How Crowded Is Camp Nelson National Monument in December?

December runs about 0.7× Camp Nelson National Monument's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 6% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees roughly 1,300 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 2021 to 2025.

That makes December the 10th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.4×) and the January low (0.4×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 35/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated April at 52/100 — 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 45°F and an overnight low around 29°F, with about 3.6" of precipitation.

That average of about 37°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter.

Because June, July and August together draw about 32% 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 9.4 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 20,763 recreation visits, down 40.2% from 34,716 in 2024.