Month guide
Best national parks to visit in November
November belongs to the desert. Summer heat is gone from Death Valley and Joshua Tree, the Texas parks are mild, and most northern and mountain parks are sliding into winter. Point the trip southwest or south.
Short answer
In November, go to Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Saguaro, Big Bend, White Sands, Guadalupe Mountains, Zion, or Congaree. NOAA normals put November highs near 77F at Furnace Creek and 75F in Tucson, with cool nights that call for a real jacket.
How the November picks were chosen
- Average daily highs at the park's NOAA station land in a comfortable hiking range for November, not a heat or cold extreme.
- November 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.
Season openerDeath Valley
- Best for
- Badwater, Golden Canyon, dunes, and dark skies
- Watch
- Thanksgiving week is busy. Reserve Furnace Creek lodging or campsites early, and plan around short daylight.
Furnace Creek averages 77F highs and 51F lows in November, the start of the park's late fall to early spring season.
November by the numbers
- Avg high
- 77F
- Avg low
- 51F
- Precip
- 0.1 in
NOAA station DEATH VALLEY NP (USC00042319), Furnace Creek, below sea level.
Pack for Death Valley in November
Rock seasonJoshua Tree
- Best for
- Climbing, bouldering, Barker Dam, and Keys View
- Watch
- Campgrounds fill on weekends and holiday weeks. Have a backup outside the park.
Twentynine Palms averages 72F highs and 47F lows in November, and cool fall weekends are the park's second busy season.
November by the numbers
- Avg high
- 72F
- Avg low
- 47F
- Precip
- 0.2 in
NOAA station TWENTYNINE PALMS (USC00049099), Twentynine Palms, at the park's north entrance.
Pack for Joshua Tree in November
Desert sunsetsSaguaro
- Best for
- Cactus forest loops, Wasson Peak, and sunset drives
- Watch
- Desert trails are rocky and exposed. Carry water on every hike, even short ones.
Tucson averages 75F highs and 48F lows in November, warm enough for afternoon hikes and cool enough for sunset in a light layer.
November by the numbers
- Avg high
- 75F
- Avg low
- 48F
- Precip
- 0.6 in
NOAA station TUCSON INTL AP (USW00023160), Tucson, between the two park districts (gateway station).
Pack for Saguaro in November
Thanksgiving in the desertBig Bend
- Best for
- Chisos hikes, Santa Elena Canyon, and river views
- Watch
- Lodging and campsites book out for the holiday. Outside that week, November is calm.
Panther Junction averages 69F highs and 45F lows in November, and Thanksgiving week is one of the park's busiest.
November by the numbers
- Avg high
- 69F
- Avg low
- 45F
- Precip
- 0.7 in
NOAA station PANTHER JUNCTION (USC00416792), Panther Junction, the park's desert middle.
Pack for Big Bend in November
Maples in McKittrick CanyonGuadalupe Mountains
- Best for
- McKittrick Canyon color and Guadalupe Peak
- Watch
- Wind on Guadalupe Peak can be severe. Check the forecast and turn around if gusts build.
Pine Springs averages 61F highs and 39F lows in November, and the McKittrick Canyon maples usually hold color into mid-November.
November by the numbers
- Avg high
- 61F
- Avg low
- 39F
- Precip
- 1.0 in
NOAA station PINE SPRINGS (USC00417044), Pine Springs, the main trailhead area.
Pack for Guadalupe Mountains in November
Golden hour on the gypsumWhite Sands
- Best for
- Sunset strolls, sledding, and backcountry camping
- Watch
- Missile-test closures can shut Dunes Drive for hours. Check the schedule.
The visitor center averages 67F highs and 29F lows in November: pleasant days, then nights that dip below freezing.
November by the numbers
- Avg high
- 67F
- Avg low
- 29F
- Precip
- 0.5 in
NOAA station WHITE SANDS NATL MON (USC00299686), the visitor center at the dunefield entrance.
Pack for White Sands in November
The quiet canyonZion
- Best for
- Canyon walks, Watchman Trail, and Kolob Canyons
- Watch
- Days are short and The Narrows water is cold, so rent drysuit gear or skip it. Check the shuttle schedule for the month.
