Colonial National Historical Park in December
December at Colonial National Historical Park averages a daytime high near 53°F and an overnight low around 34°F, with about 3.8" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 0.6× the park's average month, which makes December a quiet month here.
- Average low
- 34°F
- Average high
- 53°F
Range across the year: 31°F to 89°F
- Precipitation
- 3.8 in
- Daylight
- 9.4 hours
Roughly 5% of the park's yearly visitors come in December: about 156,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes December the 10th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.3×) and the February low (0.4×).
On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 44/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is September: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 43°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 6.9 miles from the park.
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 1,582,994 recreation visits, down 38% from 2,551,228 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 21.8%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
How December compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 61°F / 41°F | 0.7× Quiet | 52 Fair |
| December | 53°F / 34°F | 0.6× Quiet | 44 Poor |
| January | 49°F / 31°F | 0.5× Quiet | 43 Poor |
All twelve months at Colonial, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Colonial in December
The National Park Service tags 8 Colonial activities for winter. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Birding
- Colonial Parkway · 60-110 minutes
- Drive the Red Route of the Yorktown Battlefield Auto Tour · 30-120 minutes
- Drive the Yellow Route of the Yorktown Battlefield Auto Tour · 30-120 minutes
- Glasshouse · 45-120 minutes
- Glasshouse Ruins · 30-45 minutes
- Island Loop Drive · 30-45 minutes
- Walk Main Street in Yorktown · 30-120 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
December averages a daytime high near 53°F and an overnight low around 34°F at Colonial National Historical Park, with about 3.8 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 6.9 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
December is quiet at Colonial National Historical Park (about 0.6× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 44/100. Our recommended month is September.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is February. December sits at about 0.6× the park's average, or 5% of annual visitation.
A typical December sees about 156,000 recreation visits at Colonial National Historical Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Colonial in December
Booking a December trip to Colonial National Historical Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live December availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Colonial
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in December.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.