Best Time to Visit African Burial Ground National Monument
SeptemberBest month to visit
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Visit African Burial Ground in September
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, October is the most crowded month (~1.6× the average month) and January is the quietest.
Annual visits
36K
2024
Busiest month
Oct
1.6× avg
Quietest month
Jan
0.3× avg
10-yr trend
falling
-33.7%
More photos of African Burial Ground
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is African Burial Ground by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 2010–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 43 Poor | 40°F / 28°F | 9.4 h |
| February | Quiet | 35 Poor | 42°F / 30°F | 10.4 h |
| March | Quiet | 38 Poor | 50°F / 36°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Busy | 46 Fair | 62°F / 46°F | 13.1 h |
| May | Busy | 51 Fair | 71°F / 55°F | 14.3 h |
| June | Busy | 54 Fair | 80°F / 64°F | 14.9 h |
| July | Busy | 42 Poor | 85°F / 70°F | 14.6 h |
| August | Average | 54 Fair | 83°F / 69°F | 13.6 h |
| September★ best | Average | 66 Good | 76°F / 62°F | 12.3 h |
| October | Busy | 33 Poor | 65°F / 51°F | 10.9 h |
| November | Quiet | 48 Fair | 54°F / 42°F | 9.7 h |
| December | Quiet | 32 Poor | 44°F / 34°F | 9.1 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USW00094728, ~4.8 mi away).
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About visiting African Burial Ground
African Burial Ground National Monument is a National Monument in NY and one of the system's hidden, low-traffic units, drawing about 36,000 recreation visits in 2024. Visitation has eased over the past decade, down about 33.7%. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: October is the busiest month at about 1.6× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.3× — a 6-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 34% of the year's visitors arrive in the three summer months of June, July and August alone, so timing a trip outside that window is the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels. Weather swings from an average high-season warmth near 78°F in July down to about 34°F in January, with the wettest stretch in July and meaningful snowfall around February. About 7 months a year see comfortable average temperatures in the 50–80°F range, which is part of why crowd timing and weather timing don't always line up. The sweet spot is September: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). Visit then and you trade a little peak-season certainty for noticeably shorter lines and easier parking than the October rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.1 hours in midwinter to 14.9 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 2010–2025 of National Park Service visitor-use records, paired with 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals, and are updated as new monthly data is released.
Park overview
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of African communities whose labor, resilience, and cultural contributions were fundamental in shaping the development of New York.
Weather & conditions
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=New+York&state=NY&site=OKX&lat=40.7198&lon=-73.993#.Vqj8OvkrJlZ
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near African Burial Ground
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near African Burial Ground National Monument — live availability and prices to plan your trip. September is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather.
Top-rated places to stay near African Burial Ground
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Getting to African Burial Ground
The nearest airport is LaGuardia Airport (LGA), about 12 mi (25 min drive) away. Most visitors reach African Burial Ground by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at African Burial Ground National Monument. The park is busiest in October (about 1.6× the average month) and quietest in January.
October is the busiest month at African Burial Ground National Monument, running roughly 1.6 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at African Burial Ground National Monument, at about 0.3× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
African Burial Ground National Monument recorded about 36,007 recreation visits in 2024. Visitation has been falling over the past decade (-33.7%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at African Burial Ground National Monument averages about 78°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is the closest airport to African Burial Ground National Monument, about 12 mi (25 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near African Burial Ground
If you are planning to swim, paddle or fish on this trip, these graded lakes are within a 40-mile drive. Grades are A–F from EPA and state-agency sampling.
- Oakland Lake water qualityGrade — · 13 mi · NY
- Lake Lucille water qualityGrade — · 32 mi · NY
- Greenwood Lake water qualityGrade — · 37 mi · NY
- Tomkins Lake water qualityGrade — · 39 mi · NY
Beach water quality near African Burial Ground
Beaches within a 40-mile drive, graded on multi-year bacteria sampling from EPA BEACON — worth checking before you plan a swim day.
- Coney Island Beach - Brighton 6th - Ocean Parkway water qualityGrade A · 10 mi · NY
- Coney Island - W. 8th St. To Pier water qualityGrade A · 10 mi · NY
- Locust Point Yacht Club water qualityGrade A · 13 mi · NY
- Silver Point Beach Club water qualityGrade A · 16 mi · NY
- Eldorado Beach water qualityGrade A · 16 mi · NY
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (2010–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.