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Best national parks to visit, month by month

Pick the month you can travel. Every park gets a 1–5 score for that month (5 = best) based on crowds, weather and which roads, campgrounds and boats are running.

Draft scores. These were researched from NPS weather and seasons pages and are being reviewed by David & Keri, who have visited every park. Expect changes.

Best parks in January

  1. Everglades 5/5 · Best Dry season Dec–Apr = wildlife and fewer bugs; wet season is hot with intense mosquitoes. (NPS site ↗)
  2. Virgin Islands 5/5 · Best Dry, breezy Dec–Apr is peak; hurricane risk Aug–Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  3. Big Bend 4/5 · Great Desert summers routinely top 100°F; March spring break is the busiest; Nov–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  4. Biscayne 4/5 · Great Dry season Dec–Apr; hurricane season Jun–Nov with heat, storms and bugs. (NPS site ↗)
  5. Death Valley 4/5 · Great Summer heat is dangerous (120°F+); Nov–Mar best; spring wildflowers some years. (NPS site ↗)
  6. Dry Tortugas 4/5 · Great Winter cold fronts can cancel boats; hurricane risk Aug–Oct; spring is calmest and birding peaks. (NPS site ↗)
  7. Haleakalā 4/5 · Great Good year-round; summit is cold at sunrise (reservation needed); winter is wetter on the Kīpahulu side. (NPS site ↗)
  8. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes 4/5 · Great Good year-round; check eruption status and vog; May and Sep–Oct are quieter. (NPS site ↗)
  9. Joshua Tree 4/5 · Great Spring blooms and fall are best; summer heat is extreme; winter nights freeze. (NPS site ↗)
  10. Saguaro 4/5 · Great Saguaro bloom in May; summer heat extreme; Oct–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  11. Bryce Canyon 3/5 · Fine High elevation keeps summer mild but busy; snow on hoodoos in winter; September is ideal. (NPS site ↗)
  12. Carlsbad Caverns 3/5 · Fine Cave is the same temperature year-round; bat flights roughly late May–Oct, peak in September. (NPS site ↗)
  13. Chiricahua 3/5 · Fine Spring and fall are mild; June is hot and fire-prone; Jul–Aug monsoon storms (but green).
  14. Congaree 3/5 · Fine Summer heat and mosquitoes are intense; synchronous fireflies mid-May to early June; fall/spring best. (NPS site ↗)
  15. Gateway Arch 3/5 · Fine Indoors and open year-round; humid summer heat; spring and fall nicest for the riverfront. (NPS site ↗)
  16. Grand Canyon 3/5 · Fine South Rim open year-round; North Rim seasonal (about mid-May–mid-Oct); inner canyon dangerously hot in summer.
  17. Guadalupe Mountains 3/5 · Fine McKittrick Canyon fall color late Oct–early Nov; high winds in spring; hot summers. (NPS site ↗)
  18. Hot Springs 3/5 · Fine Town park open year-round; humid summers; spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  19. Mammoth Cave 3/5 · Fine Cave tours year-round; summer is busiest; spring and fall nicest above ground. (NPS site ↗)
  20. Petrified Forest 3/5 · Fine Drive-through park open year-round; hot summer afternoons; spring wind. (NPS site ↗)
  21. Pinnacles 3/5 · Fine Spring wildflowers; summer often over 100°F; caves close seasonally for bats. (NPS site ↗)
  22. Voyageurs 3/5 · Fine Mostly a boat park in summer; winter ice roads Jan–Mar; spring ice-out and fall freeze-up are dead zones. (NPS site ↗)
  23. White Sands 3/5 · Fine Road closes for missile tests at times; hot summers; October is comfortable. (NPS site ↗)
  24. Yellowstone 3/5 · Fine Most roads closed to cars early Nov–mid Apr (winter snowcoach season mid Dec–mid Mar); September has fewer crowds.
  25. Arches 2/5 · Not ideal Summer highs often 100°F+; timed-entry season spring–fall; spring and fall are the sweet spot. (NPS site ↗)
  26. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison 2/5 · Not ideal North Rim road closes in winter and South Rim Drive closes past the visitor center in snow; summer storms. (NPS site ↗)
  27. Canyonlands 2/5 · Not ideal Hot summers, icy winter roads (White Rim/Shafer); spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  28. Capitol Reef 2/5 · Not ideal Spring and fall are mild; orchard fruit Jun–Oct; summer heat and flash floods. (NPS site ↗)
  29. Channel Islands 2/5 · Not ideal Spring wildflowers; Sep–Oct calmest, clearest water; winter brings rough-sea boat cancellations. (NPS site ↗)
  30. Crater Lake 2/5 · Not ideal Huge snowfall; Rim Drive usually fully open only about July–October. (NPS site ↗)
  31. Cuyahoga Valley 2/5 · Not ideal Open year-round; fall color in October is the highlight. (NPS site ↗)
  32. Grand Teton 2/5 · Not ideal Most park roads and services open May–Oct; September has elk rut and aspen color. (NPS site ↗)
  33. Great Sand Dunes 2/5 · Not ideal Medano Creek flows best late May–early June; summer sand gets very hot by afternoon. (NPS site ↗)
  34. Great Smoky Mountains 2/5 · Not ideal Most-visited park; October foliage and summer are busiest; synchronous fireflies in June (lottery). (NPS site ↗)
  35. Indiana Dunes 2/5 · Not ideal Beach season June–Aug; cold, windy winters on Lake Michigan. (NPS site ↗)
  36. National Park of American Samoa 2/5 · Not ideal Drier season about Jun–Sep; wetter, cyclone-prone Nov–Apr. (NPS site ↗)
  37. New River Gorge 2/5 · Not ideal Fall color and Bridge Day (October); Gauley rafting season in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  38. Olympic 2/5 · Not ideal Very wet Oct–Apr; summer is the dry season for the high country and coast. (NPS site ↗)
  39. Redwood 2/5 · Not ideal Mild year-round; rainy winters; September often clearest on the coast. (NPS site ↗)
  40. Sequoia 2/5 · Not ideal Generals Highway open year-round (chains possible); Mineral King summer only. (NPS site ↗)
  41. Shenandoah 2/5 · Not ideal Skyline Drive closes in snow/ice; May wildflowers; October foliage busiest. (NPS site ↗)
  42. Wind Cave 2/5 · Not ideal Cave tours year-round (fewer in winter); summer Sturgis rally crowds early Aug. (NPS site ↗)
  43. Yosemite 2/5 · Not ideal Waterfalls peak May–June; Tioga Road usually open about June–Nov; summer reservations/crowds.
  44. Zion 2/5 · Not ideal Summer often 100°F+ with monsoon flash floods (Narrows); spring and fall best; shuttle season busy.
  45. Acadia 1/5 · Avoid Park Loop Road mostly closed Dec–mid-Apr; Jul–Aug busiest; fall color early–mid Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  46. Badlands 1/5 · Avoid Hot, stormy midsummer and cold windy winters; June green-up and September are best. (NPS site ↗)
  47. Denali 1/5 · Avoid Park road bus season about late May–mid Sep; June long days, July wetter, early Sep fall color. Road still closed at Pretty Rocks (mile 43). (NPS site ↗)
  48. Gates Of The Arctic 1/5 · Avoid Short summer window (late Jun–Aug); fall color late Aug; snow and freeze-up by mid-Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  49. Glacier Bay 1/5 · Avoid Bartlett Cove day boat runs about late May–early Sep; June–July best weather odds. (NPS site ↗)
  50. Glacier 1/5 · Avoid Going-to-the-Sun Road usually fully open only early July–mid Oct; July–Aug best (and busiest).
  51. Great Basin 1/5 · Avoid Upper Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is closed by snow roughly Nov–June; summer is cool at elevation. (NPS site ↗)
  52. Isle Royale 1/5 · Avoid Park closed Nov 1–mid Apr; ferries/seaplanes run about mid-May–Sep; June bugs; late Aug–early Sep best. (NPS site ↗)
  53. Katmai 1/5 · Avoid Brooks Camp season about June–mid Sep; bears at Brooks Falls peak in July and again in September. (NPS site ↗)
  54. Kenai Fjords 1/5 · Avoid Boat tours run spring–early fall; Exit Glacier Road closed to cars in winter. (NPS site ↗)
  55. Kings Canyon 1/5 · Avoid Hwy 180 to Cedar Grove closes about mid-Nov–late Apr; Grant Grove is open year-round. (NPS site ↗)
  56. Kobuk Valley 1/5 · Avoid Fly-in only, short summer; caribou migration late Aug–Sep; snow by October. (NPS site ↗)
  57. Lake Clark 1/5 · Avoid Coastal bear viewing Jun–Sep (sedge in June–July, salmon Aug–Sep); fly-in only. (NPS site ↗)
  58. Lassen Volcanic 1/5 · Avoid Main park highway usually opens fully June–July and closes with snow in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  59. Mesa Verde 1/5 · Avoid Cliff dwelling ranger tours run about May–Oct; Wetherill Mesa summer only; winter is quiet and limited. (NPS site ↗)
  60. Mount Rainier 1/5 · Avoid Sunrise road open about July–Sep; Paradise wildflowers late Jul–Aug; heavy winter snow. (NPS site ↗)
  61. North Cascades 1/5 · Avoid North Cascades Highway (SR 20) closes in winter; high trails snow-free about mid-Jul–Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  62. Rocky Mountain 1/5 · Avoid Trail Ridge Road about late May–mid Oct; timed entry in summer; September elk rut and aspens. (NPS site ↗)
  63. Theodore Roosevelt 1/5 · Avoid Cold, harsh winters; June green-up and September best; check Scenic Loop Drive closures. (NPS site ↗)
  64. Wrangell - St Elias 1/5 · Avoid McCarthy/Kennecott services about mid-May–mid-Sep; long gravel McCarthy Road. (NPS site ↗)

