About National Parks Almanac

The right national park for the right month. One question answered well for all 63 U.S. national parks: when should I go?

How the ratings work

Every park gets a rating for each month on a four-step scale:

• Prime: the best conditions of the year. Weather, access and highlights line up.
• Good: a great time to go, with a trade-off such as crowds, heat or a few closed areas.
• Fair / limited: worth it for specific goals (winter scenery, solitude), but expect closures or tough weather.
• Poor: largely closed, snowbound, dangerously hot or in storm season.

Ratings weigh five things: typical weather, when roads and facilities usually open and close, wildlife and wildflower timing, natural hazards (heat, storms, hurricanes, wildfire smoke) and crowds. Crowd levels are rated separately, so you can trade a little weather for a lot of space.

Sources

Ratings are editorial judgments built from official National Park Service operating information and seasonal guidance, NPS visitor use statistics, NOAA climate normals, and park-specific seasonal events. They're reviewed regularly; the date is shown on every page.

What this site isn't

National Parks Almanac is independent and not affiliated with the National Park Service. Conditions change every year: roads open late after big winters, fires and floods close areas, and reservation systems come and go. Every park page links to the official NPS page. Check it before you go.

Corrections

Spot something wrong or out of date? Email hello@nationalparksalmanac.com. Corrections from rangers, guides and locals are especially welcome.

Use the data

The ratings are available as open data and as embeddable charts, free with attribution.