How Crowded Is Big Cypress National Preserve in December?

December runs about 1.3× Big Cypress National Preserve's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 11% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees about 176,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1989 to 2025.

That makes December the 4th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the February peak (1.6×) and the September low (0.6×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 60/100 ("Good"), versus the top-rated November at 67/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

Typical December weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 80°F and an overnight low around 59°F, with about 1.6" of precipitation.

That average of about 70°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 17% of annual visitors, choosing December instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.

You'll have about 10.4 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 2,262,731 recreation visits, up 2.1% from 2,216,708 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 135.4%, so a December visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.