National Parks by Month

With 63 National Parks in the system, there is something amazing to see at any time of year.

Most parks are open year-round, but that doesn't mean they are all equally accessible, equally scenic, or generally equally enjoyable to visit. From mountain parks with trails that may be covered in snow to desert parks with unsafe levels of heat, there are places that just sometimes don't make sense. On the flip side, fall foliage, spring blooms, or generally pleasant temperatures draw us in certain directions, depending on when we are planning the trip.

In addition to the natural environment, it's worth considering another variable: crowds. Often, what might be the "best" time of year can be the most crowded, and if able to travel during a "shoulder season" you may get 90% of the park experience with less than half as many people. While many of us are limited by school schedules and other family or work commitments, these shoulder seasons are often our favorite time of year in the parks. That said, once the visitor centers and roads start closing, you're beginning to miss out on what the park has to offer.

To make this list, we evaluated all of these factors. Climate was our starting point (with a hat tip to weatherspark.com's "tourism score"). We added bonus points for special seasonal sights, and then penalized for peak crowds, as well as for seasonal facility closures. The output was a monthly rating of "Best" (blue), "Good" (green),  "Okay" (pale green), or "Not good" (blank/white) for each park.

One final disclaimer: some parks have secondary seasons that could still work for you. As an example, Yellowstone in the winter is largely closed but people take snowmobile tours, "fat tire" buses, or cross-country ski into the park. It may be beautiful that time of year, but we focused on typical tourist expectations for the parks. If you're looking for one of those unique experiences we can still help you plan it, you just won't see it reflected in these tables.