Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site
National Historic SiteDistrict of Columbia
Best month to visit
September
82°F / 62°F avg high / low
Our recommendation
Visit Carter G. Woodson Home in September
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, February is the most crowded month (~2.4× the average month) and January is the quietest.
- Annual visits
- 2K
- 2018
- Busiest month
- Feb
- 2.4× avg
- Quietest month
- Jan
- 0.4× avg
- 10-yr trend
- steady
- —
More photos of Carter G. Woodson Home
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is Carter G. Woodson Home by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 2017–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site weather by month →
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 43 Poor | 45°F / 28°F | 9.6 h |
| February | Very busy | 8 Poor | 48°F / 30°F | 10.5 h |
| March | Busy | 38 Poor | 56°F / 37°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Average | 65 Good | 68°F / 46°F | 13.0 h |
| May | Quiet | 82 Excellent | 77°F / 57°F | 14.1 h |
| June | Very busy | 45 Fair | 85°F / 66°F | 14.7 h |
| July | Busy | 49 Fair | 90°F / 71°F | 14.5 h |
| August | Quiet | 66 Good | 88°F / 69°F | 13.5 h |
| Septemberour pick | Quiet | 78 Excellent | 82°F / 62°F | 12.2 h |
| October | Quiet | 70 Good | 70°F / 49°F | 11.0 h |
| November | Very quiet | 60 Good | 58°F / 39°F | 9.8 h |
| December | Very quiet | 48 Fair | 49°F / 32°F | 9.3 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00186350, ~2.9 mi away).
Email me when Carter G. Woodson Home's crowd forecast updates
Get an email when new NPS visitation data changes the best time to visit Carter G. Woodson Home or its month-by-month crowd levels. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
About visiting Carter G. Woodson Home
Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in DC and one of the system's hidden, low-traffic units, drawing about 2,000 recreation visits in 2018. Visitation has held fairly steady over the past decade. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: February is the busiest month at about 2.4× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.4× — 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 80°F in July down to about 36°F in January, with the wettest stretch in June. About 6 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 February rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.3 hours in midwinter to 14.7 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 2017–2025 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
Before Dr. Carter G. Woodson, there was very little accurate written history about the lives and experiences of Americans of African descent. Today a National Historic Site, Dr. Woodson’s home served as the headquarters for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Dr. Woodson established Negro History Week here in 1926, which we celebrate today as Black History Month.
Weather & conditions
Winter: Temperatures usually range from 30 to 50 F. There is occasional snow. Spring: Temperatures usually range widely from 40 to 70 F. Rain is common. Summer: Temperatures usually range from 70 to 90 F. Humidity is usually high. Be prepared and drink plenty of water. There is a water fountain in the visitor center. Fall: Temperatures usually range widely from 40 to 70 F. Humidity can remain high in the earlier part of the season.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Carter G. Woodson Home
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site — live availability and prices to plan your trip. September is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather. Full lodging guide: when to book, gateway vs in-park, and the crowd calendar that drives room rates.
Top-rated places to stay near Carter G. Woodson Home
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Carter G. Woodson Home?
Get the best time to visit Carter G. Woodson Home plus lodging deals near the park by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Getting to Carter G. Woodson Home
The nearest airport is Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), about 6 mi (12 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Carter G. Woodson Home by car.
What takes a reservation at Carter G. Woodson Home
From National Park Service records read on October 11, 2026. Timed-entry and permit rules change from season to season; the official Carter G. Woodson Home page has this year's.
Activities the park marks as needing a reservation
Frequently Asked Questions
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site. The park is busiest in February (about 2.4× the average month) and quietest in January.
February is the busiest month at Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, running roughly 2.4 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, at about 0.4× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site recorded about 1,954 recreation visits in 2018. Visitation has been steady over the past decade.
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site averages about 80°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) is the closest airport to Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, about 6 mi (12 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
0 mi away · best in April
1 mi away · best in September
1 mi away · best in September
1 mi away · best in September
1 mi away · best in September
2 mi away · best in September
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Carter G. Woodson Home
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.
- Beaverdam Creek Reservior Lake water qualityGrade A · 28 mi · VA
- Goose Creek Reservoir water qualityGrade A · 29 mi · VA
- Beaverdam Creek Reservoir water qualityGrade A · 29 mi · VA
- Smith Lake water qualityGrade A · 36 mi · VA
- Burke Lake water qualityGrade C · 18 mi · VA
Beach water quality near Carter G. Woodson Home
Beaches within a 40-mile drive, graded on multi-year bacteria sampling from EPA BEACON — worth checking before you plan a swim day.
- Bay Ridge At Bay Dr. water qualityGrade A · 30 mi · MD
- Highland Beach water qualityGrade A · 30 mi · MD
- Bay Ridge At River Dr. water qualityGrade A · 31 mi · MD
- Chesapeake Station water qualityGrade A · 31 mi · MD
- Mountain Point At Gibson Island water qualityGrade A · 33 mi · MD
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (2017–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.