# National Parks Almanac > The right national park for the right month. Month-by-month ratings (prime / good / fair / poor) and crowd levels for all 63 U.S. national parks, with free trip-planning tools. Ratings are editorial and reviewed regularly; last reviewed October 4, 2026. Rating scale: 3 = prime, 2 = good, 1 = fair/limited, 0 = poor or largely closed. Crowd scale: 3 = peak, 2 = busy, 1 = moderate, 0 = quiet. Data: https://nationalparksalmanac.com/data/parks.json (CC BY 4.0, please cite "National Parks Almanac" with a link). ## Best time to visit each park - [Best time to visit Crater Lake National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/crater-lake/): July–September - [Best time to visit Mount Rainier National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/mount-rainier/): July–September - [Best time to visit North Cascades National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/north-cascades/): July–September - [Best time to visit Olympic National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/olympic/): July–September - [Best time to visit Death Valley National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/death-valley/): November–March - [Best time to visit Joshua Tree National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/joshua-tree/): February–April and October–November - [Best time to visit Channel Islands National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/channel-islands/): July–September - [Best time to visit Pinnacles National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/pinnacles/): February–April - [Best time to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/lassen-volcanic/): July–September - [Best time to visit Redwood National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/redwood/): May–October - [Best time to visit Kings Canyon National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/kings-canyon/): July–September - [Best time to visit Sequoia National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/sequoia/): July–September - [Best time to visit Yosemite National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/yosemite/): May–June and September–October - [Best time to visit Arches National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/arches/): April–May and October - [Best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/bryce-canyon/): May–June and September–October - [Best time to visit Canyonlands National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/canyonlands/): April–May and October - [Best time to visit Capitol Reef National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/capitol-reef/): April–May and September–October - [Best time to visit Zion National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/zion/): April and October–November - [Best time to visit Grand Canyon National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/grand-canyon/): April–May and October - [Best time to visit Petrified Forest National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/petrified-forest/): April–May and October - [Best time to visit Saguaro National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/saguaro/): November–April - [Best time to visit Big Bend National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/big-bend/): October–April - [Best time to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/carlsbad-caverns/): May–October - [Best time to visit Guadalupe Mountains National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/guadalupe-mountains/): April–May and October - [Best time to visit White Sands National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/white-sands/): March–April and October–November - [Best time to visit Great Basin National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/great-basin/): July–September - [Best time to visit Mesa Verde National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/mesa-verde/): May–June and September–October - [Best time to visit Glacier National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/glacier/): July–September - [Best time to visit Grand Teton National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/grand-teton/): June and September - [Best time to visit Yellowstone National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/yellowstone/): June and September - [Best time to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/black-canyon-of-the-gunnison/): May–September - [Best time to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/great-sand-dunes/): May–June and September - [Best time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/rocky-mountain/): July–September - [Best time to visit Badlands National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/badlands/): May–June and September–October - [Best time to visit Wind Cave National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/wind-cave/): May–June and September–October - [Best time to visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/theodore-roosevelt/): June–September - [Best time to visit Acadia National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/acadia/): June and September–October - [Best time to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/cuyahoga-valley/): May–June and September–October - [Best time to visit Indiana Dunes National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/indiana-dunes/): July–September - [Best time to visit Isle Royale National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/isle-royale/): July–September - [Best time to visit Voyageurs National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/voyageurs/): July–September - [Best time to visit Biscayne National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/biscayne/): December–April - [Best time to visit Dry Tortugas National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/dry-tortugas/): March–May - [Best time to visit Everglades National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/everglades/): December–March - [Best time to visit Congaree National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/congaree/): March–May and October–November - [Best time to visit Gateway Arch National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/gateway-arch/): March–May and September–November - [Best time to visit Hot Springs National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/hot-springs/): March–May and October–November - [Best time to visit Mammoth Cave National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/mammoth-cave/): March–May and October–November - [Best time to visit New River Gorge National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/new-river-gorge/): May–October - [Best time to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/great-smoky-mountains/): April–June and September–October - [Best time to visit Shenandoah National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/shenandoah/): May–June and October - [Best time to visit Denali National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/denali/): June–August - [Best time to visit Gates of the Arctic National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/gates-of-the-arctic/): July–August - [Best time to visit Glacier Bay National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/glacier-bay/): June–August - [Best time to visit Katmai National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/katmai/): July and September - [Best time to visit Kenai Fjords National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/kenai-fjords/): June–August - [Best time to visit Kobuk Valley National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/kobuk-valley/): August–September - [Best time to visit Lake Clark National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/lake-clark/): June–August - [Best time to visit Wrangell–St. Elias National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/wrangell-st-elias/): June–August - [Best time to visit National Park of American Samoa](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/american-samoa/): June–September - [Best time to visit Haleakalā National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/haleakala/): January–May and September–November - [Best time to visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/hawaii-volcanoes/): January–May and September–November - [Best time to visit Virgin Islands National Park](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-time-to-visit/virgin-islands/): December–May ## Best national parks by month - [Best national parks to visit in January](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-national-parks-to-visit-in-january/) - [Best national parks to visit in February](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-national-parks-to-visit-in-february/) - [Best