Month guide
Best national parks to visit in December
December rewards warm-weather planning. South Florida's dry season begins, the Texas and Arizona deserts are mild, and Hawaii's parks are in their busy holiday stretch. Most of the high country belongs to snow.
Short answer
In December, go to Everglades, Big Bend, Death Valley, Saguaro, Dry Tortugas, Biscayne, Joshua Tree, or Hawaii Volcanoes. NOAA normals put December highs near 80F at Royal Palm and 62F at Panther Junction.
How the December picks were chosen
- Average daily highs at the park's NOAA station land in a comfortable hiking range for December, not a heat or cold extreme.
- December falls inside the park's own best season, or close to it, so the trip is not fighting the calendar.
- Main roads and visitor areas are typically open, with any seasonal closures called out below.
- Every number comes from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals, with the station named, so you can check the source.
Recommended parks
Each pick links to the full park guide with season tables, logistics, packing, and route context.
Dry season opensEverglades
- Best for
- Anhinga Trail, Shark Valley, and Flamingo
- Watch
- Holiday weeks are peak. Book Flamingo lodging and campsites early.
Royal Palm averages 80F highs and 59F lows with 1.9 inches of rain in December, the start of the park's December to April dry season.
December by the numbers
- Avg high
- 80F
- Avg low
- 59F
- Precip
- 1.9 in
NOAA station ROYAL PALM RS (USC00087760), Royal Palm, near the main entrance.
Pack for Everglades in December
Holiday desert tripBig Bend
- Best for
- Chisos Mountains, hot springs, and Rio Grande views
- Watch
- Cold fronts can bring hard freezes to the Chisos. Pack a warm layer.
Panther Junction averages 62F highs and 38F lows in December, and the winter holiday weeks are one of the park's peaks.
December by the numbers
- Avg high
- 62F
- Avg low
- 38F
- Precip
- 0.5 in
- Snow
- 0.2 in
NOAA station PANTHER JUNCTION (USC00416792), Panther Junction, the park's desert middle.
Pack for Big Bend in December
Cool valley daysDeath Valley
- Best for
- Canyon hikes, Badwater, and dark-sky nights
- Watch
- These are the shortest days of the year. Start hikes early and carry a headlamp.
Furnace Creek averages 66F highs and 41F lows in December.
December by the numbers
- Avg high
- 66F
- Avg low
- 41F
- Precip
- 0.3 in
NOAA station DEATH VALLEY NP (USC00042319), Furnace Creek, below sea level.
Pack for Death Valley in December
Winter in the SonoranSaguaro
- Best for
- Desert hikes, cactus forests, and sunset drives
- Watch
- Winter storms bring some rain, 1.0 inch on average, and chilly nights.
Tucson averages 66F highs and 41F lows in December.
December by the numbers
- Avg high
- 66F
- Avg low
- 41F
- Precip
- 1.0 in
NOAA station TUCSON INTL AP (USW00023160), Tucson, between the two park districts (gateway station).
Pack for Saguaro in December
Warm water escapeDry Tortugas
- Best for
- Fort Jefferson, snorkeling, and birding
- Watch
- Winter wind cancels crossings. Keep a flex day in Key West.
Garden Key averages 76F highs and 67F lows in December.
December by the numbers
- Avg high
- 76F
- Avg low
- 67F
- Precip
- 2.4 in
NOAA station DRY TORTUGAS (USC00082418), Garden Key and Fort Jefferson.
Pack for Dry Tortugas in December
Mild bay daysBiscayne
- Best for
- Boat tours, paddling, and reef snorkeling
- Watch
- Tours depend on wind and boat availability. Book ahead for holiday weeks.
Homestead, the mainland gateway, averages 79F highs and 59F lows in December, the start of the park's December to April season.
December by the numbers
- Avg high
- 79F
- Avg low
- 59F
- Precip
- 2.0 in
NOAA station HOMESTEAD GEN AVIATION AP (USC00084095), Homestead, the mainland gateway (gateway station).
Pack for Biscayne in December
Crisp desert daysJoshua Tree
- Best for
- Short hikes, bouldering, and stargazing
- Watch
- Nights near freezing up high. Camp with a warm sleeping bag.
Twentynine Palms averages 62F highs and 40F lows in December. The higher interior runs colder, and snow is rare but possible.
December by the numbers
- Avg high
- 62F
- Avg low
- 40F
- Precip
- 0.6 in
NOAA station TWENTYNINE PALMS (USC00049099), Twentynine Palms, at the park's north entrance.