Best parks in February

  1. Everglades 5/5 · Best Dry season Dec–Apr = wildlife and fewer bugs; wet season is hot with intense mosquitoes. (NPS site ↗)
  2. Virgin Islands 5/5 · Best Dry, breezy Dec–Apr is peak; hurricane risk Aug–Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  3. Big Bend 4/5 · Great Desert summers routinely top 100°F; March spring break is the busiest; Nov–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  4. Biscayne 4/5 · Great Dry season Dec–Apr; hurricane season Jun–Nov with heat, storms and bugs. (NPS site ↗)
  5. Death Valley 4/5 · Great Summer heat is dangerous (120°F+); Nov–Mar best; spring wildflowers some years. (NPS site ↗)
  6. Dry Tortugas 4/5 · Great Winter cold fronts can cancel boats; hurricane risk Aug–Oct; spring is calmest and birding peaks. (NPS site ↗)
  7. Haleakalā 4/5 · Great Good year-round; summit is cold at sunrise (reservation needed); winter is wetter on the Kīpahulu side. (NPS site ↗)
  8. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes 4/5 · Great Good year-round; check eruption status and vog; May and Sep–Oct are quieter. (NPS site ↗)
  9. Joshua Tree 4/5 · Great Spring blooms and fall are best; summer heat is extreme; winter nights freeze. (NPS site ↗)
  10. Pinnacles 4/5 · Great Spring wildflowers; summer often over 100°F; caves close seasonally for bats. (NPS site ↗)
  11. Saguaro 4/5 · Great Saguaro bloom in May; summer heat extreme; Oct–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  12. Arches 3/5 · Fine Summer highs often 100°F+; timed-entry season spring–fall; spring and fall are the sweet spot. (NPS site ↗)
  13. Bryce Canyon 3/5 · Fine High elevation keeps summer mild but busy; snow on hoodoos in winter; September is ideal. (NPS site ↗)
  14. Carlsbad Caverns 3/5 · Fine Cave is the same temperature year-round; bat flights roughly late May–Oct, peak in September. (NPS site ↗)
  15. Channel Islands 3/5 · Fine Spring wildflowers; Sep–Oct calmest, clearest water; winter brings rough-sea boat cancellations. (NPS site ↗)
  16. Chiricahua 3/5 · Fine Spring and fall are mild; June is hot and fire-prone; Jul–Aug monsoon storms (but green).
  17. Congaree 3/5 · Fine Summer heat and mosquitoes are intense; synchronous fireflies mid-May to early June; fall/spring best. (NPS site ↗)
  18. Gateway Arch 3/5 · Fine Indoors and open year-round; humid summer heat; spring and fall nicest for the riverfront. (NPS site ↗)
  19. Grand Canyon 3/5 · Fine South Rim open year-round; North Rim seasonal (about mid-May–mid-Oct); inner canyon dangerously hot in summer.
  20. Guadalupe Mountains 3/5 · Fine McKittrick Canyon fall color late Oct–early Nov; high winds in spring; hot summers. (NPS site ↗)
  21. Hot Springs 3/5 · Fine Town park open year-round; humid summers; spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  22. Mammoth Cave 3/5 · Fine Cave tours year-round; summer is busiest; spring and fall nicest above ground. (NPS site ↗)
  23. Petrified Forest 3/5 · Fine Drive-through park open year-round; hot summer afternoons; spring wind. (NPS site ↗)
  24. Voyageurs 3/5 · Fine Mostly a boat park in summer; winter ice roads Jan–Mar; spring ice-out and fall freeze-up are dead zones. (NPS site ↗)
  25. White Sands 3/5 · Fine Road closes for missile tests at times; hot summers; October is comfortable. (NPS site ↗)
  26. Yellowstone 3/5 · Fine Most roads closed to cars early Nov–mid Apr (winter snowcoach season mid Dec–mid Mar); September has fewer crowds.
  27. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison 2/5 · Not ideal North Rim road closes in winter and South Rim Drive closes past the visitor center in snow; summer storms. (NPS site ↗)
  28. Canyonlands 2/5 · Not ideal Hot summers, icy winter roads (White Rim/Shafer); spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  29. Capitol Reef 2/5 · Not ideal Spring and fall are mild; orchard fruit Jun–Oct; summer heat and flash floods. (NPS site ↗)
  30. Crater Lake 2/5 · Not ideal Huge snowfall; Rim Drive usually fully open only about July–October. (NPS site ↗)
  31. Cuyahoga Valley 2/5 · Not ideal Open year-round; fall color in October is the highlight. (NPS site ↗)
  32. Grand Teton 2/5 · Not ideal Most park roads and services open May–Oct; September has elk rut and aspen color. (NPS site ↗)
  33. Great Sand Dunes 2/5 · Not ideal Medano Creek flows best late May–early June; summer sand gets very hot by afternoon. (NPS site ↗)
  34. Great Smoky Mountains 2/5 · Not ideal Most-visited park; October foliage and summer are busiest; synchronous fireflies in June (lottery). (NPS site ↗)
  35. Indiana Dunes 2/5 · Not ideal Beach season June–Aug; cold, windy winters on Lake Michigan. (NPS site ↗)
  36. National Park of American Samoa 2/5 · Not ideal Drier season about Jun–Sep; wetter, cyclone-prone Nov–Apr. (NPS site ↗)
  37. New River Gorge 2/5 · Not ideal Fall color and Bridge Day (October); Gauley rafting season in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  38. Olympic 2/5 · Not ideal Very wet Oct–Apr; summer is the dry season for the high country and coast. (NPS site ↗)
  39. Redwood 2/5 · Not ideal Mild year-round; rainy winters; September often clearest on the coast. (NPS site ↗)
  40. Sequoia 2/5 · Not ideal Generals Highway open year-round (chains possible); Mineral King summer only. (NPS site ↗)
  41. Shenandoah 2/5 · Not ideal Skyline Drive closes in snow/ice; May wildflowers; October foliage busiest. (NPS site ↗)
  42. Wind Cave 2/5 · Not ideal Cave tours year-round (fewer in winter); summer Sturgis rally crowds early Aug. (NPS site ↗)
  43. Yosemite 2/5 · Not ideal Waterfalls peak May–June; Tioga Road usually open about June–Nov; summer reservations/crowds.
  44. Zion 2/5 · Not ideal Summer often 100°F+ with monsoon flash floods (Narrows); spring and fall best; shuttle season busy.
  45. Acadia 1/5 · Avoid Park Loop Road mostly closed Dec–mid-Apr; Jul–Aug busiest; fall color early–mid Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  46. Badlands 1/5 · Avoid Hot, stormy midsummer and cold windy winters; June green-up and September are best. (NPS site ↗)
  47. Denali 1/5 · Avoid Park road bus season about late May–mid Sep; June long days, July wetter, early Sep fall color. Road still closed at Pretty Rocks (mile 43). (NPS site ↗)
  48. Gates Of The Arctic 1/5 · Avoid Short summer window (late Jun–Aug); fall color late Aug; snow and freeze-up by mid-Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  49. Glacier Bay 1/5 · Avoid Bartlett Cove day boat runs about late May–early Sep; June–July best weather odds. (NPS site ↗)
  50. Glacier 1/5 · Avoid Going-to-the-Sun Road usually fully open only early July–mid Oct; July–Aug best (and busiest).
  51. Great Basin 1/5 · Avoid Upper Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is closed by snow roughly Nov–June; summer is cool at elevation. (NPS site ↗)
  52. Isle Royale 1/5 · Avoid Park closed Nov 1–mid Apr; ferries/seaplanes run about mid-May–Sep; June bugs; late Aug–early Sep best. (NPS site ↗)
  53. Katmai 1/5 · Avoid Brooks Camp season about June–mid Sep; bears at Brooks Falls peak in July and again in September. (NPS site ↗)
  54. Kenai Fjords 1/5 · Avoid Boat tours run spring–early fall; Exit Glacier Road closed to cars in winter. (NPS site ↗)
  55. Kings Canyon 1/5 · Avoid Hwy 180 to Cedar Grove closes about mid-Nov–late Apr; Grant Grove is open year-round. (NPS site ↗)
  56. Kobuk Valley 1/5 · Avoid Fly-in only, short summer; caribou migration late Aug–Sep; snow by October. (NPS site ↗)
  57. Lake Clark 1/5 · Avoid Coastal bear viewing Jun–Sep (sedge in June–July, salmon Aug–Sep); fly-in only. (NPS site ↗)
  58. Lassen Volcanic 1/5 · Avoid Main park highway usually opens fully June–July and closes with snow in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  59. Mesa Verde 1/5 · Avoid Cliff dwelling ranger tours run about May–Oct; Wetherill Mesa summer only; winter is quiet and limited. (NPS site ↗)
  60. Mount Rainier 1/5 · Avoid Sunrise road open about July–Sep; Paradise wildflowers late Jul–Aug; heavy winter snow. (NPS site ↗)
  61. North Cascades 1/5 · Avoid North Cascades Highway (SR 20) closes in winter; high trails snow-free about mid-Jul–Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  62. Rocky Mountain 1/5 · Avoid Trail Ridge Road about late May–mid Oct; timed entry in summer; September elk rut and aspens. (NPS site ↗)
  63. Theodore Roosevelt 1/5 · Avoid Cold, harsh winters; June green-up and September best; check Scenic Loop Drive closures. (NPS site ↗)
  64. Wrangell - St Elias 1/5 · Avoid McCarthy/Kennecott services about mid-May–mid-Sep; long gravel McCarthy Road. (NPS site ↗)

Best parks in March

  1. Big Bend 5/5 · Best Desert summers routinely top 100°F; March spring break is the busiest; Nov–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  2. Death Valley 5/5 · Best Summer heat is dangerous (120°F+); Nov–Mar best; spring wildflowers some years. (NPS site ↗)
  3. Dry Tortugas 5/5 · Best Winter cold fronts can cancel boats; hurricane risk Aug–Oct; spring is calmest and birding peaks. (NPS site ↗)
  4. Everglades 5/5 · Best Dry season Dec–Apr = wildlife and fewer bugs; wet season is hot with intense mosquitoes. (NPS site ↗)
  5. Joshua Tree 5/5 · Best Spring blooms and fall are best; summer heat is extreme; winter nights freeze. (NPS site ↗)
  6. Pinnacles 5/5 · Best Spring wildflowers; summer often over 100°F; caves close seasonally for bats. (NPS site ↗)
  7. Saguaro 5/5 · Best Saguaro bloom in May; summer heat extreme; Oct–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  8. Virgin Islands 5/5 · Best Dry, breezy Dec–Apr is peak; hurricane risk Aug–Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  9. Arches 4/5 · Great Summer highs often 100°F+; timed-entry season spring–fall; spring and fall are the sweet spot. (NPS site ↗)
  10. Biscayne 4/5 · Great Dry season Dec–Apr; hurricane season Jun–Nov with heat, storms and bugs. (NPS site ↗)
  11. Canyonlands 4/5 · Great Hot summers, icy winter roads (White Rim/Shafer); spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  12. Channel Islands 4/5 · Great Spring wildflowers; Sep–Oct calmest, clearest water; winter brings rough-sea boat cancellations. (NPS site ↗)
  13. Chiricahua 4/5 · Great Spring and fall are mild; June is hot and fire-prone; Jul–Aug monsoon storms (but green).
  14. Congaree 4/5 · Great Summer heat and mosquitoes are intense; synchronous fireflies mid-May to early June; fall/spring best. (NPS site ↗)
  15. Grand Canyon 4/5 · Great South Rim open year-round; North Rim seasonal (about mid-May–mid-Oct); inner canyon dangerously hot in summer.
  16. Guadalupe Mountains 4/5 · Great McKittrick Canyon fall color late Oct–early Nov; high winds in spring; hot summers. (NPS site ↗)
  17. Haleakalā 4/5 · Great Good year-round; summit is cold at sunrise (reservation needed); winter is wetter on the Kīpahulu side. (NPS site ↗)
  18. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes 4/5 · Great Good year-round; check eruption status and vog; May and Sep–Oct are quieter. (NPS site ↗)
  19. Hot Springs 4/5 · Great Town park open year-round; humid summers; spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  20. Petrified Forest 4/5 · Great Drive-through park open year-round; hot summer afternoons; spring wind. (NPS site ↗)
  21. White Sands 4/5 · Great Road closes for missile tests at times; hot summers; October is comfortable. (NPS site ↗)
  22. Bryce Canyon 3/5 · Fine High elevation keeps summer mild but busy; snow on hoodoos in winter; September is ideal. (NPS site ↗)
  23. Capitol Reef 3/5 · Fine Spring and fall are mild; orchard fruit Jun–Oct; summer heat and flash floods. (NPS site ↗)
  24. Carlsbad Caverns 3/5 · Fine Cave is the same temperature year-round; bat flights roughly late May–Oct, peak in September. (NPS site ↗)
  25. Gateway Arch 3/5 · Fine Indoors and open year-round; humid summer heat; spring and fall nicest for the riverfront. (NPS site ↗)
  26. Great Smoky Mountains 3/5 · Fine Most-visited park; October foliage and summer are busiest; synchronous fireflies in June (lottery). (NPS site ↗)
  27. Mammoth Cave 3/5 · Fine Cave tours year-round; summer is busiest; spring and fall nicest above ground. (NPS site ↗)
  28. New River Gorge 3/5 · Fine Fall color and Bridge Day (October); Gauley rafting season in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  29. Redwood 3/5 · Fine Mild year-round; rainy winters; September often clearest on the coast. (NPS site ↗)
  30. Wind Cave 3/5 · Fine Cave tours year-round (fewer in winter); summer Sturgis rally crowds early Aug. (NPS site ↗)
  31. Zion 3/5 · Fine Summer often 100°F+ with monsoon flash floods (Narrows); spring and fall best; shuttle season busy.
  32. Badlands 2/5 · Not ideal Hot, stormy midsummer and cold windy winters; June green-up and September are best. (NPS site ↗)
  33. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison 2/5 · Not ideal North Rim road closes in winter and South Rim Drive closes past the visitor center in snow; summer storms. (NPS site ↗)
  34. Crater Lake 2/5 · Not ideal Huge snowfall; Rim Drive usually fully open only about July–October. (NPS site ↗)
  35. Cuyahoga Valley 2/5 · Not ideal Open year-round; fall color in October is the highlight. (NPS site ↗)
  36. Denali 2/5 · Not ideal Park road bus season about late May–mid Sep; June long days, July wetter, early Sep fall color. Road still closed at Pretty Rocks (mile 43). (NPS site ↗)
  37. Grand Teton 2/5 · Not ideal Most park roads and services open May–Oct; September has elk rut and aspen color. (NPS site ↗)
  38. Great Sand Dunes 2/5 · Not ideal Medano Creek flows best late May–early June; summer sand gets very hot by afternoon. (NPS site ↗)
  39. Indiana Dunes 2/5 · Not ideal Beach season June–Aug; cold, windy winters on Lake Michigan. (NPS site ↗)
  40. Kenai Fjords 2/5 · Not ideal Boat tours run spring–early fall; Exit Glacier Road closed to cars in winter. (NPS site ↗)
  41. Mesa Verde 2/5 · Not ideal Cliff dwelling ranger tours run about May–Oct; Wetherill Mesa summer only; winter is quiet and limited. (NPS site ↗)
  42. National Park of American Samoa 2/5 · Not ideal Drier season about Jun–Sep; wetter, cyclone-prone Nov–Apr. (NPS site ↗)
  43. Olympic 2/5 · Not ideal Very wet Oct–Apr; summer is the dry season for the high country and coast. (NPS site ↗)
  44. Sequoia 2/5 · Not ideal Generals Highway open year-round (chains possible); Mineral King summer only. (NPS site ↗)
  45. Shenandoah 2/5 · Not ideal Skyline Drive closes in snow/ice; May wildflowers; October foliage busiest. (NPS site ↗)
  46. Theodore Roosevelt 2/5 · Not ideal Cold, harsh winters; June green-up and September best; check Scenic Loop Drive closures. (NPS site ↗)
  47. Voyageurs 2/5 · Not ideal Mostly a boat park in summer; winter ice roads Jan–Mar; spring ice-out and fall freeze-up are dead zones. (NPS site ↗)
  48. Yellowstone 2/5 · Not ideal Most roads closed to cars early Nov–mid Apr (winter snowcoach season mid Dec–mid Mar); September has fewer crowds.
  49. Yosemite 2/5 · Not ideal Waterfalls peak May–June; Tioga Road usually open about June–Nov; summer reservations/crowds.
  50. Acadia 1/5 · Avoid Park Loop Road mostly closed Dec–mid-Apr; Jul–Aug busiest; fall color early–mid Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  51. Gates Of The Arctic 1/5 · Avoid Short summer window (late Jun–Aug); fall color late Aug; snow and freeze-up by mid-Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  52. Glacier Bay 1/5 · Avoid Bartlett Cove day boat runs about late May–early Sep; June–July best weather odds. (NPS site ↗)
  53. Glacier 1/5 · Avoid Going-to-the-Sun Road usually fully open only early July–mid Oct; July–Aug best (and busiest).
  54. Great Basin 1/5 · Avoid Upper Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is closed by snow roughly Nov–June; summer is cool at elevation. (NPS site ↗)
  55. Isle Royale 1/5 · Avoid Park closed Nov 1–mid Apr; ferries/seaplanes run about mid-May–Sep; June bugs; late Aug–early Sep best. (NPS site ↗)
  56. Katmai 1/5 · Avoid Brooks Camp season about June–mid Sep; bears at Brooks Falls peak in July and again in September. (NPS site ↗)
  57. Kings Canyon 1/5 · Avoid Hwy 180 to Cedar Grove closes about mid-Nov–late Apr; Grant Grove is open year-round. (NPS site ↗)
  58. Kobuk Valley 1/5 · Avoid Fly-in only, short summer; caribou migration late Aug–Sep; snow by October. (NPS site ↗)
  59. Lake Clark 1/5 · Avoid Coastal bear viewing Jun–Sep (sedge in June–July, salmon Aug–Sep); fly-in only. (NPS site ↗)
  60. Lassen Volcanic 1/5 · Avoid Main park highway usually opens fully June–July and closes with snow in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  61. Mount Rainier 1/5 · Avoid Sunrise road open about July–Sep; Paradise wildflowers late Jul–Aug; heavy winter snow. (NPS site ↗)
  62. North Cascades 1/5 · Avoid North Cascades Highway (SR 20) closes in winter; high trails snow-free about mid-Jul–Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  63. Rocky Mountain 1/5 · Avoid Trail Ridge Road about late May–mid Oct; timed entry in summer; September elk rut and aspens. (NPS site ↗)
  64. Wrangell - St Elias 1/5 · Avoid McCarthy/Kennecott services about mid-May–mid-Sep; long gravel McCarthy Road. (NPS site ↗)