national parks to visit in March](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-national-parks-to-visit-in-march/) - [Best national parks to visit in April](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-national-parks-to-visit-in-april/) - [Best national parks to visit in May](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-national-parks-to-visit-in-may/) - [Best national parks to visit in June](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-national-parks-to-visit-in-june/) - [Best national parks to visit in July](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-national-parks-to-visit-in-july/) - [Best national parks to visit in August](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-national-parks-to-visit-in-august/) - [Best national parks to visit in September](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-national-parks-to-visit-in-september/) - [Best national parks to visit in October](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-national-parks-to-visit-in-october/) - [Best national parks to visit in November](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-national-parks-to-visit-in-november/) - [Best national parks to visit in December](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-national-parks-to-visit-in-december/) ## By season - [Best national parks to visit in winter](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-national-parks-to-visit-in-winter/) - [Best national parks to visit in spring](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-national-parks-to-visit-in-spring/) - [Best national parks to visit in summer](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-national-parks-to-visit-in-summer/) - [Best national parks to visit in fall](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/best-national-parks-to-visit-in-fall/) ## Guides - [Warm National Parks to Visit in Winter](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/guides/warm-national-parks-in-winter/): National parks with mild weather from December to February: desert and tropical parks ranked by winter rating. - [Best National Parks for Fall Color](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/guides/best-national-parks-for-fall-color/): When and where to see fall foliage in U.S. national parks, from golden larches to Appalachian maples. - [Least Crowded National Parks](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/guides/least-crowded-national-parks/): Uncrowded U.S. national parks with the fewest visitors, and the best months to see them. - [Best National Parks for Wildlife](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/guides/best-national-parks-for-wildlife/): The best national parks for seeing bears, wolves, bison, whales and more, and when to go for each. - [Best National Parks for Stargazing](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/guides/best-national-parks-for-stargazing/): Dark-sky national parks for stargazing and the Milky Way, with the best months to visit. - [Best National Parks for Families](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/guides/best-national-parks-for-families/): Kid-friendly national parks with short trails, easy logistics and big wow factor. - [National Parks with Beaches](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/guides/national-parks-with-beaches/): U.S. national parks with beaches for swimming, snorkeling and tide pools, and when the water is best. - [National Parks with Caves](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/guides/national-parks-with-caves/): Cave tours in U.S. national parks, comfortable in any season since caves stay cool year-round. - [National Parks with Volcanoes](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/guides/national-parks-with-volcanoes/): Active and ancient volcanoes in U.S. national parks, from Hawaiʻi to Alaska. - [Best National Parks for Hiking](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/guides/best-national-parks-for-hiking/): The best national parks for hiking, with the months when trails are clear and conditions are ideal. - [The Most Remote National Parks](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/guides/remote-national-parks/): Fly-in, boat-in and hard-to-reach national parks, and the short windows when you can visit. - [National Parks with the Best Scenic Drives](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/guides/national-parks-with-scenic-drives/): Iconic scenic drives in the national parks, with the months each road is usually open. - [National Parks to Visit in the Snow](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/guides/national-parks-in-the-snow/): Winter wonderland national parks for snowshoeing, skiing and snowy scenery. - [Summer National Parks Without the Crowds](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/guides/national-parks-without-crowds-in-summer/): National parks that are great in summer but don't get overwhelmed with visitors. ## Road trips - [Utah's Mighty 5](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/road-trips/utah-mighty-5/): All five of Utah's national parks in one loop of red rock, slot canyons and hoodoos. It's the most popular national park road trip in America for good reason. - [Yellowstone & Grand Teton](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/road-trips/yellowstone-grand-teton/): Geysers, bison, wolves and the jagged Tetons. Two of the most famous parks in the country sit just 10 miles apart. - [Grand Canyon, Zion & Bryce](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/road-trips/grand-canyon-zion-bryce/): The classic Southwest loop from Las Vegas: the Grand Canyon's South Rim, Zion's narrow canyon and Bryce's hoodoos. - [Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/road-trips/california-sierra/): Granite walls, giant waterfalls and the largest trees on Earth along the Sierra Nevada. - [Pacific Northwest Loop](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/road-trips/pacific-northwest-loop/): Rainforest, wild coast, a glaciated volcano and the 'American Alps', all within a few hours of Seattle. - [Colorado's National Parks](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/road-trips/colorado-parks/): Alpine tundra, North America's tallest dunes, a sheer black canyon and ancient cliff dwellings. - [West Texas & New Mexico](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/road-trips/west-texas-new-mexico/): White gypsum dunes, a giant cave, the top of Texas and the dark-sky wilderness of Big Bend. - [South Florida Parks](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/road-trips/south-florida/): Three national parks in the subtropics: coral reefs, the river of grass and a remote island fort. - [Appalachian Fall Color](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/road-trips/appalachian-fall-color/): Three mountain parks along the Appalachians, timed for October color. - [Black Hills, Badlands & Roosevelt](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/road-trips/black-hills-badlands/): Badlands spires, a cave under bison prairie and wild horses in North Dakota. - [Redwoods to Crater Lake](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/road-trips/northern-california-oregon/): Volcanoes, the tallest trees on Earth and America's deepest lake. - [Alaska by Road](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/road-trips/alaska-road-trip/): Glaciers, whales and grizzlies on the three Alaska parks you can reach by road. - [Desert Winter Escape](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/road-trips/desert-winter-escape/): Three desert parks at their best in the cold months: below sea level, boulders and giant cacti. - [Hawaiʻi's Volcano Parks](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/road-trips/hawaii-volcanoes-trip/): Sunrise above the clouds on Maui and active lava on the Big Island. You'll need a short inter-island flight. ## Tools - [Trip planner](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/planner/): build a day-by-day itinerary with season warnings; export to PDF, calendar, Google Maps or a share link - [Park finder](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/park-finder/): ranks parks by month, region, interests and crowd tolerance - [Packing list](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/packing-list/): checklist by park terrain and month - [Season calendar](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/national-parks-calendar/): all 63 parks × 12 months on one chart - [Season alerts](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/season-alerts/): calendar subscriptions that remind you before a park's best season ## Optional - [About and methodology](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/about/) - [Full text for language models](https://nationalparksalmanac.com/llms-full.txt)