park | State | Avg. high, Dec to Feb | Avg. snow a month | Crowds in January |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Samoa | American Samoa | 88°F | 0 in | quiet |
| Virgin Islands | U.S. Virgin Islands | 85°F | n/a | busiest |
| Everglades | Florida | 80°F | 0 in | busiest |
| Biscayne | Florida | 77°F | 0 in | busy |
| Dry Tortugas | Florida | 76°F | n/a | busy |
| Death Valley | California and Nevada | 69°F | 0 in | moderate |
| Hawaiʻi Volcanoes | Hawaii | 68°F | 0 in | busiest |
| Saguaro | Arizona | 67°F | 0 in | busy |
| Channel Islands | California | 67°F | 0 in | moderate |
| Big Bend | Texas | 63°F | 0 in | moderate |
| Pinnacles | California | 63°F | 0 in | busy |
Snowy parks for a quiet winter trip
These 15 parks average 8 inches of snow a month or more in winter near the visitor center. Roads, campgrounds and visitor centers may close or run reduced hours, so check each park's current conditions before you go.
| Park | State | Avg. high, Dec to Feb | Avg. snow a month | Crowds in January |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crater Lake | Oregon | 33°F | 82 in | very quiet |
| Kings Canyon | California | 46°F | 38 in | very quiet |
| Grand Teton | Wyoming | 29°F | 38 in | very quiet |
| Mount Rainier | Washington | 38°F | 29 in | very quiet |
| Bryce Canyon | Utah | 38°F | 18 in | very quiet |
| Voyageurs | Minnesota | 19°F | 15 in | very quiet |
| Great Basin | Nevada | 40°F | 14 in | very quiet |
| New River Gorge | West Virginia | 43°F | 14 in | very quiet |
| Mesa Verde | Colorado | 41°F | 13 in | very quiet |
| Rocky Mountain | Colorado | 37°F | 12 in | very quiet |
| Yellowstone | Wyoming, Montana and Idaho | 32°F | 12 in | very quiet |
| Kobuk Valley | Alaska | 7°F | 11 in | moderate |
| Indiana Dunes | Indiana | 35°F | 11 in | very quiet |
| Denali | Alaska | 14°F | 11 in | very quiet |
| Katmai | Alaska | 26°F | 9 in | very quiet |
Parks that are nearly empty in winter
In these 21 parks, each winter month sees less than a tenth of the busiest month's visits, usually because roads, boats or flights are limited or closed: Acadia, Badlands, Crater Lake, Denali, Gates of the Arctic, Glacier, Glacier Bay, Grand Teton, Great Basin, Great Sand Dunes, Isle Royale, Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Lake Clark, Lassen Volcanic, Mesa Verde, Mount Rainier, North Cascades, Theodore Roosevelt, Wrangell-St. Elias, Yellowstone. Plan a winter visit only after checking the park's own alerts.
Before you go
- Every park page here has a live box with current alerts and the National Weather Service forecast.
- Winter days are short, and some park roads close at night or after storms.
- Holiday weeks around Christmas and New Year are busy even in winter in the warm parks.
See the crowd calendar for every park and month, and best parks by month.
Sources
- National Park Service visitor use statistics (IRMA): monthly recreation visits, 2022 to 2025
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020
Last checked {CHECKED}.