Best parks in April

  1. Arches 5/5 · Best Summer highs often 100°F+; timed-entry season spring–fall; spring and fall are the sweet spot. (NPS site ↗)
  2. Canyonlands 5/5 · Best Hot summers, icy winter roads (White Rim/Shafer); spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  3. Capitol Reef 5/5 · Best Spring and fall are mild; orchard fruit Jun–Oct; summer heat and flash floods. (NPS site ↗)
  4. Channel Islands 5/5 · Best Spring wildflowers; Sep–Oct calmest, clearest water; winter brings rough-sea boat cancellations. (NPS site ↗)
  5. Chiricahua 5/5 · Best Spring and fall are mild; June is hot and fire-prone; Jul–Aug monsoon storms (but green).
  6. Congaree 5/5 · Best Summer heat and mosquitoes are intense; synchronous fireflies mid-May to early June; fall/spring best. (NPS site ↗)
  7. Grand Canyon 5/5 · Best South Rim open year-round; North Rim seasonal (about mid-May–mid-Oct); inner canyon dangerously hot in summer.
  8. Hot Springs 5/5 · Best Town park open year-round; humid summers; spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  9. Joshua Tree 5/5 · Best Spring blooms and fall are best; summer heat is extreme; winter nights freeze. (NPS site ↗)
  10. Petrified Forest 5/5 · Best Drive-through park open year-round; hot summer afternoons; spring wind. (NPS site ↗)
  11. Pinnacles 5/5 · Best Spring wildflowers; summer often over 100°F; caves close seasonally for bats. (NPS site ↗)
  12. Saguaro 5/5 · Best Saguaro bloom in May; summer heat extreme; Oct–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  13. Big Bend 4/5 · Great Desert summers routinely top 100°F; March spring break is the busiest; Nov–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  14. Biscayne 4/5 · Great Dry season Dec–Apr; hurricane season Jun–Nov with heat, storms and bugs. (NPS site ↗)
  15. Carlsbad Caverns 4/5 · Great Cave is the same temperature year-round; bat flights roughly late May–Oct, peak in September. (NPS site ↗)
  16. Death Valley 4/5 · Great Summer heat is dangerous (120°F+); Nov–Mar best; spring wildflowers some years. (NPS site ↗)
  17. Dry Tortugas 4/5 · Great Winter cold fronts can cancel boats; hurricane risk Aug–Oct; spring is calmest and birding peaks. (NPS site ↗)
  18. Everglades 4/5 · Great Dry season Dec–Apr = wildlife and fewer bugs; wet season is hot with intense mosquitoes. (NPS site ↗)
  19. Gateway Arch 4/5 · Great Indoors and open year-round; humid summer heat; spring and fall nicest for the riverfront. (NPS site ↗)
  20. Great Smoky Mountains 4/5 · Great Most-visited park; October foliage and summer are busiest; synchronous fireflies in June (lottery). (NPS site ↗)
  21. Guadalupe Mountains 4/5 · Great McKittrick Canyon fall color late Oct–early Nov; high winds in spring; hot summers. (NPS site ↗)
  22. Haleakalā 4/5 · Great Good year-round; summit is cold at sunrise (reservation needed); winter is wetter on the Kīpahulu side. (NPS site ↗)
  23. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes 4/5 · Great Good year-round; check eruption status and vog; May and Sep–Oct are quieter. (NPS site ↗)
  24. Mammoth Cave 4/5 · Great Cave tours year-round; summer is busiest; spring and fall nicest above ground. (NPS site ↗)
  25. New River Gorge 4/5 · Great Fall color and Bridge Day (October); Gauley rafting season in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  26. Virgin Islands 4/5 · Great Dry, breezy Dec–Apr is peak; hurricane risk Aug–Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  27. White Sands 4/5 · Great Road closes for missile tests at times; hot summers; October is comfortable. (NPS site ↗)
  28. Zion 4/5 · Great Summer often 100°F+ with monsoon flash floods (Narrows); spring and fall best; shuttle season busy.
  29. Badlands 3/5 · Fine Hot, stormy midsummer and cold windy winters; June green-up and September are best. (NPS site ↗)
  30. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison 3/5 · Fine North Rim road closes in winter and South Rim Drive closes past the visitor center in snow; summer storms. (NPS site ↗)
  31. Bryce Canyon 3/5 · Fine High elevation keeps summer mild but busy; snow on hoodoos in winter; September is ideal. (NPS site ↗)
  32. Cuyahoga Valley 3/5 · Fine Open year-round; fall color in October is the highlight. (NPS site ↗)
  33. Great Sand Dunes 3/5 · Fine Medano Creek flows best late May–early June; summer sand gets very hot by afternoon. (NPS site ↗)
  34. Indiana Dunes 3/5 · Fine Beach season June–Aug; cold, windy winters on Lake Michigan. (NPS site ↗)
  35. Mesa Verde 3/5 · Fine Cliff dwelling ranger tours run about May–Oct; Wetherill Mesa summer only; winter is quiet and limited. (NPS site ↗)
  36. National Park of American Samoa 3/5 · Fine Drier season about Jun–Sep; wetter, cyclone-prone Nov–Apr. (NPS site ↗)
  37. Olympic 3/5 · Fine Very wet Oct–Apr; summer is the dry season for the high country and coast. (NPS site ↗)
  38. Redwood 3/5 · Fine Mild year-round; rainy winters; September often clearest on the coast. (NPS site ↗)
  39. Sequoia 3/5 · Fine Generals Highway open year-round (chains possible); Mineral King summer only. (NPS site ↗)
  40. Shenandoah 3/5 · Fine Skyline Drive closes in snow/ice; May wildflowers; October foliage busiest. (NPS site ↗)
  41. Theodore Roosevelt 3/5 · Fine Cold, harsh winters; June green-up and September best; check Scenic Loop Drive closures. (NPS site ↗)
  42. Wind Cave 3/5 · Fine Cave tours year-round (fewer in winter); summer Sturgis rally crowds early Aug. (NPS site ↗)
  43. Yosemite 3/5 · Fine Waterfalls peak May–June; Tioga Road usually open about June–Nov; summer reservations/crowds.
  44. Acadia 2/5 · Not ideal Park Loop Road mostly closed Dec–mid-Apr; Jul–Aug busiest; fall color early–mid Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  45. Crater Lake 2/5 · Not ideal Huge snowfall; Rim Drive usually fully open only about July–October. (NPS site ↗)
  46. Denali 2/5 · Not ideal Park road bus season about late May–mid Sep; June long days, July wetter, early Sep fall color. Road still closed at Pretty Rocks (mile 43). (NPS site ↗)
  47. Grand Teton 2/5 · Not ideal Most park roads and services open May–Oct; September has elk rut and aspen color. (NPS site ↗)
  48. Great Basin 2/5 · Not ideal Upper Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is closed by snow roughly Nov–June; summer is cool at elevation. (NPS site ↗)
  49. Kenai Fjords 2/5 · Not ideal Boat tours run spring–early fall; Exit Glacier Road closed to cars in winter. (NPS site ↗)
  50. Kings Canyon 2/5 · Not ideal Hwy 180 to Cedar Grove closes about mid-Nov–late Apr; Grant Grove is open year-round. (NPS site ↗)
  51. Rocky Mountain 2/5 · Not ideal Trail Ridge Road about late May–mid Oct; timed entry in summer; September elk rut and aspens. (NPS site ↗)
  52. Gates Of The Arctic 1/5 · Avoid Short summer window (late Jun–Aug); fall color late Aug; snow and freeze-up by mid-Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  53. Glacier Bay 1/5 · Avoid Bartlett Cove day boat runs about late May–early Sep; June–July best weather odds. (NPS site ↗)
  54. Glacier 1/5 · Avoid Going-to-the-Sun Road usually fully open only early July–mid Oct; July–Aug best (and busiest).
  55. Isle Royale 1/5 · Avoid Park closed Nov 1–mid Apr; ferries/seaplanes run about mid-May–Sep; June bugs; late Aug–early Sep best. (NPS site ↗)
  56. Katmai 1/5 · Avoid Brooks Camp season about June–mid Sep; bears at Brooks Falls peak in July and again in September. (NPS site ↗)
  57. Kobuk Valley 1/5 · Avoid Fly-in only, short summer; caribou migration late Aug–Sep; snow by October. (NPS site ↗)
  58. Lake Clark 1/5 · Avoid Coastal bear viewing Jun–Sep (sedge in June–July, salmon Aug–Sep); fly-in only. (NPS site ↗)
  59. Lassen Volcanic 1/5 · Avoid Main park highway usually opens fully June–July and closes with snow in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  60. Mount Rainier 1/5 · Avoid Sunrise road open about July–Sep; Paradise wildflowers late Jul–Aug; heavy winter snow. (NPS site ↗)
  61. North Cascades 1/5 · Avoid North Cascades Highway (SR 20) closes in winter; high trails snow-free about mid-Jul–Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  62. Voyageurs 1/5 · Avoid Mostly a boat park in summer; winter ice roads Jan–Mar; spring ice-out and fall freeze-up are dead zones. (NPS site ↗)
  63. Wrangell - St Elias 1/5 · Avoid McCarthy/Kennecott services about mid-May–mid-Sep; long gravel McCarthy Road. (NPS site ↗)
  64. Yellowstone 1/5 · Avoid Most roads closed to cars early Nov–mid Apr (winter snowcoach season mid Dec–mid Mar); September has fewer crowds.

