Best Time to Visit Amistad National Recreation Area
FebruaryBest month to visit
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Visit Amistad in February
February offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, May is the most crowded month (~1.3× the average month) and January is the quietest.
Annual visits
734K
2025
Busiest month
May
1.3× avg
Quietest month
Jan
0.7× avg
10-yr trend
falling
-28.8%
More photos of Amistad
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is Amistad by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 1979–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Quiet | 69 Good | 63°F / 40°F | 10.3 h |
| February★ best | Quiet | 70 Good | 68°F / 43°F | 11.0 h |
| March | Average | 58 Fair | 76°F / 51°F | 11.8 h |
| April | Busy | 56 Fair | 83°F / 58°F | 12.7 h |
| May | Busy | 41 Poor | 89°F / 66°F | 13.5 h |
| June | Busy | 40 Poor | 95°F / 72°F | 13.9 h |
| July | Busy | 43 Poor | 97°F / 74°F | 13.7 h |
| August | Average | 49 Fair | 97°F / 74°F | 13.1 h |
| September | Average | 55 Fair | 90°F / 69°F | 12.2 h |
| October | Average | 66 Good | 82°F / 60°F | 11.3 h |
| November | Quiet | 70 Good | 71°F / 49°F | 10.5 h |
| December | Quiet | 65 Good | 63°F / 41°F | 10.1 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00410225, ~5.9 mi away).
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About visiting Amistad
Amistad National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area in TX and a moderately visited park, drawing about 734,000 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has eased over the past decade, down about 28.8%. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: May is the busiest month at about 1.3× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.7× — a 2-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 29% 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 86°F in August down to about 51°F in January, with the wettest stretch in September. About 9 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 February: 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 May rush. Daylight ranges from about 10.1 hours in midwinter to 13.9 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 1979–2025 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
An oasis in the desert, Amistad National Recreation Area consists of the US portion of the International Amistad Reservoir. Amistad, a Spanish word meaning "friendship," is known for excellent water-based recreation, camping, hiking, and rich cultural history dating back nearly 5,000 years. Amistad is also home to a wide variety of plant and animal life both above and below the water.
Weather & conditions
Weather in Southwest Texas can change in a matter of minutes. It is best to check the local weather report. Amistad National Recreation Area usually has hot summers and mild winters. For more information, please visit the park's Current Conditions page at https://www.nps.gov/amis/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Amistad
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Amistad National Recreation Area — live availability and prices to plan your trip. February is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather.
Top-rated places to stay near Amistad
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Getting there — nearest airports
Updated July 2026The closest airport to Amistad National Recreation Area is Del Rio International Airport (DRT), about 21 mi (33 min drive) away. For the most flight options, most visitors fly into San Antonio International Airport (SAT), about 3 hr 24 min away.
| Airport | Distance | Drive time | Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Del Rio International Airport (DRT)Closest | 21 mi | 33 min | United Airlines |
| San Antonio International Airport (SAT)Best for flights | 175 mi | 3 hr 24 min | Aeromexico, Air France, Air Montenegro, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Copa Airlines |
| Midland International Airport (MAF) | 227 mi | 4 hr 59 min | American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines |
| Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | 251 mi | 4 hr 48 min | Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Copa Airlines, Delta, Fiji Airways, Fly Lili |
| McAllen International Airport (MFE) | 342 mi | 6 hr 30 min | Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Copa Airlines, Gulf Air, United Airlines |
Which airport should you choose?
- Shortest drive: Del Rio International Airport (DRT) — about 33 min from the park.
- Most flights / best value: San Antonio International Airport (SAT) — the largest hub near Amistad, about 3 hr 24 min away.
Frequently Asked Questions
February offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at Amistad National Recreation Area. The park is busiest in May (about 1.3× the average month) and quietest in January.
May is the busiest month at Amistad National Recreation Area, running roughly 1.3 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Amistad National Recreation Area, at about 0.7× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Amistad National Recreation Area recorded about 734,293 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been falling over the past decade (-28.8%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Amistad National Recreation Area averages about 86°F (August). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Del Rio International Airport (DRT) is the closest airport to Amistad National Recreation Area, about 21 mi (33 min drive) away.
San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is the nearest major airport, about 175 mi (3 hr 24 min drive) away, with the most flight options of any airport near Amistad.
There is no airport inside Amistad National Recreation Area. Fly into San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and drive the rest of the way — about 3 hr 24 min.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Amistad
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.
- Amistad Reservoir water qualityGrade — · 5 mi · TX
- Amistad Reserv Devils R Arm Lake water qualityGrade — · 8 mi · TX
- Amistad Reserv Rio Grande Arm Lake water qualityGrade — · 12 mi · TX
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.