Zion Canyon averages 64F highs and 37F lows in November, and the canyon is far calmer than in October.
November by the numbers
- Avg high
- 64F
- Avg low
- 37F
- Precip
- 1.2 in
- Snow
- 0.1 in
NOAA station ZION NP (USC00429717), Zion Canyon near Springdale.
Pack for Zion in November
After the bugsCongaree
- Best for
- Boardwalk loop, old-growth giants, and fall paddling
- Watch
- Rain can flood low sections of trail. Check boardwalk status after storms.
Columbia averages 67F highs and 44F lows in November, and cooler weather usually quiets the mosquitoes.
November by the numbers
- Avg high
- 67F
- Avg low
- 44F
- Precip
- 2.8 in
NOAA station COLUMBIA OWENS DWTN AP (USW00053867), Columbia, the nearest long-record station (gateway station).
Pack for Congaree in NovemberWhat to pack for the national parks in November
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.
Insulation, hat, and gloves
White Sands averages 29F lows in November, below freezing. Mornings and camp nights need a real insulated jacket.
Layers for a big daily swing
White Sands swings from about 29F at dawn to 67F in the afternoon. Dress in layers you can peel off on the trail.
Sun cover and a water plan
Death Valley averages 77F highs in November. Carry more water than feels necessary and cover up from the sun.
A real rain shell
Congaree averages 2.8 inches of precipitation in November. A waterproof shell is not optional there.
A headlamp
November days are short. Carry a headlamp on every hike in case the turnaround runs late.
November at every national park, by the numbers
Average November 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 November. Tap a park for its full guide, or a pack link for a November packing list.
| Park | High | Low | Precip | Snow | Best season | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warm: average highs 75F and up | ||||||
| American Samoagateway station | 87F | 78F | 12.1 in | Pack list | ||
| Virgin Islandsgateway station | 87F | 77F | 6.1 in | Pack list | ||
| Everglades | 83F | 64F | 2.4 in | Pack list | ||
| Biscaynegateway station | 83F | 63F | 2.3 in | Pack list | ||
| Dry Tortugas | 79F | 71F | 1.9 in | Pack list | ||
| Death Valley | 77F | 51F | 0.1 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Saguarogateway station | 75F | 48F | 0.6 in | Pack list | ||
| Mild: average highs 60F to 74F | ||||||
| Joshua Tree | 72F | 47F | 0.2 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Pinnacles | 70F | 37F | 1.3 in | Pack list | ||
| Hawaii Volcanoes | 70F | 54F | 10.6 in | Pack list | ||
| Channel Islandsgateway station | 70F | 50F | 0.7 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Big Bend | 69F | 45F | 0.7 in | Pack list | ||
| Congareegateway station | 67F | 44F | 2.8 in | Pack list | ||
| White Sands | 67F | 29F | 0.5 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Carlsbad Caverns | 65F | 42F | 0.7 in | 0.2 in | Pack list | |
| Zion | 64F | 37F | 1.2 in | 0.1 in | Pack list | |
| Haleakala | 63F | 47F | 4.6 in | Pack list | ||
| Hot Springs | 63F | 42F | 4.9 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Mammoth Cave | 61F | 40F | 4.1 in | Pack list | ||
| Guadalupe Mountains | 61F | 39F | 1.0 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Cool: average highs 45F to 59F | ||||||
| Petrified Forest | 58F | 28F | 0.6 in | 0.3 in | Yes | Pack list |
| Great Smoky Mountains | 58F | 34F | 4.0 in | 0.2 in | Yes | Pack list |
| Redwood National and State Parks | 58F | 41F | 10.1 in | Pack list | ||
| Yosemite | 56F | 33F | 4.1 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Arches | 56F | 33F | 0.6 in | 0.7 in | Pack list | |
| Gateway Archgateway station | 56F | 37F | 3.4 in | 0.9 in | Yes | Pack list |