Best parks in May

  1. Canyonlands 5/5 · Best Hot summers, icy winter roads (White Rim/Shafer); spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  2. Chiricahua 5/5 · Best Spring and fall are mild; June is hot and fire-prone; Jul–Aug monsoon storms (but green).
  3. Gateway Arch 5/5 · Best Indoors and open year-round; humid summer heat; spring and fall nicest for the riverfront. (NPS site ↗)
  4. Grand Canyon 5/5 · Best South Rim open year-round; North Rim seasonal (about mid-May–mid-Oct); inner canyon dangerously hot in summer.
  5. Great Sand Dunes 5/5 · Best Medano Creek flows best late May–early June; summer sand gets very hot by afternoon. (NPS site ↗)
  6. Haleakalā 5/5 · Best Good year-round; summit is cold at sunrise (reservation needed); winter is wetter on the Kīpahulu side. (NPS site ↗)
  7. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes 5/5 · Best Good year-round; check eruption status and vog; May and Sep–Oct are quieter. (NPS site ↗)
  8. Hot Springs 5/5 · Best Town park open year-round; humid summers; spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  9. Mammoth Cave 5/5 · Best Cave tours year-round; summer is busiest; spring and fall nicest above ground. (NPS site ↗)
  10. Mesa Verde 5/5 · Best Cliff dwelling ranger tours run about May–Oct; Wetherill Mesa summer only; winter is quiet and limited. (NPS site ↗)
  11. New River Gorge 5/5 · Best Fall color and Bridge Day (October); Gauley rafting season in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  12. Petrified Forest 5/5 · Best Drive-through park open year-round; hot summer afternoons; spring wind. (NPS site ↗)
  13. Shenandoah 5/5 · Best Skyline Drive closes in snow/ice; May wildflowers; October foliage busiest. (NPS site ↗)
  14. Yosemite 5/5 · Best Waterfalls peak May–June; Tioga Road usually open about June–Nov; summer reservations/crowds.
  15. Arches 4/5 · Great Summer highs often 100°F+; timed-entry season spring–fall; spring and fall are the sweet spot. (NPS site ↗)
  16. Badlands 4/5 · Great Hot, stormy midsummer and cold windy winters; June green-up and September are best. (NPS site ↗)
  17. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison 4/5 · Great North Rim road closes in winter and South Rim Drive closes past the visitor center in snow; summer storms. (NPS site ↗)
  18. Bryce Canyon 4/5 · Great High elevation keeps summer mild but busy; snow on hoodoos in winter; September is ideal. (NPS site ↗)
  19. Capitol Reef 4/5 · Great Spring and fall are mild; orchard fruit Jun–Oct; summer heat and flash floods. (NPS site ↗)
  20. Carlsbad Caverns 4/5 · Great Cave is the same temperature year-round; bat flights roughly late May–Oct, peak in September. (NPS site ↗)
  21. Channel Islands 4/5 · Great Spring wildflowers; Sep–Oct calmest, clearest water; winter brings rough-sea boat cancellations. (NPS site ↗)
  22. Congaree 4/5 · Great Summer heat and mosquitoes are intense; synchronous fireflies mid-May to early June; fall/spring best. (NPS site ↗)
  23. Cuyahoga Valley 4/5 · Great Open year-round; fall color in October is the highlight. (NPS site ↗)
  24. Dry Tortugas 4/5 · Great Winter cold fronts can cancel boats; hurricane risk Aug–Oct; spring is calmest and birding peaks. (NPS site ↗)
  25. Great Smoky Mountains 4/5 · Great Most-visited park; October foliage and summer are busiest; synchronous fireflies in June (lottery). (NPS site ↗)
  26. Indiana Dunes 4/5 · Great Beach season June–Aug; cold, windy winters on Lake Michigan. (NPS site ↗)
  27. Kenai Fjords 4/5 · Great Boat tours run spring–early fall; Exit Glacier Road closed to cars in winter. (NPS site ↗)
  28. National Park of American Samoa 4/5 · Great Drier season about Jun–Sep; wetter, cyclone-prone Nov–Apr. (NPS site ↗)
  29. Olympic 4/5 · Great Very wet Oct–Apr; summer is the dry season for the high country and coast. (NPS site ↗)
  30. Pinnacles 4/5 · Great Spring wildflowers; summer often over 100°F; caves close seasonally for bats. (NPS site ↗)
  31. Redwood 4/5 · Great Mild year-round; rainy winters; September often clearest on the coast. (NPS site ↗)
  32. Sequoia 4/5 · Great Generals Highway open year-round (chains possible); Mineral King summer only. (NPS site ↗)
  33. Theodore Roosevelt 4/5 · Great Cold, harsh winters; June green-up and September best; check Scenic Loop Drive closures. (NPS site ↗)
  34. Virgin Islands 4/5 · Great Dry, breezy Dec–Apr is peak; hurricane risk Aug–Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  35. White Sands 4/5 · Great Road closes for missile tests at times; hot summers; October is comfortable. (NPS site ↗)
  36. Wind Cave 4/5 · Great Cave tours year-round (fewer in winter); summer Sturgis rally crowds early Aug. (NPS site ↗)
  37. Zion 4/5 · Great Summer often 100°F+ with monsoon flash floods (Narrows); spring and fall best; shuttle season busy.
  38. Acadia 3/5 · Fine Park Loop Road mostly closed Dec–mid-Apr; Jul–Aug busiest; fall color early–mid Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  39. Big Bend 3/5 · Fine Desert summers routinely top 100°F; March spring break is the busiest; Nov–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  40. Biscayne 3/5 · Fine Dry season Dec–Apr; hurricane season Jun–Nov with heat, storms and bugs. (NPS site ↗)
  41. Denali 3/5 · Fine Park road bus season about late May–mid Sep; June long days, July wetter, early Sep fall color. Road still closed at Pretty Rocks (mile 43). (NPS site ↗)
  42. Glacier Bay 3/5 · Fine Bartlett Cove day boat runs about late May–early Sep; June–July best weather odds. (NPS site ↗)
  43. Grand Teton 3/5 · Fine Most park roads and services open May–Oct; September has elk rut and aspen color. (NPS site ↗)
  44. Guadalupe Mountains 3/5 · Fine McKittrick Canyon fall color late Oct–early Nov; high winds in spring; hot summers. (NPS site ↗)
  45. Joshua Tree 3/5 · Fine Spring blooms and fall are best; summer heat is extreme; winter nights freeze. (NPS site ↗)
  46. Kings Canyon 3/5 · Fine Hwy 180 to Cedar Grove closes about mid-Nov–late Apr; Grant Grove is open year-round. (NPS site ↗)
  47. Rocky Mountain 3/5 · Fine Trail Ridge Road about late May–mid Oct; timed entry in summer; September elk rut and aspens. (NPS site ↗)
  48. Saguaro 3/5 · Fine Saguaro bloom in May; summer heat extreme; Oct–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  49. Yellowstone 3/5 · Fine Most roads closed to cars early Nov–mid Apr (winter snowcoach season mid Dec–mid Mar); September has fewer crowds.
  50. Crater Lake 2/5 · Not ideal Huge snowfall; Rim Drive usually fully open only about July–October. (NPS site ↗)
  51. Death Valley 2/5 · Not ideal Summer heat is dangerous (120°F+); Nov–Mar best; spring wildflowers some years. (NPS site ↗)
  52. Everglades 2/5 · Not ideal Dry season Dec–Apr = wildlife and fewer bugs; wet season is hot with intense mosquitoes. (NPS site ↗)
  53. Glacier 2/5 · Not ideal Going-to-the-Sun Road usually fully open only early July–mid Oct; July–Aug best (and busiest).
  54. Great Basin 2/5 · Not ideal Upper Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is closed by snow roughly Nov–June; summer is cool at elevation. (NPS site ↗)
  55. Lake Clark 2/5 · Not ideal Coastal bear viewing Jun–Sep (sedge in June–July, salmon Aug–Sep); fly-in only. (NPS site ↗)
  56. Lassen Volcanic 2/5 · Not ideal Main park highway usually opens fully June–July and closes with snow in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  57. Mount Rainier 2/5 · Not ideal Sunrise road open about July–Sep; Paradise wildflowers late Jul–Aug; heavy winter snow. (NPS site ↗)
  58. North Cascades 2/5 · Not ideal North Cascades Highway (SR 20) closes in winter; high trails snow-free about mid-Jul–Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  59. Voyageurs 2/5 · Not ideal Mostly a boat park in summer; winter ice roads Jan–Mar; spring ice-out and fall freeze-up are dead zones. (NPS site ↗)
  60. Wrangell - St Elias 2/5 · Not ideal McCarthy/Kennecott services about mid-May–mid-Sep; long gravel McCarthy Road. (NPS site ↗)
  61. Gates Of The Arctic 1/5 · Avoid Short summer window (late Jun–Aug); fall color late Aug; snow and freeze-up by mid-Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  62. Isle Royale 1/5 · Avoid Park closed Nov 1–mid Apr; ferries/seaplanes run about mid-May–Sep; June bugs; late Aug–early Sep best. (NPS site ↗)
  63. Katmai 1/5 · Avoid Brooks Camp season about June–mid Sep; bears at Brooks Falls peak in July and again in September. (NPS site ↗)
  64. Kobuk Valley 1/5 · Avoid Fly-in only, short summer; caribou migration late Aug–Sep; snow by October. (NPS site ↗)

Best parks in June

  1. Badlands 5/5 · Best Hot, stormy midsummer and cold windy winters; June green-up and September are best. (NPS site ↗)
  2. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison 5/5 · Best North Rim road closes in winter and South Rim Drive closes past the visitor center in snow; summer storms. (NPS site ↗)
  3. Denali 5/5 · Best Park road bus season about late May–mid Sep; June long days, July wetter, early Sep fall color. Road still closed at Pretty Rocks (mile 43). (NPS site ↗)
  4. Glacier Bay 5/5 · Best Bartlett Cove day boat runs about late May–early Sep; June–July best weather odds. (NPS site ↗)
  5. Great Sand Dunes 5/5 · Best Medano Creek flows best late May–early June; summer sand gets very hot by afternoon. (NPS site ↗)
  6. Haleakalā 5/5 · Best Good year-round; summit is cold at sunrise (reservation needed); winter is wetter on the Kīpahulu side. (NPS site ↗)
  7. Indiana Dunes 5/5 · Best Beach season June–Aug; cold, windy winters on Lake Michigan. (NPS site ↗)
  8. Kenai Fjords 5/5 · Best Boat tours run spring–early fall; Exit Glacier Road closed to cars in winter. (NPS site ↗)
  9. Mesa Verde 5/5 · Best Cliff dwelling ranger tours run about May–Oct; Wetherill Mesa summer only; winter is quiet and limited. (NPS site ↗)
  10. National Park of American Samoa 5/5 · Best Drier season about Jun–Sep; wetter, cyclone-prone Nov–Apr. (NPS site ↗)
  11. Redwood 5/5 · Best Mild year-round; rainy winters; September often clearest on the coast. (NPS site ↗)
  12. Sequoia 5/5 · Best Generals Highway open year-round (chains possible); Mineral King summer only. (NPS site ↗)
  13. Theodore Roosevelt 5/5 · Best Cold, harsh winters; June green-up and September best; check Scenic Loop Drive closures. (NPS site ↗)
  14. Wind Cave 5/5 · Best Cave tours year-round (fewer in winter); summer Sturgis rally crowds early Aug. (NPS site ↗)
  15. Yosemite 5/5 · Best Waterfalls peak May–June; Tioga Road usually open about June–Nov; summer reservations/crowds.
  16. Acadia 4/5 · Great Park Loop Road mostly closed Dec–mid-Apr; Jul–Aug busiest; fall color early–mid Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  17. Bryce Canyon 4/5 · Great High elevation keeps summer mild but busy; snow on hoodoos in winter; September is ideal. (NPS site ↗)
  18. Carlsbad Caverns 4/5 · Great Cave is the same temperature year-round; bat flights roughly late May–Oct, peak in September. (NPS site ↗)
  19. Cuyahoga Valley 4/5 · Great Open year-round; fall color in October is the highlight. (NPS site ↗)
  20. Gateway Arch 4/5 · Great Indoors and open year-round; humid summer heat; spring and fall nicest for the riverfront. (NPS site ↗)
  21. Grand Teton 4/5 · Great Most park roads and services open May–Oct; September has elk rut and aspen color. (NPS site ↗)
  22. Great Basin 4/5 · Great Upper Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is closed by snow roughly Nov–June; summer is cool at elevation. (NPS site ↗)
  23. Great Smoky Mountains 4/5 · Great Most-visited park; October foliage and summer are busiest; synchronous fireflies in June (lottery). (NPS site ↗)
  24. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes 4/5 · Great Good year-round; check eruption status and vog; May and Sep–Oct are quieter. (NPS site ↗)
  25. Kings Canyon 4/5 · Great Hwy 180 to Cedar Grove closes about mid-Nov–late Apr; Grant Grove is open year-round. (NPS site ↗)
  26. Lake Clark 4/5 · Great Coastal bear viewing Jun–Sep (sedge in June–July, salmon Aug–Sep); fly-in only. (NPS site ↗)
  27. Mammoth Cave 4/5 · Great Cave tours year-round; summer is busiest; spring and fall nicest above ground. (NPS site ↗)
  28. New River Gorge 4/5 · Great Fall color and Bridge Day (October); Gauley rafting season in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  29. Olympic 4/5 · Great Very wet Oct–Apr; summer is the dry season for the high country and coast. (NPS site ↗)
  30. Petrified Forest 4/5 · Great Drive-through park open year-round; hot summer afternoons; spring wind. (NPS site ↗)
  31. Rocky Mountain 4/5 · Great Trail Ridge Road about late May–mid Oct; timed entry in summer; September elk rut and aspens. (NPS site ↗)
  32. Shenandoah 4/5 · Great Skyline Drive closes in snow/ice; May wildflowers; October foliage busiest. (NPS site ↗)
  33. Voyageurs 4/5 · Great Mostly a boat park in summer; winter ice roads Jan–Mar; spring ice-out and fall freeze-up are dead zones. (NPS site ↗)
  34. Wrangell - St Elias 4/5 · Great McCarthy/Kennecott services about mid-May–mid-Sep; long gravel McCarthy Road. (NPS site ↗)
  35. Yellowstone 4/5 · Great Most roads closed to cars early Nov–mid Apr (winter snowcoach season mid Dec–mid Mar); September has fewer crowds.
  36. Capitol Reef 3/5 · Fine Spring and fall are mild; orchard fruit Jun–Oct; summer heat and flash floods. (NPS site ↗)
  37. Channel Islands 3/5 · Fine Spring wildflowers; Sep–Oct calmest, clearest water; winter brings rough-sea boat cancellations. (NPS site ↗)
  38. Chiricahua 3/5 · Fine Spring and fall are mild; June is hot and fire-prone; Jul–Aug monsoon storms (but green).
  39. Crater Lake 3/5 · Fine Huge snowfall; Rim Drive usually fully open only about July–October. (NPS site ↗)
  40. Dry Tortugas 3/5 · Fine Winter cold fronts can cancel boats; hurricane risk Aug–Oct; spring is calmest and birding peaks. (NPS site ↗)
  41. Gates Of The Arctic 3/5 · Fine Short summer window (late Jun–Aug); fall color late Aug; snow and freeze-up by mid-Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  42. Glacier 3/5 · Fine Going-to-the-Sun Road usually fully open only early July–mid Oct; July–Aug best (and busiest).
  43. Grand Canyon 3/5 · Fine South Rim open year-round; North Rim seasonal (about mid-May–mid-Oct); inner canyon dangerously hot in summer.
  44. Hot Springs 3/5 · Fine Town park open year-round; humid summers; spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  45. Isle Royale 3/5 · Fine Park closed Nov 1–mid Apr; ferries/seaplanes run about mid-May–Sep; June bugs; late Aug–early Sep best. (NPS site ↗)
  46. Katmai 3/5 · Fine Brooks Camp season about June–mid Sep; bears at Brooks Falls peak in July and again in September. (NPS site ↗)
  47. Kobuk Valley 3/5 · Fine Fly-in only, short summer; caribou migration late Aug–Sep; snow by October. (NPS site ↗)
  48. Lassen Volcanic 3/5 · Fine Main park highway usually opens fully June–July and closes with snow in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  49. Mount Rainier 3/5 · Fine Sunrise road open about July–Sep; Paradise wildflowers late Jul–Aug; heavy winter snow. (NPS site ↗)
  50. North Cascades 3/5 · Fine North Cascades Highway (SR 20) closes in winter; high trails snow-free about mid-Jul–Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  51. Virgin Islands 3/5 · Fine Dry, breezy Dec–Apr is peak; hurricane risk Aug–Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  52. White Sands 3/5 · Fine Road closes for missile tests at times; hot summers; October is comfortable. (NPS site ↗)
  53. Zion 3/5 · Fine Summer often 100°F+ with monsoon flash floods (Narrows); spring and fall best; shuttle season busy.
  54. Arches 2/5 · Not ideal Summer highs often 100°F+; timed-entry season spring–fall; spring and fall are the sweet spot. (NPS site ↗)
  55. Biscayne 2/5 · Not ideal Dry season Dec–Apr; hurricane season Jun–Nov with heat, storms and bugs. (NPS site ↗)
  56. Canyonlands 2/5 · Not ideal Hot summers, icy winter roads (White Rim/Shafer); spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  57. Congaree 2/5 · Not ideal Summer heat and mosquitoes are intense; synchronous fireflies mid-May to early June; fall/spring best. (NPS site ↗)
  58. Guadalupe Mountains 2/5 · Not ideal McKittrick Canyon fall color late Oct–early Nov; high winds in spring; hot summers. (NPS site ↗)
  59. Pinnacles 2/5 · Not ideal Spring wildflowers; summer often over 100°F; caves close seasonally for bats. (NPS site ↗)
  60. Big Bend 1/5 · Avoid Desert summers routinely top 100°F; March spring break is the busiest; Nov–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  61. Death Valley 1/5 · Avoid Summer heat is dangerous (120°F+); Nov–Mar best; spring wildflowers some years. (NPS site ↗)
  62. Everglades 1/5 · Avoid Dry season Dec–Apr = wildlife and fewer bugs; wet season is hot with intense mosquitoes. (NPS site ↗)
  63. Joshua Tree 1/5 · Avoid Spring blooms and fall are best; summer heat is extreme; winter nights freeze. (NPS site ↗)
  64. Saguaro 1/5 · Avoid Saguaro bloom in May; summer heat extreme; Oct–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)