Pack for Joshua Tree in December
Volcano country for the holidaysHawaii Volcanoes
- Best for
- Kilauea overlooks, Crater Rim Trail, and Chain of Craters Road
- Watch
- It is wet: the summit averages 11.4 inches of rain in December. Pack a real rain shell.
Kilauea's summit averages 68F highs and 52F lows in December, cooler than the beaches, and the December holidays are one of its busy stretches.
December by the numbers
- Avg high
- 68F
- Avg low
- 52F
- Precip
- 11.4 in
NOAA station HAWAII VOL NP HQ 54 (USC00511303), Kilauea summit, park headquarters.
Pack for Hawaii Volcanoes in DecemberWhat to pack for the national parks in December
Built from the NOAA averages for the parks above, so it covers the whole spread, from the coldest morning to the warmest afternoon on this list.
A warm layer for mornings
The coldest pick, Big Bend, averages 38F lows in December. A light puffy or fleece covers sunrise starts.
Layers for a big daily swing
Saguaro swings from about 41F at dawn to 66F in the afternoon. Dress in layers you can peel off on the trail.
Sun cover and a water plan
Everglades averages 80F highs in December. Carry more water than feels necessary and cover up from the sun.
A real rain shell
Hawaii Volcanoes averages 11.4 inches of precipitation in December. A waterproof shell is not optional there.
A headlamp
December days are short. Carry a headlamp on every hike in case the turnaround runs late.
December at every national park, by the numbers
Average December highs, lows, and precipitation for the 61 national parks with a usable NOAA station, warmest first. "Best season" marks parks whose own peak window includes December. Tap a park for its full guide, or a pack link for a December packing list.
| Park | High | Low | Precip | Snow | Best season | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warm: average highs 75F and up | ||||||
| American Samoagateway station | 88F | 78F | 14.4 in | Pack list | ||
| Virgin Islandsgateway station | 85F | 75F | 2.9 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Everglades | 80F | 59F | 1.9 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Biscaynegateway station | 79F | 59F | 2.0 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Dry Tortugas | 76F | 67F | 2.4 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Mild: average highs 60F to 74F | ||||||
| Hawaii Volcanoes | 68F | 52F | 11.4 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Channel Islandsgateway station | 66F | 47F | 2.1 in | Pack list | ||
| Death Valley | 66F | 41F | 0.3 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Saguarogateway station | 66F | 41F | 1.0 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Joshua Tree | 62F | 40F | 0.6 in | Pack list | ||
| Pinnacles | 62F | 33F | 3.1 in | Pack list | ||
| Big Bend | 62F | 38F | 0.5 in | 0.2 in | Yes | Pack list |
| Haleakala | 61F | 45F | 5.3 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Congareegateway station | 60F | 39F | 3.5 in | Pack list | ||
| Cool: average highs 45F to 59F | ||||||
| Carlsbad Caverns | 57F | 35F | 0.6 in | 2.0 in | Pack list | |
| White Sands | 57F | 22F | 0.7 in | 0.7 in | Pack list | |
| Redwood National and State Parks | 54F | 38F | 15.3 in | Pack list | ||
| Guadalupe Mountains | 54F | 33F | 0.8 in | 1.4 in | Pack list | |
| Hot Springs | 53F | 35F | 5.0 in | Pack list | ||
| Zion | 53F | 29F | 1.6 in | 1.7 in | Pack list | |
| Mammoth Cave | 51F | 33F | 4.8 in | 1.3 in | Pack list | |
| Great Smoky Mountains | 50F | 29F | 4.9 in | 1.4 in | Pack list | |
| Petrified Forest | 47F | 22F | 0.8 in | 0.1 in | Pack list | |
| Yosemite | 46F | 28F | 5.6 in | Pack list | ||
| Kings Canyon | 46F | 25F | 6.6 in | 30.8 in | Pack list | |
| New River Gorgegateway station | 45F | 27F | 3.9 in | Pack list | ||
| Gateway Archgateway station | 45F | 29F | 2.5 in | 3.2 in | Pack list | |
| Cold: average highs below 45F | ||||||
| Olympicgateway station | 44F | 37F | 4.2 in | 0.4 in | Pack list | |
| Grand Canyon | 43F | 18F | 1.3 in | 8.0 in | Pack list | |