| New River Gorgegateway station | 54F | 33F | 2.9 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Grand Canyon | 53F | 25F | 0.8 in | 2.2 in | Yes | Pack list |
| Kings Canyon | 53F | 32F | 3.3 in | 8.6 in | Pack list | |
| Cuyahoga Valleygateway station | 51F | 37F | 3.4 in | 4.5 in | Yes | Pack list |
| Capitol Reef | 51F | 30F | 0.5 in | 1.5 in | Yes | Pack list |
| Mesa Verde | 50F | 29F | 1.2 in | 5.6 in | Pack list | |
| Badlands | 50F | 25F | 0.5 in | 3.7 in | Pack list | |
| Canyonlands | 49F | 33F | 0.6 in | 3.2 in | Yes | Pack list |
| Indiana Dunes | 49F | 34F | 2.8 in | 0.7 in | Pack list | |
| Olympicgateway station | 49F | 40F | 4.4 in | Pack list | ||
| Wind Cave | 48F | 23F | 0.7 in | 4.4 in | Pack list | |
| Shenandoah | 48F | 32F | n/a | Yes | Pack list | |
| Acadia | 48F | 33F | 5.9 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Great Basin | 48F | 26F | 0.9 in | 6.9 in | Pack list | |
| Lassen Volcanic | 47F | 26F | 4.7 in | Pack list | ||
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison | 47F | 23F | 1.5 in | Pack list | ||
| Sequoia | 47F | 23F | 3.7 in | 11.7 in | Pack list | |
| Bryce Canyon | 46F | 23F | 1.3 in | 9.7 in | Pack list | |
| Great Sand Dunes | 46F | 22F | 0.5 in | 5.6 in | Pack list | |
| North Cascades | 45F | 37F | 13.6 in | 2.4 in | Pack list | |
| Cold: average highs below 45F | ||||||
| Rocky Mountaingateway station | 44F | 24F | 0.7 in | 11.0 in | Pack list | |
| Theodore Roosevelt | 42F | 18F | 0.6 in | 3.0 in | Pack list | |
| Grand Teton | 39F | 15F | 2.3 in | 18.2 in | Pack list | |
| Crater Lake | 38F | 23F | 9.6 in | 59.3 in | Pack list | |
| Glacier | 37F | 26F | 3.2 in | 16.2 in | Pack list | |
| Mount Rainier | 37F | 26F | 18.2 in | Pack list | ||
| Glacier Bay | 37F | 30F | 8.5 in | Pack list | ||
| Kenai Fjordsgateway station | 36F | 27F | 7.6 in | Pack list | ||
| Yellowstone | 35F | 10F | 2.2 in | 26.4 in | Pack list | |
| Voyageursgateway station | 34F | 18F | 1.4 in | 12.1 in | Pack list | |
| Lake Clark | 32F | 21F | 1.3 in | 17.3 in | Pack list | |
| Katmaigateway station | 32F | 18F | 1.7 in | 6.7 in | Yes | Pack list |
| Denali | 18F | 2F | 0.8 in | 12.9 in | Pack list | |
| Wrangell-St. Elias | 17F | 2F | 1.5 in | 13.5 in | Pack list | |
| Gates of the Arcticgateway station | 8F | -7F | 1.2 in | 19.1 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
The cold is in the nights
White Sands averages a 29F low in November, below freezing, even with a 67F high. Pack an insulated jacket for every desert park on this list.
Thanksgiving is the one busy week
Death Valley, Big Bend, and Joshua Tree fill around the holiday. The weeks before and after are the calm, great-weather version of the same trip.
Mind the daylight
November days are short, and the canyons lose sun early. Start at first light and plan to be back at the car before sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Is November a good time to visit national parks?
Yes, if you head to the desert Southwest, Texas, or the Southeast. Many northern and high-elevation parks see snow, road closures, and reduced services in November.
What is the warmest national park in November?
American Samoa has the warmest November normals of any park with a NOAA station, averaging 87F highs and 78F lows. In the lower 48 the warmest are Everglades (83F), Biscayne (83F), and Dry Tortugas (79F), based on NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals.
Which national parks get the most snow in November?
Among parks whose NOAA station publishes a snowfall normal, the snowiest in November are Crater Lake (59.3 inches), Yellowstone (26.4 inches), and Gates of the Arctic (19.1 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.
What to pack
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More trip planning paths
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