Best parks in July

  1. Crater Lake 5/5 · Best Huge snowfall; Rim Drive usually fully open only about July–October. (NPS site ↗)
  2. Gates Of The Arctic 5/5 · Best Short summer window (late Jun–Aug); fall color late Aug; snow and freeze-up by mid-Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  3. Glacier Bay 5/5 · Best Bartlett Cove day boat runs about late May–early Sep; June–July best weather odds. (NPS site ↗)
  4. Glacier 5/5 · Best Going-to-the-Sun Road usually fully open only early July–mid Oct; July–Aug best (and busiest).
  5. Grand Teton 5/5 · Best Most park roads and services open May–Oct; September has elk rut and aspen color. (NPS site ↗)
  6. Great Basin 5/5 · Best Upper Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is closed by snow roughly Nov–June; summer is cool at elevation. (NPS site ↗)
  7. Haleakalā 5/5 · Best Good year-round; summit is cold at sunrise (reservation needed); winter is wetter on the Kīpahulu side. (NPS site ↗)
  8. Indiana Dunes 5/5 · Best Beach season June–Aug; cold, windy winters on Lake Michigan. (NPS site ↗)
  9. Katmai 5/5 · Best Brooks Camp season about June–mid Sep; bears at Brooks Falls peak in July and again in September. (NPS site ↗)
  10. Kenai Fjords 5/5 · Best Boat tours run spring–early fall; Exit Glacier Road closed to cars in winter. (NPS site ↗)
  11. Kings Canyon 5/5 · Best Hwy 180 to Cedar Grove closes about mid-Nov–late Apr; Grant Grove is open year-round. (NPS site ↗)
  12. Kobuk Valley 5/5 · Best Fly-in only, short summer; caribou migration late Aug–Sep; snow by October. (NPS site ↗)
  13. Lake Clark 5/5 · Best Coastal bear viewing Jun–Sep (sedge in June–July, salmon Aug–Sep); fly-in only. (NPS site ↗)
  14. Lassen Volcanic 5/5 · Best Main park highway usually opens fully June–July and closes with snow in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  15. Mount Rainier 5/5 · Best Sunrise road open about July–Sep; Paradise wildflowers late Jul–Aug; heavy winter snow. (NPS site ↗)
  16. National Park of American Samoa 5/5 · Best Drier season about Jun–Sep; wetter, cyclone-prone Nov–Apr. (NPS site ↗)
  17. North Cascades 5/5 · Best North Cascades Highway (SR 20) closes in winter; high trails snow-free about mid-Jul–Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  18. Olympic 5/5 · Best Very wet Oct–Apr; summer is the dry season for the high country and coast. (NPS site ↗)
  19. Redwood 5/5 · Best Mild year-round; rainy winters; September often clearest on the coast. (NPS site ↗)
  20. Sequoia 5/5 · Best Generals Highway open year-round (chains possible); Mineral King summer only. (NPS site ↗)
  21. Voyageurs 5/5 · Best Mostly a boat park in summer; winter ice roads Jan–Mar; spring ice-out and fall freeze-up are dead zones. (NPS site ↗)
  22. Wrangell - St Elias 5/5 · Best McCarthy/Kennecott services about mid-May–mid-Sep; long gravel McCarthy Road. (NPS site ↗)
  23. Acadia 4/5 · Great Park Loop Road mostly closed Dec–mid-Apr; Jul–Aug busiest; fall color early–mid Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  24. Badlands 4/5 · Great Hot, stormy midsummer and cold windy winters; June green-up and September are best. (NPS site ↗)
  25. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison 4/5 · Great North Rim road closes in winter and South Rim Drive closes past the visitor center in snow; summer storms. (NPS site ↗)
  26. Bryce Canyon 4/5 · Great High elevation keeps summer mild but busy; snow on hoodoos in winter; September is ideal. (NPS site ↗)
  27. Carlsbad Caverns 4/5 · Great Cave is the same temperature year-round; bat flights roughly late May–Oct, peak in September. (NPS site ↗)
  28. Cuyahoga Valley 4/5 · Great Open year-round; fall color in October is the highlight. (NPS site ↗)
  29. Denali 4/5 · Great Park road bus season about late May–mid Sep; June long days, July wetter, early Sep fall color. Road still closed at Pretty Rocks (mile 43). (NPS site ↗)
  30. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes 4/5 · Great Good year-round; check eruption status and vog; May and Sep–Oct are quieter. (NPS site ↗)
  31. Isle Royale 4/5 · Great Park closed Nov 1–mid Apr; ferries/seaplanes run about mid-May–Sep; June bugs; late Aug–early Sep best. (NPS site ↗)
  32. Mammoth Cave 4/5 · Great Cave tours year-round; summer is busiest; spring and fall nicest above ground. (NPS site ↗)
  33. Mesa Verde 4/5 · Great Cliff dwelling ranger tours run about May–Oct; Wetherill Mesa summer only; winter is quiet and limited. (NPS site ↗)
  34. New River Gorge 4/5 · Great Fall color and Bridge Day (October); Gauley rafting season in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  35. Rocky Mountain 4/5 · Great Trail Ridge Road about late May–mid Oct; timed entry in summer; September elk rut and aspens. (NPS site ↗)
  36. Theodore Roosevelt 4/5 · Great Cold, harsh winters; June green-up and September best; check Scenic Loop Drive closures. (NPS site ↗)
  37. Wind Cave 4/5 · Great Cave tours year-round (fewer in winter); summer Sturgis rally crowds early Aug. (NPS site ↗)
  38. Yellowstone 4/5 · Great Most roads closed to cars early Nov–mid Apr (winter snowcoach season mid Dec–mid Mar); September has fewer crowds.
  39. Yosemite 4/5 · Great Waterfalls peak May–June; Tioga Road usually open about June–Nov; summer reservations/crowds.
  40. Channel Islands 3/5 · Fine Spring wildflowers; Sep–Oct calmest, clearest water; winter brings rough-sea boat cancellations. (NPS site ↗)
  41. Chiricahua 3/5 · Fine Spring and fall are mild; June is hot and fire-prone; Jul–Aug monsoon storms (but green).
  42. Dry Tortugas 3/5 · Fine Winter cold fronts can cancel boats; hurricane risk Aug–Oct; spring is calmest and birding peaks. (NPS site ↗)
  43. Gateway Arch 3/5 · Fine Indoors and open year-round; humid summer heat; spring and fall nicest for the riverfront. (NPS site ↗)
  44. Grand Canyon 3/5 · Fine South Rim open year-round; North Rim seasonal (about mid-May–mid-Oct); inner canyon dangerously hot in summer.
  45. Great Sand Dunes 3/5 · Fine Medano Creek flows best late May–early June; summer sand gets very hot by afternoon. (NPS site ↗)
  46. Great Smoky Mountains 3/5 · Fine Most-visited park; October foliage and summer are busiest; synchronous fireflies in June (lottery). (NPS site ↗)
  47. Hot Springs 3/5 · Fine Town park open year-round; humid summers; spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  48. Petrified Forest 3/5 · Fine Drive-through park open year-round; hot summer afternoons; spring wind. (NPS site ↗)
  49. Shenandoah 3/5 · Fine Skyline Drive closes in snow/ice; May wildflowers; October foliage busiest. (NPS site ↗)
  50. Virgin Islands 3/5 · Fine Dry, breezy Dec–Apr is peak; hurricane risk Aug–Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  51. White Sands 3/5 · Fine Road closes for missile tests at times; hot summers; October is comfortable. (NPS site ↗)
  52. Biscayne 2/5 · Not ideal Dry season Dec–Apr; hurricane season Jun–Nov with heat, storms and bugs. (NPS site ↗)
  53. Capitol Reef 2/5 · Not ideal Spring and fall are mild; orchard fruit Jun–Oct; summer heat and flash floods. (NPS site ↗)
  54. Guadalupe Mountains 2/5 · Not ideal McKittrick Canyon fall color late Oct–early Nov; high winds in spring; hot summers. (NPS site ↗)
  55. Zion 2/5 · Not ideal Summer often 100°F+ with monsoon flash floods (Narrows); spring and fall best; shuttle season busy.
  56. Arches 1/5 · Avoid Summer highs often 100°F+; timed-entry season spring–fall; spring and fall are the sweet spot. (NPS site ↗)
  57. Big Bend 1/5 · Avoid Desert summers routinely top 100°F; March spring break is the busiest; Nov–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  58. Canyonlands 1/5 · Avoid Hot summers, icy winter roads (White Rim/Shafer); spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  59. Congaree 1/5 · Avoid Summer heat and mosquitoes are intense; synchronous fireflies mid-May to early June; fall/spring best. (NPS site ↗)
  60. Death Valley 1/5 · Avoid Summer heat is dangerous (120°F+); Nov–Mar best; spring wildflowers some years. (NPS site ↗)
  61. Everglades 1/5 · Avoid Dry season Dec–Apr = wildlife and fewer bugs; wet season is hot with intense mosquitoes. (NPS site ↗)
  62. Joshua Tree 1/5 · Avoid Spring blooms and fall are best; summer heat is extreme; winter nights freeze. (NPS site ↗)
  63. Pinnacles 1/5 · Avoid Spring wildflowers; summer often over 100°F; caves close seasonally for bats. (NPS site ↗)
  64. Saguaro 1/5 · Avoid Saguaro bloom in May; summer heat extreme; Oct–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)

Best parks in August

  1. Crater Lake 5/5 · Best Huge snowfall; Rim Drive usually fully open only about July–October. (NPS site ↗)
  2. Gates Of The Arctic 5/5 · Best Short summer window (late Jun–Aug); fall color late Aug; snow and freeze-up by mid-Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  3. Glacier 5/5 · Best Going-to-the-Sun Road usually fully open only early July–mid Oct; July–Aug best (and busiest).
  4. Great Basin 5/5 · Best Upper Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is closed by snow roughly Nov–June; summer is cool at elevation. (NPS site ↗)
  5. Haleakalā 5/5 · Best Good year-round; summit is cold at sunrise (reservation needed); winter is wetter on the Kīpahulu side. (NPS site ↗)
  6. Indiana Dunes 5/5 · Best Beach season June–Aug; cold, windy winters on Lake Michigan. (NPS site ↗)
  7. Isle Royale 5/5 · Best Park closed Nov 1–mid Apr; ferries/seaplanes run about mid-May–Sep; June bugs; late Aug–early Sep best. (NPS site ↗)
  8. Kenai Fjords 5/5 · Best Boat tours run spring–early fall; Exit Glacier Road closed to cars in winter. (NPS site ↗)
  9. Lassen Volcanic 5/5 · Best Main park highway usually opens fully June–July and closes with snow in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  10. Mount Rainier 5/5 · Best Sunrise road open about July–Sep; Paradise wildflowers late Jul–Aug; heavy winter snow. (NPS site ↗)
  11. National Park of American Samoa 5/5 · Best Drier season about Jun–Sep; wetter, cyclone-prone Nov–Apr. (NPS site ↗)
  12. North Cascades 5/5 · Best North Cascades Highway (SR 20) closes in winter; high trails snow-free about mid-Jul–Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  13. Olympic 5/5 · Best Very wet Oct–Apr; summer is the dry season for the high country and coast. (NPS site ↗)
  14. Voyageurs 5/5 · Best Mostly a boat park in summer; winter ice roads Jan–Mar; spring ice-out and fall freeze-up are dead zones. (NPS site ↗)
  15. Wrangell - St Elias 5/5 · Best McCarthy/Kennecott services about mid-May–mid-Sep; long gravel McCarthy Road. (NPS site ↗)
  16. Acadia 4/5 · Great Park Loop Road mostly closed Dec–mid-Apr; Jul–Aug busiest; fall color early–mid Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  17. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison 4/5 · Great North Rim road closes in winter and South Rim Drive closes past the visitor center in snow; summer storms. (NPS site ↗)
  18. Bryce Canyon 4/5 · Great High elevation keeps summer mild but busy; snow on hoodoos in winter; September is ideal. (NPS site ↗)
  19. Carlsbad Caverns 4/5 · Great Cave is the same temperature year-round; bat flights roughly late May–Oct, peak in September. (NPS site ↗)
  20. Channel Islands 4/5 · Great Spring wildflowers; Sep–Oct calmest, clearest water; winter brings rough-sea boat cancellations. (NPS site ↗)
  21. Chiricahua 4/5 · Great Spring and fall are mild; June is hot and fire-prone; Jul–Aug monsoon storms (but green).
  22. Cuyahoga Valley 4/5 · Great Open year-round; fall color in October is the highlight. (NPS site ↗)
  23. Denali 4/5 · Great Park road bus season about late May–mid Sep; June long days, July wetter, early Sep fall color. Road still closed at Pretty Rocks (mile 43). (NPS site ↗)
  24. Glacier Bay 4/5 · Great Bartlett Cove day boat runs about late May–early Sep; June–July best weather odds. (NPS site ↗)
  25. Grand Teton 4/5 · Great Most park roads and services open May–Oct; September has elk rut and aspen color. (NPS site ↗)
  26. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes 4/5 · Great Good year-round; check eruption status and vog; May and Sep–Oct are quieter. (NPS site ↗)
  27. Kings Canyon 4/5 · Great Hwy 180 to Cedar Grove closes about mid-Nov–late Apr; Grant Grove is open year-round. (NPS site ↗)
  28. Kobuk Valley 4/5 · Great Fly-in only, short summer; caribou migration late Aug–Sep; snow by October. (NPS site ↗)
  29. Lake Clark 4/5 · Great Coastal bear viewing Jun–Sep (sedge in June–July, salmon Aug–Sep); fly-in only. (NPS site ↗)
  30. Mammoth Cave 4/5 · Great Cave tours year-round; summer is busiest; spring and fall nicest above ground. (NPS site ↗)
  31. Mesa Verde 4/5 · Great Cliff dwelling ranger tours run about May–Oct; Wetherill Mesa summer only; winter is quiet and limited. (NPS site ↗)
  32. New River Gorge 4/5 · Great Fall color and Bridge Day (October); Gauley rafting season in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  33. Redwood 4/5 · Great Mild year-round; rainy winters; September often clearest on the coast. (NPS site ↗)
  34. Rocky Mountain 4/5 · Great Trail Ridge Road about late May–mid Oct; timed entry in summer; September elk rut and aspens. (NPS site ↗)
  35. Sequoia 4/5 · Great Generals Highway open year-round (chains possible); Mineral King summer only. (NPS site ↗)
  36. Theodore Roosevelt 4/5 · Great Cold, harsh winters; June green-up and September best; check Scenic Loop Drive closures. (NPS site ↗)
  37. Wind Cave 4/5 · Great Cave tours year-round (fewer in winter); summer Sturgis rally crowds early Aug. (NPS site ↗)
  38. Yellowstone 4/5 · Great Most roads closed to cars early Nov–mid Apr (winter snowcoach season mid Dec–mid Mar); September has fewer crowds.
  39. Badlands 3/5 · Fine Hot, stormy midsummer and cold windy winters; June green-up and September are best. (NPS site ↗)
  40. Gateway Arch 3/5 · Fine Indoors and open year-round; humid summer heat; spring and fall nicest for the riverfront. (NPS site ↗)
  41. Grand Canyon 3/5 · Fine South Rim open year-round; North Rim seasonal (about mid-May–mid-Oct); inner canyon dangerously hot in summer.
  42. Great Sand Dunes 3/5 · Fine Medano Creek flows best late May–early June; summer sand gets very hot by afternoon. (NPS site ↗)
  43. Great Smoky Mountains 3/5 · Fine Most-visited park; October foliage and summer are busiest; synchronous fireflies in June (lottery). (NPS site ↗)
  44. Hot Springs 3/5 · Fine Town park open year-round; humid summers; spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  45. Katmai 3/5 · Fine Brooks Camp season about June–mid Sep; bears at Brooks Falls peak in July and again in September. (NPS site ↗)
  46. Petrified Forest 3/5 · Fine Drive-through park open year-round; hot summer afternoons; spring wind. (NPS site ↗)
  47. Shenandoah 3/5 · Fine Skyline Drive closes in snow/ice; May wildflowers; October foliage busiest. (NPS site ↗)
  48. White Sands 3/5 · Fine Road closes for missile tests at times; hot summers; October is comfortable. (NPS site ↗)
  49. Yosemite 3/5 · Fine Waterfalls peak May–June; Tioga Road usually open about June–Nov; summer reservations/crowds.
  50. Biscayne 2/5 · Not ideal Dry season Dec–Apr; hurricane season Jun–Nov with heat, storms and bugs. (NPS site ↗)
  51. Capitol Reef 2/5 · Not ideal Spring and fall are mild; orchard fruit Jun–Oct; summer heat and flash floods. (NPS site ↗)
  52. Dry Tortugas 2/5 · Not ideal Winter cold fronts can cancel boats; hurricane risk Aug–Oct; spring is calmest and birding peaks. (NPS site ↗)
  53. Guadalupe Mountains 2/5 · Not ideal McKittrick Canyon fall color late Oct–early Nov; high winds in spring; hot summers. (NPS site ↗)
  54. Virgin Islands 2/5 · Not ideal Dry, breezy Dec–Apr is peak; hurricane risk Aug–Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  55. Zion 2/5 · Not ideal Summer often 100°F+ with monsoon flash floods (Narrows); spring and fall best; shuttle season busy.
  56. Arches 1/5 · Avoid Summer highs often 100°F+; timed-entry season spring–fall; spring and fall are the sweet spot. (NPS site ↗)
  57. Big Bend 1/5 · Avoid Desert summers routinely top 100°F; March spring break is the busiest; Nov–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  58. Canyonlands 1/5 · Avoid Hot summers, icy winter roads (White Rim/Shafer); spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  59. Congaree 1/5 · Avoid Summer heat and mosquitoes are intense; synchronous fireflies mid-May to early June; fall/spring best. (NPS site ↗)
  60. Death Valley 1/5 · Avoid Summer heat is dangerous (120°F+); Nov–Mar best; spring wildflowers some years. (NPS site ↗)
  61. Everglades 1/5 · Avoid Dry season Dec–Apr = wildlife and fewer bugs; wet season is hot with intense mosquitoes. (NPS site ↗)
  62. Joshua Tree 1/5 · Avoid Spring blooms and fall are best; summer heat is extreme; winter nights freeze. (NPS site ↗)
  63. Pinnacles 1/5 · Avoid Spring wildflowers; summer often over 100°F; caves close seasonally for bats. (NPS site ↗)
  64. Saguaro 1/5 · Avoid Saguaro bloom in May; summer heat extreme; Oct–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)