| Arches | 42F | 24F | 0.6 in | 3.5 in | Pack list | |
| Cuyahoga Valleygateway station | 40F | 28F | 3.0 in | 12.2 in | Pack list | |
| Capitol Reef | 40F | 21F | 0.4 in | 2.2 in | Pack list | |
| Mesa Verde | 40F | 20F | 1.5 in | 14.2 in | Pack list | |
| Great Basin | 40F | 20F | 1.0 in | 9.6 in | Pack list | |
| Lassen Volcanic | 40F | 22F | 6.5 in | Pack list | ||
| North Cascades | 40F | 33F | 11.7 in | 6.3 in | Pack list | |
| Shenandoah | 40F | 24F | n/a | Pack list | ||
| Wind Cave | 39F | 15F | 0.5 in | 7.5 in | Pack list | |
| Badlands | 39F | 17F | 0.5 in | 7.7 in | Pack list | |
| Acadia | 38F | 22F | 5.7 in | Pack list | ||
| Indiana Dunes | 37F | 24F | 2.3 in | 7.3 in | Pack list | |
| Sequoia | 37F | 17F | 6.9 in | 35.0 in | Pack list | |
| Canyonlands | 37F | 23F | 0.7 in | 6.5 in | Pack list | |
| Bryce Canyon | 37F | 17F | 1.3 in | 15.3 in | Pack list | |
| Rocky Mountaingateway station | 36F | 16F | 0.7 in | 12.7 in | Pack list | |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison | 36F | 13F | 1.5 in | Pack list | ||
| Great Sand Dunes | 34F | 12F | 0.5 in | 7.0 in | Pack list | |
| Glacier Bay | 33F | 27F | 9.0 in | Pack list | ||
| Kenai Fjordsgateway station | 33F | 23F | 8.2 in | Pack list | ||
| Crater Lake | 33F | 19F | 11.3 in | 90.6 in | Pack list | |
| Mount Rainier | 33F | 22F | 18.9 in | Pack list | ||
| Theodore Roosevelt | 31F | 7F | 0.6 in | 6.0 in | Pack list | |
| Glacier | 29F | 20F | 3.2 in | 31.4 in | Pack list | |
| Grand Teton | 28F | 4F | 2.8 in | 44.1 in | Pack list | |
| Lake Clark | 27F | 15F | 1.0 in | 18.3 in | Pack list | |
| Yellowstone | 27F | 1F | 2.8 in | 45.0 in | Pack list | |
| Katmaigateway station | 26F | 11F | 1.4 in | 10.2 in | Pack list | |
| Voyageursgateway station | 21F | 3F | 1.0 in | 15.8 in | Pack list | |
| Denali | 14F | -2F | 0.8 in | 12.4 in | Pack list | |
| Wrangell-St. Elias | 9F | -4F | 1.1 in | 11.3 in | Pack list | |
| Gates of the Arcticgateway station | 2F | -14F | 1.1 in | 18.2 in | Pack list | |
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020 monthly averages, one station per park at or near its main visitor area (each park guide names its station and distance). Gateway stations sit outside the park where no in-park station publishes normals. Isle Royale and Kobuk Valley have no representative station and are left out. Averages describe a typical year, not a forecast.
Planning notes
Warm days, winter nights
Death Valley averages a 66F high and a 41F low in December. The difference between a great trip and a cold one is an insulated jacket.
Book the holidays early
Christmas to New Year's is peak season in the Florida, Texas, and Hawaii parks. Early December is the quiet, easy-booking version.
Winter storms reach the Southwest
Desert parks see some of their rain in winter. Check forecasts for flash-flood warnings before canyon hikes.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best national parks to visit at Christmas?
Warm-weather favorites are Everglades, Big Bend, Death Valley, Saguaro, and Hawaii Volcanoes. For a snowy holiday, Yellowstone's winter season and Bryce Canyon's snow-dusted hoodoos are the classic picks.
What is the warmest national park in December?
American Samoa has the warmest December normals of any park with a NOAA station, averaging 88F highs and 78F lows. In the lower 48 the warmest are Everglades (80F), Biscayne (79F), and Dry Tortugas (76F), based on NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals.
Which national parks get the most snow in December?
Among parks whose NOAA station publishes a snowfall normal, the snowiest in December are Crater Lake (90.6 inches), Yellowstone (45.0 inches), and Grand Teton (44.1 inches). Figures are for each park's NOAA station, named in its park guide. Expect seasonal road and trail closures in snow country.
Pack and plan this trip
Gear keyed to what these parks are for, the tools to size your days and budget, and explainers worth a read before you go.
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