Zion
The best season.
12 prime · 17 good · November
Best National Parks to Visit in November
November is a quiet, underrated month. The desert parks of California, Arizona, Utah and Texas are comfortable again, Zion's fall color peaks early in the month, and crowds are thin everywhere except over Thanksgiving.
Top picks for November: Zion, Haleakalā, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, Joshua Tree, Gateway Arch. Thanksgiving week is busy in Joshua Tree, Death Valley and Zion. Every other week is calm.
Prime in November (12)
Haleakalā
Shoulder season and the best value.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
Shoulder season, with good weather and fewer crowds.
Joshua Tree
October and November are ideal, with warm days, cool nights and good climbing conditions.
Gateway Arch
Comfortable riverfront weather and easier tram tickets.
Hot Springs
Pleasant hiking and fall color in the Ouachita Mountains.
Death Valley
Heat breaks in late October.
White Sands
Excellent.
Big Bend
Heat breaks in October, and the fall season through December is excellent.
Mammoth Cave
Fall color on the surface and easier tour bookings.
Saguaro
Heat lingers into October.
Congaree
Comfortable again by October.
Season opens in November
Death Valley Opens
Saguaro Opens
Last chance in November
Joshua Tree Last call
Zion Last call
White Sands Last call
Congaree Last call
Gateway Arch Last call
Hot Springs Last call
Mammoth Cave Last call
Haleakalā Last call
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes Last call
Also good in November (17)
Carlsbad Caverns
Bat flights continue into October before the colony migrates to Mexico.
Petrified Forest
Calm and pleasant, the best time for the longer hikes into the wilderness area.
Redwood
Often the clearest weather on the coast.
Wind Cave
Elk bugling and golden prairie.
Arches
Arguably the best season: warm, golden and steady.
Biscayne
Peak hurricane season in September and October.
Canyonlands
Superb.
Capitol Reef
Apples and pears are ripe in the orchards, cottonwoods turn gold and the weather is ideal.
Dry Tortugas
Hurricane season peaks in September.
Everglades
Hurricane season.
Grand Canyon
Arguably the best time.
New River Gorge
Spectacular color in mid-October.
Pinnacles
Cooler days return in October, and condors are often seen riding thermals over the High Peaks.
Shenandoah
Peak color in mid-to-late October.
Virgin Islands
Peak hurricane risk in September and October.
Great Smoky Mountains
Famous color, usually peaking in mid-to-late October at lower elevations.
Guadalupe Mountains
The best season.
November by region
| Region | Good or prime in November |
|---|---|
| Pacific Northwest | Nothing rated good |
| California | Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Redwood, Pinnacles |
| Southwest | Saguaro, White Sands, Big Bend, Zion, Carlsbad Caverns, Petrified Forest, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Grand Canyon, Guadalupe Mountains |
| Rocky Mountains & Plains | Wind Cave |
| Great Lakes & Northeast | Nothing rated good |
| Southeast | Mammoth Cave, Congaree, Gateway Arch, Hot Springs, Biscayne, Dry Tortugas, Everglades, New River Gorge, Shenandoah, Great Smoky Mountains |
| Alaska | Nothing rated good |
| Hawaiʻi & Islands | Haleakalā, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, Virgin Islands |
Skip these in November
North Cascades, Glacier, Isle Royale, Voyageurs, Denali, Gates of the Arctic, Glacier Bay, Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Kobuk Valley, Lake Clark, Wrangell–St. Elias. These parks are largely closed, snowbound or dangerously hot in November.
November questions
What are the best national parks to visit in November?
The top-rated national parks for November are Zion National Park, Haleakalā National Park, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Gateway Arch National Park. In total, 12 parks are rated prime and 17 more are rated good this month.
Which national parks are least crowded in November?
Haleakalā, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, Gateway Arch, White Sands, Mammoth Cave, Saguaro are at their best in November without big crowds.
Which national parks should I avoid in November?
North Cascades, Glacier, Isle Royale, Voyageurs, Denali, Gates of the Arctic, Glacier Bay, Katmai are rated poor in November, usually because of closures, snow or extreme heat.
Is November a good time to visit national parks?
November is a quiet, underrated month. Thanksgiving week is busy in Joshua Tree, Death Valley and Zion. Every other week is calm.
← OctoberDecember →All of fall
Last reviewed October 4, 2026. Ratings are editorial. Rules and road openings change each year, so confirm on the official NPS site before you go.