Best parks in September

  1. Acadia 5/5 · Best Park Loop Road mostly closed Dec–mid-Apr; Jul–Aug busiest; fall color early–mid Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  2. Badlands 5/5 · Best Hot, stormy midsummer and cold windy winters; June green-up and September are best. (NPS site ↗)
  3. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison 5/5 · Best North Rim road closes in winter and South Rim Drive closes past the visitor center in snow; summer storms. (NPS site ↗)
  4. Bryce Canyon 5/5 · Best High elevation keeps summer mild but busy; snow on hoodoos in winter; September is ideal. (NPS site ↗)
  5. Carlsbad Caverns 5/5 · Best Cave is the same temperature year-round; bat flights roughly late May–Oct, peak in September. (NPS site ↗)
  6. Channel Islands 5/5 · Best Spring wildflowers; Sep–Oct calmest, clearest water; winter brings rough-sea boat cancellations. (NPS site ↗)
  7. Crater Lake 5/5 · Best Huge snowfall; Rim Drive usually fully open only about July–October. (NPS site ↗)
  8. Grand Canyon 5/5 · Best South Rim open year-round; North Rim seasonal (about mid-May–mid-Oct); inner canyon dangerously hot in summer.
  9. Grand Teton 5/5 · Best Most park roads and services open May–Oct; September has elk rut and aspen color. (NPS site ↗)
  10. Haleakalā 5/5 · Best Good year-round; summit is cold at sunrise (reservation needed); winter is wetter on the Kīpahulu side. (NPS site ↗)
  11. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes 5/5 · Best Good year-round; check eruption status and vog; May and Sep–Oct are quieter. (NPS site ↗)
  12. Kings Canyon 5/5 · Best Hwy 180 to Cedar Grove closes about mid-Nov–late Apr; Grant Grove is open year-round. (NPS site ↗)
  13. Lassen Volcanic 5/5 · Best Main park highway usually opens fully June–July and closes with snow in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  14. Mesa Verde 5/5 · Best Cliff dwelling ranger tours run about May–Oct; Wetherill Mesa summer only; winter is quiet and limited. (NPS site ↗)
  15. New River Gorge 5/5 · Best Fall color and Bridge Day (October); Gauley rafting season in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  16. North Cascades 5/5 · Best North Cascades Highway (SR 20) closes in winter; high trails snow-free about mid-Jul–Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  17. Redwood 5/5 · Best Mild year-round; rainy winters; September often clearest on the coast. (NPS site ↗)
  18. Rocky Mountain 5/5 · Best Trail Ridge Road about late May–mid Oct; timed entry in summer; September elk rut and aspens. (NPS site ↗)
  19. Sequoia 5/5 · Best Generals Highway open year-round (chains possible); Mineral King summer only. (NPS site ↗)
  20. Theodore Roosevelt 5/5 · Best Cold, harsh winters; June green-up and September best; check Scenic Loop Drive closures. (NPS site ↗)
  21. Wind Cave 5/5 · Best Cave tours year-round (fewer in winter); summer Sturgis rally crowds early Aug. (NPS site ↗)
  22. Yellowstone 5/5 · Best Most roads closed to cars early Nov–mid Apr (winter snowcoach season mid Dec–mid Mar); September has fewer crowds.
  23. Canyonlands 4/5 · Great Hot summers, icy winter roads (White Rim/Shafer); spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  24. Capitol Reef 4/5 · Great Spring and fall are mild; orchard fruit Jun–Oct; summer heat and flash floods. (NPS site ↗)
  25. Chiricahua 4/5 · Great Spring and fall are mild; June is hot and fire-prone; Jul–Aug monsoon storms (but green).
  26. Cuyahoga Valley 4/5 · Great Open year-round; fall color in October is the highlight. (NPS site ↗)
  27. Denali 4/5 · Great Park road bus season about late May–mid Sep; June long days, July wetter, early Sep fall color. Road still closed at Pretty Rocks (mile 43). (NPS site ↗)
  28. Gateway Arch 4/5 · Great Indoors and open year-round; humid summer heat; spring and fall nicest for the riverfront. (NPS site ↗)
  29. Glacier 4/5 · Great Going-to-the-Sun Road usually fully open only early July–mid Oct; July–Aug best (and busiest).
  30. Great Basin 4/5 · Great Upper Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is closed by snow roughly Nov–June; summer is cool at elevation. (NPS site ↗)
  31. Great Sand Dunes 4/5 · Great Medano Creek flows best late May–early June; summer sand gets very hot by afternoon. (NPS site ↗)
  32. Great Smoky Mountains 4/5 · Great Most-visited park; October foliage and summer are busiest; synchronous fireflies in June (lottery). (NPS site ↗)
  33. Hot Springs 4/5 · Great Town park open year-round; humid summers; spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  34. Indiana Dunes 4/5 · Great Beach season June–Aug; cold, windy winters on Lake Michigan. (NPS site ↗)
  35. Isle Royale 4/5 · Great Park closed Nov 1–mid Apr; ferries/seaplanes run about mid-May–Sep; June bugs; late Aug–early Sep best. (NPS site ↗)
  36. Katmai 4/5 · Great Brooks Camp season about June–mid Sep; bears at Brooks Falls peak in July and again in September. (NPS site ↗)
  37. Kobuk Valley 4/5 · Great Fly-in only, short summer; caribou migration late Aug–Sep; snow by October. (NPS site ↗)
  38. Lake Clark 4/5 · Great Coastal bear viewing Jun–Sep (sedge in June–July, salmon Aug–Sep); fly-in only. (NPS site ↗)
  39. Mammoth Cave 4/5 · Great Cave tours year-round; summer is busiest; spring and fall nicest above ground. (NPS site ↗)
  40. Mount Rainier 4/5 · Great Sunrise road open about July–Sep; Paradise wildflowers late Jul–Aug; heavy winter snow. (NPS site ↗)
  41. National Park of American Samoa 4/5 · Great Drier season about Jun–Sep; wetter, cyclone-prone Nov–Apr. (NPS site ↗)
  42. Olympic 4/5 · Great Very wet Oct–Apr; summer is the dry season for the high country and coast. (NPS site ↗)
  43. Petrified Forest 4/5 · Great Drive-through park open year-round; hot summer afternoons; spring wind. (NPS site ↗)
  44. Shenandoah 4/5 · Great Skyline Drive closes in snow/ice; May wildflowers; October foliage busiest. (NPS site ↗)
  45. Voyageurs 4/5 · Great Mostly a boat park in summer; winter ice roads Jan–Mar; spring ice-out and fall freeze-up are dead zones. (NPS site ↗)
  46. White Sands 4/5 · Great Road closes for missile tests at times; hot summers; October is comfortable. (NPS site ↗)
  47. Wrangell - St Elias 4/5 · Great McCarthy/Kennecott services about mid-May–mid-Sep; long gravel McCarthy Road. (NPS site ↗)
  48. Yosemite 4/5 · Great Waterfalls peak May–June; Tioga Road usually open about June–Nov; summer reservations/crowds.
  49. Zion 4/5 · Great Summer often 100°F+ with monsoon flash floods (Narrows); spring and fall best; shuttle season busy.
  50. Arches 3/5 · Fine Summer highs often 100°F+; timed-entry season spring–fall; spring and fall are the sweet spot. (NPS site ↗)
  51. Gates Of The Arctic 3/5 · Fine Short summer window (late Jun–Aug); fall color late Aug; snow and freeze-up by mid-Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  52. Glacier Bay 3/5 · Fine Bartlett Cove day boat runs about late May–early Sep; June–July best weather odds. (NPS site ↗)
  53. Guadalupe Mountains 3/5 · Fine McKittrick Canyon fall color late Oct–early Nov; high winds in spring; hot summers. (NPS site ↗)
  54. Kenai Fjords 3/5 · Fine Boat tours run spring–early fall; Exit Glacier Road closed to cars in winter. (NPS site ↗)
  55. Big Bend 2/5 · Not ideal Desert summers routinely top 100°F; March spring break is the busiest; Nov–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  56. Biscayne 2/5 · Not ideal Dry season Dec–Apr; hurricane season Jun–Nov with heat, storms and bugs. (NPS site ↗)
  57. Congaree 2/5 · Not ideal Summer heat and mosquitoes are intense; synchronous fireflies mid-May to early June; fall/spring best. (NPS site ↗)
  58. Death Valley 2/5 · Not ideal Summer heat is dangerous (120°F+); Nov–Mar best; spring wildflowers some years. (NPS site ↗)
  59. Dry Tortugas 2/5 · Not ideal Winter cold fronts can cancel boats; hurricane risk Aug–Oct; spring is calmest and birding peaks. (NPS site ↗)
  60. Joshua Tree 2/5 · Not ideal Spring blooms and fall are best; summer heat is extreme; winter nights freeze. (NPS site ↗)
  61. Pinnacles 2/5 · Not ideal Spring wildflowers; summer often over 100°F; caves close seasonally for bats. (NPS site ↗)
  62. Saguaro 2/5 · Not ideal Saguaro bloom in May; summer heat extreme; Oct–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  63. Virgin Islands 2/5 · Not ideal Dry, breezy Dec–Apr is peak; hurricane risk Aug–Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  64. Everglades 1/5 · Avoid Dry season Dec–Apr = wildlife and fewer bugs; wet season is hot with intense mosquitoes. (NPS site ↗)

Best parks in October

  1. Acadia 5/5 · Best Park Loop Road mostly closed Dec–mid-Apr; Jul–Aug busiest; fall color early–mid Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  2. Arches 5/5 · Best Summer highs often 100°F+; timed-entry season spring–fall; spring and fall are the sweet spot. (NPS site ↗)
  3. Canyonlands 5/5 · Best Hot summers, icy winter roads (White Rim/Shafer); spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  4. Capitol Reef 5/5 · Best Spring and fall are mild; orchard fruit Jun–Oct; summer heat and flash floods. (NPS site ↗)
  5. Channel Islands 5/5 · Best Spring wildflowers; Sep–Oct calmest, clearest water; winter brings rough-sea boat cancellations. (NPS site ↗)
  6. Chiricahua 5/5 · Best Spring and fall are mild; June is hot and fire-prone; Jul–Aug monsoon storms (but green).
  7. Cuyahoga Valley 5/5 · Best Open year-round; fall color in October is the highlight. (NPS site ↗)
  8. Gateway Arch 5/5 · Best Indoors and open year-round; humid summer heat; spring and fall nicest for the riverfront. (NPS site ↗)
  9. Grand Canyon 5/5 · Best South Rim open year-round; North Rim seasonal (about mid-May–mid-Oct); inner canyon dangerously hot in summer.
  10. Great Smoky Mountains 5/5 · Best Most-visited park; October foliage and summer are busiest; synchronous fireflies in June (lottery). (NPS site ↗)
  11. Guadalupe Mountains 5/5 · Best McKittrick Canyon fall color late Oct–early Nov; high winds in spring; hot summers. (NPS site ↗)
  12. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes 5/5 · Best Good year-round; check eruption status and vog; May and Sep–Oct are quieter. (NPS site ↗)
  13. Hot Springs 5/5 · Best Town park open year-round; humid summers; spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  14. Mammoth Cave 5/5 · Best Cave tours year-round; summer is busiest; spring and fall nicest above ground. (NPS site ↗)
  15. New River Gorge 5/5 · Best Fall color and Bridge Day (October); Gauley rafting season in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  16. Petrified Forest 5/5 · Best Drive-through park open year-round; hot summer afternoons; spring wind. (NPS site ↗)
  17. Shenandoah 5/5 · Best Skyline Drive closes in snow/ice; May wildflowers; October foliage busiest. (NPS site ↗)
  18. White Sands 5/5 · Best Road closes for missile tests at times; hot summers; October is comfortable. (NPS site ↗)
  19. Zion 5/5 · Best Summer often 100°F+ with monsoon flash floods (Narrows); spring and fall best; shuttle season busy.
  20. Badlands 4/5 · Great Hot, stormy midsummer and cold windy winters; June green-up and September are best. (NPS site ↗)
  21. Big Bend 4/5 · Great Desert summers routinely top 100°F; March spring break is the busiest; Nov–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  22. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison 4/5 · Great North Rim road closes in winter and South Rim Drive closes past the visitor center in snow; summer storms. (NPS site ↗)
  23. Bryce Canyon 4/5 · Great High elevation keeps summer mild but busy; snow on hoodoos in winter; September is ideal. (NPS site ↗)
  24. Carlsbad Caverns 4/5 · Great Cave is the same temperature year-round; bat flights roughly late May–Oct, peak in September. (NPS site ↗)
  25. Congaree 4/5 · Great Summer heat and mosquitoes are intense; synchronous fireflies mid-May to early June; fall/spring best. (NPS site ↗)
  26. Death Valley 4/5 · Great Summer heat is dangerous (120°F+); Nov–Mar best; spring wildflowers some years. (NPS site ↗)
  27. Great Sand Dunes 4/5 · Great Medano Creek flows best late May–early June; summer sand gets very hot by afternoon. (NPS site ↗)
  28. Haleakalā 4/5 · Great Good year-round; summit is cold at sunrise (reservation needed); winter is wetter on the Kīpahulu side. (NPS site ↗)
  29. Indiana Dunes 4/5 · Great Beach season June–Aug; cold, windy winters on Lake Michigan. (NPS site ↗)
  30. Joshua Tree 4/5 · Great Spring blooms and fall are best; summer heat is extreme; winter nights freeze. (NPS site ↗)
  31. Mesa Verde 4/5 · Great Cliff dwelling ranger tours run about May–Oct; Wetherill Mesa summer only; winter is quiet and limited. (NPS site ↗)
  32. Redwood 4/5 · Great Mild year-round; rainy winters; September often clearest on the coast. (NPS site ↗)
  33. Saguaro 4/5 · Great Saguaro bloom in May; summer heat extreme; Oct–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  34. Theodore Roosevelt 4/5 · Great Cold, harsh winters; June green-up and September best; check Scenic Loop Drive closures. (NPS site ↗)
  35. Wind Cave 4/5 · Great Cave tours year-round (fewer in winter); summer Sturgis rally crowds early Aug. (NPS site ↗)
  36. Yosemite 4/5 · Great Waterfalls peak May–June; Tioga Road usually open about June–Nov; summer reservations/crowds.
  37. Biscayne 3/5 · Fine Dry season Dec–Apr; hurricane season Jun–Nov with heat, storms and bugs. (NPS site ↗)
  38. Crater Lake 3/5 · Fine Huge snowfall; Rim Drive usually fully open only about July–October. (NPS site ↗)
  39. Dry Tortugas 3/5 · Fine Winter cold fronts can cancel boats; hurricane risk Aug–Oct; spring is calmest and birding peaks. (NPS site ↗)
  40. Grand Teton 3/5 · Fine Most park roads and services open May–Oct; September has elk rut and aspen color. (NPS site ↗)
  41. Kings Canyon 3/5 · Fine Hwy 180 to Cedar Grove closes about mid-Nov–late Apr; Grant Grove is open year-round. (NPS site ↗)
  42. Lassen Volcanic 3/5 · Fine Main park highway usually opens fully June–July and closes with snow in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  43. National Park of American Samoa 3/5 · Fine Drier season about Jun–Sep; wetter, cyclone-prone Nov–Apr. (NPS site ↗)
  44. North Cascades 3/5 · Fine North Cascades Highway (SR 20) closes in winter; high trails snow-free about mid-Jul–Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  45. Olympic 3/5 · Fine Very wet Oct–Apr; summer is the dry season for the high country and coast. (NPS site ↗)
  46. Pinnacles 3/5 · Fine Spring wildflowers; summer often over 100°F; caves close seasonally for bats. (NPS site ↗)
  47. Rocky Mountain 3/5 · Fine Trail Ridge Road about late May–mid Oct; timed entry in summer; September elk rut and aspens. (NPS site ↗)
  48. Sequoia 3/5 · Fine Generals Highway open year-round (chains possible); Mineral King summer only. (NPS site ↗)
  49. Yellowstone 3/5 · Fine Most roads closed to cars early Nov–mid Apr (winter snowcoach season mid Dec–mid Mar); September has fewer crowds.
  50. Everglades 2/5 · Not ideal Dry season Dec–Apr = wildlife and fewer bugs; wet season is hot with intense mosquitoes. (NPS site ↗)
  51. Glacier 2/5 · Not ideal Going-to-the-Sun Road usually fully open only early July–mid Oct; July–Aug best (and busiest).
  52. Great Basin 2/5 · Not ideal Upper Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is closed by snow roughly Nov–June; summer is cool at elevation. (NPS site ↗)
  53. Katmai 2/5 · Not ideal Brooks Camp season about June–mid Sep; bears at Brooks Falls peak in July and again in September. (NPS site ↗)
  54. Kenai Fjords 2/5 · Not ideal Boat tours run spring–early fall; Exit Glacier Road closed to cars in winter. (NPS site ↗)
  55. Lake Clark 2/5 · Not ideal Coastal bear viewing Jun–Sep (sedge in June–July, salmon Aug–Sep); fly-in only. (NPS site ↗)
  56. Mount Rainier 2/5 · Not ideal Sunrise road open about July–Sep; Paradise wildflowers late Jul–Aug; heavy winter snow. (NPS site ↗)
  57. Virgin Islands 2/5 · Not ideal Dry, breezy Dec–Apr is peak; hurricane risk Aug–Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  58. Voyageurs 2/5 · Not ideal Mostly a boat park in summer; winter ice roads Jan–Mar; spring ice-out and fall freeze-up are dead zones. (NPS site ↗)
  59. Denali 1/5 · Avoid Park road bus season about late May–mid Sep; June long days, July wetter, early Sep fall color. Road still closed at Pretty Rocks (mile 43). (NPS site ↗)
  60. Gates Of The Arctic 1/5 · Avoid Short summer window (late Jun–Aug); fall color late Aug; snow and freeze-up by mid-Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  61. Glacier Bay 1/5 · Avoid Bartlett Cove day boat runs about late May–early Sep; June–July best weather odds. (NPS site ↗)
  62. Isle Royale 1/5 · Avoid Park closed Nov 1–mid Apr; ferries/seaplanes run about mid-May–Sep; June bugs; late Aug–early Sep best. (NPS site ↗)
  63. Kobuk Valley 1/5 · Avoid Fly-in only, short summer; caribou migration late Aug–Sep; snow by October. (NPS site ↗)
  64. Wrangell - St Elias 1/5 · Avoid McCarthy/Kennecott services about mid-May–mid-Sep; long gravel McCarthy Road. (NPS site ↗)

Best parks in November

  1. Big Bend 5/5 · Best Desert summers routinely top 100°F; March spring break is the busiest; Nov–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  2. Death Valley 5/5 · Best Summer heat is dangerous (120°F+); Nov–Mar best; spring wildflowers some years. (NPS site ↗)
  3. Joshua Tree 5/5 · Best Spring blooms and fall are best; summer heat is extreme; winter nights freeze. (NPS site ↗)
  4. Saguaro 5/5 · Best Saguaro bloom in May; summer heat extreme; Oct–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  5. Arches 4/5 · Great Summer highs often 100°F+; timed-entry season spring–fall; spring and fall are the sweet spot. (NPS site ↗)
  6. Biscayne 4/5 · Great Dry season Dec–Apr; hurricane season Jun–Nov with heat, storms and bugs. (NPS site ↗)
  7. Canyonlands 4/5 · Great Hot summers, icy winter roads (White Rim/Shafer); spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  8. Chiricahua 4/5 · Great Spring and fall are mild; June is hot and fire-prone; Jul–Aug monsoon storms (but green).
  9. Congaree 4/5 · Great Summer heat and mosquitoes are intense; synchronous fireflies mid-May to early June; fall/spring best. (NPS site ↗)
  10. Dry Tortugas 4/5 · Great Winter cold fronts can cancel boats; hurricane risk Aug–Oct; spring is calmest and birding peaks. (NPS site ↗)
  11. Everglades 4/5 · Great Dry season Dec–Apr = wildlife and fewer bugs; wet season is hot with intense mosquitoes. (NPS site ↗)
  12. Gateway Arch 4/5 · Great Indoors and open year-round; humid summer heat; spring and fall nicest for the riverfront. (NPS site ↗)
  13. Grand Canyon 4/5 · Great South Rim open year-round; North Rim seasonal (about mid-May–mid-Oct); inner canyon dangerously hot in summer.
  14. Great Smoky Mountains 4/5 · Great Most-visited park; October foliage and summer are busiest; synchronous fireflies in June (lottery). (NPS site ↗)
  15. Guadalupe Mountains 4/5 · Great McKittrick Canyon fall color late Oct–early Nov; high winds in spring; hot summers. (NPS site ↗)
  16. Haleakalā 4/5 · Great Good year-round; summit is cold at sunrise (reservation needed); winter is wetter on the Kīpahulu side. (NPS site ↗)
  17. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes 4/5 · Great Good year-round; check eruption status and vog; May and Sep–Oct are quieter. (NPS site ↗)
  18. Hot Springs 4/5 · Great Town park open year-round; humid summers; spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  19. Mammoth Cave 4/5 · Great Cave tours year-round; summer is busiest; spring and fall nicest above ground. (NPS site ↗)
  20. Petrified Forest 4/5 · Great Drive-through park open year-round; hot summer afternoons; spring wind. (NPS site ↗)
  21. Pinnacles 4/5 · Great Spring wildflowers; summer often over 100°F; caves close seasonally for bats. (NPS site ↗)
  22. Shenandoah 4/5 · Great Skyline Drive closes in snow/ice; May wildflowers; October foliage busiest. (NPS site ↗)
  23. White Sands 4/5 · Great Road closes for missile tests at times; hot summers; October is comfortable. (NPS site ↗)
  24. Zion 4/5 · Great Summer often 100°F+ with monsoon flash floods (Narrows); spring and fall best; shuttle season busy.
  25. Bryce Canyon 3/5 · Fine High elevation keeps summer mild but busy; snow on hoodoos in winter; September is ideal. (NPS site ↗)
  26. Capitol Reef 3/5 · Fine Spring and fall are mild; orchard fruit Jun–Oct; summer heat and flash floods. (NPS site ↗)
  27. Carlsbad Caverns 3/5 · Fine Cave is the same temperature year-round; bat flights roughly late May–Oct, peak in September. (NPS site ↗)
  28. Channel Islands 3/5 · Fine Spring wildflowers; Sep–Oct calmest, clearest water; winter brings rough-sea boat cancellations. (NPS site ↗)
  29. Cuyahoga Valley 3/5 · Fine Open year-round; fall color in October is the highlight. (NPS site ↗)
  30. New River Gorge 3/5 · Fine Fall color and Bridge Day (October); Gauley rafting season in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  31. Virgin Islands 3/5 · Fine Dry, breezy Dec–Apr is peak; hurricane risk Aug–Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  32. Yosemite 3/5 · Fine Waterfalls peak May–June; Tioga Road usually open about June–Nov; summer reservations/crowds.
  33. Acadia 2/5 · Not ideal Park Loop Road mostly closed Dec–mid-Apr; Jul–Aug busiest; fall color early–mid Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  34. Badlands 2/5 · Not ideal Hot, stormy midsummer and cold windy winters; June green-up and September are best. (NPS site ↗)
  35. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison 2/5 · Not ideal North Rim road closes in winter and South Rim Drive closes past the visitor center in snow; summer storms. (NPS site ↗)
  36. Crater Lake 2/5 · Not ideal Huge snowfall; Rim Drive usually fully open only about July–October. (NPS site ↗)
  37. Great Sand Dunes 2/5 · Not ideal Medano Creek flows best late May–early June; summer sand gets very hot by afternoon. (NPS site ↗)
  38. Indiana Dunes 2/5 · Not ideal Beach season June–Aug; cold, windy winters on Lake Michigan. (NPS site ↗)
  39. Mesa Verde 2/5 · Not ideal Cliff dwelling ranger tours run about May–Oct; Wetherill Mesa summer only; winter is quiet and limited. (NPS site ↗)
  40. National Park of American Samoa 2/5 · Not ideal Drier season about Jun–Sep; wetter, cyclone-prone Nov–Apr. (NPS site ↗)
  41. Olympic 2/5 · Not ideal Very wet Oct–Apr; summer is the dry season for the high country and coast. (NPS site ↗)
  42. Redwood 2/5 · Not ideal Mild year-round; rainy winters; September often clearest on the coast. (NPS site ↗)
  43. Sequoia 2/5 · Not ideal Generals Highway open year-round (chains possible); Mineral King summer only. (NPS site ↗)
  44. Theodore Roosevelt 2/5 · Not ideal Cold, harsh winters; June green-up and September best; check Scenic Loop Drive closures. (NPS site ↗)
  45. Wind Cave 2/5 · Not ideal Cave tours year-round (fewer in winter); summer Sturgis rally crowds early Aug. (NPS site ↗)
  46. Denali 1/5 · Avoid Park road bus season about late May–mid Sep; June long days, July wetter, early Sep fall color. Road still closed at Pretty Rocks (mile 43). (NPS site ↗)
  47. Gates Of The Arctic 1/5 · Avoid Short summer window (late Jun–Aug); fall color late Aug; snow and freeze-up by mid-Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  48. Glacier Bay 1/5 · Avoid Bartlett Cove day boat runs about late May–early Sep; June–July best weather odds. (NPS site ↗)
  49. Glacier 1/5 · Avoid Going-to-the-Sun Road usually fully open only early July–mid Oct; July–Aug best (and busiest).
  50. Grand Teton 1/5 · Avoid Most park roads and services open May–Oct; September has elk rut and aspen color. (NPS site ↗)
  51. Great Basin 1/5 · Avoid Upper Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is closed by snow roughly Nov–June; summer is cool at elevation. (NPS site ↗)
  52. Isle Royale 1/5 · Avoid Park closed Nov 1–mid Apr; ferries/seaplanes run about mid-May–Sep; June bugs; late Aug–early Sep best. (NPS site ↗)
  53. Katmai 1/5 · Avoid Brooks Camp season about June–mid Sep; bears at Brooks Falls peak in July and again in September. (NPS site ↗)
  54. Kenai Fjords 1/5 · Avoid Boat tours run spring–early fall; Exit Glacier Road closed to cars in winter. (NPS site ↗)
  55. Kings Canyon 1/5 · Avoid Hwy 180 to Cedar Grove closes about mid-Nov–late Apr; Grant Grove is open year-round. (NPS site ↗)
  56. Kobuk Valley 1/5 · Avoid Fly-in only, short summer; caribou migration late Aug–Sep; snow by October. (NPS site ↗)
  57. Lake Clark 1/5 · Avoid Coastal bear viewing Jun–Sep (sedge in June–July, salmon Aug–Sep); fly-in only. (NPS site ↗)
  58. Lassen Volcanic 1/5 · Avoid Main park highway usually opens fully June–July and closes with snow in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  59. Mount Rainier 1/5 · Avoid Sunrise road open about July–Sep; Paradise wildflowers late Jul–Aug; heavy winter snow. (NPS site ↗)
  60. North Cascades 1/5 · Avoid North Cascades Highway (SR 20) closes in winter; high trails snow-free about mid-Jul–Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  61. Rocky Mountain 1/5 · Avoid Trail Ridge Road about late May–mid Oct; timed entry in summer; September elk rut and aspens. (NPS site ↗)
  62. Voyageurs 1/5 · Avoid Mostly a boat park in summer; winter ice roads Jan–Mar; spring ice-out and fall freeze-up are dead zones. (NPS site ↗)
  63. Wrangell - St Elias 1/5 · Avoid McCarthy/Kennecott services about mid-May–mid-Sep; long gravel McCarthy Road. (NPS site ↗)
  64. Yellowstone 1/5 · Avoid Most roads closed to cars early Nov–mid Apr (winter snowcoach season mid Dec–mid Mar); September has fewer crowds.

Best parks in December

  1. Everglades 5/5 · Best Dry season Dec–Apr = wildlife and fewer bugs; wet season is hot with intense mosquitoes. (NPS site ↗)
  2. Big Bend 4/5 · Great Desert summers routinely top 100°F; March spring break is the busiest; Nov–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  3. Biscayne 4/5 · Great Dry season Dec–Apr; hurricane season Jun–Nov with heat, storms and bugs. (NPS site ↗)
  4. Death Valley 4/5 · Great Summer heat is dangerous (120°F+); Nov–Mar best; spring wildflowers some years. (NPS site ↗)
  5. Dry Tortugas 4/5 · Great Winter cold fronts can cancel boats; hurricane risk Aug–Oct; spring is calmest and birding peaks. (NPS site ↗)
  6. Haleakalā 4/5 · Great Good year-round; summit is cold at sunrise (reservation needed); winter is wetter on the Kīpahulu side. (NPS site ↗)
  7. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes 4/5 · Great Good year-round; check eruption status and vog; May and Sep–Oct are quieter. (NPS site ↗)
  8. Joshua Tree 4/5 · Great Spring blooms and fall are best; summer heat is extreme; winter nights freeze. (NPS site ↗)
  9. Saguaro 4/5 · Great Saguaro bloom in May; summer heat extreme; Oct–Apr best. (NPS site ↗)
  10. Virgin Islands 4/5 · Great Dry, breezy Dec–Apr is peak; hurricane risk Aug–Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  11. Bryce Canyon 3/5 · Fine High elevation keeps summer mild but busy; snow on hoodoos in winter; September is ideal. (NPS site ↗)
  12. Carlsbad Caverns 3/5 · Fine Cave is the same temperature year-round; bat flights roughly late May–Oct, peak in September. (NPS site ↗)
  13. Chiricahua 3/5 · Fine Spring and fall are mild; June is hot and fire-prone; Jul–Aug monsoon storms (but green).
  14. Congaree 3/5 · Fine Summer heat and mosquitoes are intense; synchronous fireflies mid-May to early June; fall/spring best. (NPS site ↗)
  15. Gateway Arch 3/5 · Fine Indoors and open year-round; humid summer heat; spring and fall nicest for the riverfront. (NPS site ↗)
  16. Grand Canyon 3/5 · Fine South Rim open year-round; North Rim seasonal (about mid-May–mid-Oct); inner canyon dangerously hot in summer.
  17. Guadalupe Mountains 3/5 · Fine McKittrick Canyon fall color late Oct–early Nov; high winds in spring; hot summers. (NPS site ↗)
  18. Hot Springs 3/5 · Fine Town park open year-round; humid summers; spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  19. Mammoth Cave 3/5 · Fine Cave tours year-round; summer is busiest; spring and fall nicest above ground. (NPS site ↗)
  20. Petrified Forest 3/5 · Fine Drive-through park open year-round; hot summer afternoons; spring wind. (NPS site ↗)
  21. Pinnacles 3/5 · Fine Spring wildflowers; summer often over 100°F; caves close seasonally for bats. (NPS site ↗)
  22. White Sands 3/5 · Fine Road closes for missile tests at times; hot summers; October is comfortable. (NPS site ↗)
  23. Arches 2/5 · Not ideal Summer highs often 100°F+; timed-entry season spring–fall; spring and fall are the sweet spot. (NPS site ↗)
  24. Black Canyon Of The Gunnison 2/5 · Not ideal North Rim road closes in winter and South Rim Drive closes past the visitor center in snow; summer storms. (NPS site ↗)
  25. Canyonlands 2/5 · Not ideal Hot summers, icy winter roads (White Rim/Shafer); spring and fall best. (NPS site ↗)
  26. Capitol Reef 2/5 · Not ideal Spring and fall are mild; orchard fruit Jun–Oct; summer heat and flash floods. (NPS site ↗)
  27. Channel Islands 2/5 · Not ideal Spring wildflowers; Sep–Oct calmest, clearest water; winter brings rough-sea boat cancellations. (NPS site ↗)
  28. Crater Lake 2/5 · Not ideal Huge snowfall; Rim Drive usually fully open only about July–October. (NPS site ↗)
  29. Cuyahoga Valley 2/5 · Not ideal Open year-round; fall color in October is the highlight. (NPS site ↗)
  30. Grand Teton 2/5 · Not ideal Most park roads and services open May–Oct; September has elk rut and aspen color. (NPS site ↗)
  31. Great Sand Dunes 2/5 · Not ideal Medano Creek flows best late May–early June; summer sand gets very hot by afternoon. (NPS site ↗)
  32. Great Smoky Mountains 2/5 · Not ideal Most-visited park; October foliage and summer are busiest; synchronous fireflies in June (lottery). (NPS site ↗)
  33. Indiana Dunes 2/5 · Not ideal Beach season June–Aug; cold, windy winters on Lake Michigan. (NPS site ↗)
  34. National Park of American Samoa 2/5 · Not ideal Drier season about Jun–Sep; wetter, cyclone-prone Nov–Apr. (NPS site ↗)
  35. New River Gorge 2/5 · Not ideal Fall color and Bridge Day (October); Gauley rafting season in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  36. Olympic 2/5 · Not ideal Very wet Oct–Apr; summer is the dry season for the high country and coast. (NPS site ↗)
  37. Redwood 2/5 · Not ideal Mild year-round; rainy winters; September often clearest on the coast. (NPS site ↗)
  38. Sequoia 2/5 · Not ideal Generals Highway open year-round (chains possible); Mineral King summer only. (NPS site ↗)
  39. Shenandoah 2/5 · Not ideal Skyline Drive closes in snow/ice; May wildflowers; October foliage busiest. (NPS site ↗)
  40. Wind Cave 2/5 · Not ideal Cave tours year-round (fewer in winter); summer Sturgis rally crowds early Aug. (NPS site ↗)
  41. Yellowstone 2/5 · Not ideal Most roads closed to cars early Nov–mid Apr (winter snowcoach season mid Dec–mid Mar); September has fewer crowds.
  42. Yosemite 2/5 · Not ideal Waterfalls peak May–June; Tioga Road usually open about June–Nov; summer reservations/crowds.
  43. Zion 2/5 · Not ideal Summer often 100°F+ with monsoon flash floods (Narrows); spring and fall best; shuttle season busy.
  44. Acadia 1/5 · Avoid Park Loop Road mostly closed Dec–mid-Apr; Jul–Aug busiest; fall color early–mid Oct. (NPS site ↗)
  45. Badlands 1/5 · Avoid Hot, stormy midsummer and cold windy winters; June green-up and September are best. (NPS site ↗)
  46. Denali 1/5 · Avoid Park road bus season about late May–mid Sep; June long days, July wetter, early Sep fall color. Road still closed at Pretty Rocks (mile 43). (NPS site ↗)
  47. Gates Of The Arctic 1/5 · Avoid Short summer window (late Jun–Aug); fall color late Aug; snow and freeze-up by mid-Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  48. Glacier Bay 1/5 · Avoid Bartlett Cove day boat runs about late May–early Sep; June–July best weather odds. (NPS site ↗)
  49. Glacier 1/5 · Avoid Going-to-the-Sun Road usually fully open only early July–mid Oct; July–Aug best (and busiest).
  50. Great Basin 1/5 · Avoid Upper Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is closed by snow roughly Nov–June; summer is cool at elevation. (NPS site ↗)
  51. Isle Royale 1/5 · Avoid Park closed Nov 1–mid Apr; ferries/seaplanes run about mid-May–Sep; June bugs; late Aug–early Sep best. (NPS site ↗)
  52. Katmai 1/5 · Avoid Brooks Camp season about June–mid Sep; bears at Brooks Falls peak in July and again in September. (NPS site ↗)
  53. Kenai Fjords 1/5 · Avoid Boat tours run spring–early fall; Exit Glacier Road closed to cars in winter. (NPS site ↗)
  54. Kings Canyon 1/5 · Avoid Hwy 180 to Cedar Grove closes about mid-Nov–late Apr; Grant Grove is open year-round. (NPS site ↗)
  55. Kobuk Valley 1/5 · Avoid Fly-in only, short summer; caribou migration late Aug–Sep; snow by October. (NPS site ↗)
  56. Lake Clark 1/5 · Avoid Coastal bear viewing Jun–Sep (sedge in June–July, salmon Aug–Sep); fly-in only. (NPS site ↗)
  57. Lassen Volcanic 1/5 · Avoid Main park highway usually opens fully June–July and closes with snow in fall. (NPS site ↗)
  58. Mesa Verde 1/5 · Avoid Cliff dwelling ranger tours run about May–Oct; Wetherill Mesa summer only; winter is quiet and limited. (NPS site ↗)
  59. Mount Rainier 1/5 · Avoid Sunrise road open about July–Sep; Paradise wildflowers late Jul–Aug; heavy winter snow. (NPS site ↗)
  60. North Cascades 1/5 · Avoid North Cascades Highway (SR 20) closes in winter; high trails snow-free about mid-Jul–Sep. (NPS site ↗)
  61. Rocky Mountain 1/5 · Avoid Trail Ridge Road about late May–mid Oct; timed entry in summer; September elk rut and aspens. (NPS site ↗)
  62. Theodore Roosevelt 1/5 · Avoid Cold, harsh winters; June green-up and September best; check Scenic Loop Drive closures. (NPS site ↗)
  63. Voyageurs 1/5 · Avoid Mostly a boat park in summer; winter ice roads Jan–Mar; spring ice-out and fall freeze-up are dead zones. (NPS site ↗)
  64. Wrangell - St Elias 1/5 · Avoid McCarthy/Kennecott services about mid-May–mid-Sep; long gravel McCarthy Road. (NPS site ↗)

Scores are our judgment, not official NPS data. Seasons shift with snow, fire and storms: always check Is it open? and the park’s nps.gov page before you go. Last updated 2026-10-29.