Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit Crater Lake National Park
National ParkOregon
Best month to visit
September
63°F / 37°F avg high / low
Our recommendation
Visit Crater Lake in September
September offers the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months. For comparison, July is the most crowded month (~3.4× the average month) and January is the quietest.
- Annual visits
- 632K
- 2025
- Busiest month
- Jul
- 3.4× avg
- Quietest month
- Jan
- 0.1× avg
- 10-yr trend
- falling
- -19.4%
More photos of Crater Lake
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is Crater Lake 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
Crater Lake National Park weather by month →
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 2 Poor | 33°F / 20°F | 9.2 h |
| February | Very quiet | 4 Poor | 34°F / 19°F | 10.3 h |
| March | Very quiet | 7 Poor | 36°F / 20°F | 11.6 h |
| April | Very quiet | 49 Fair | 40°F / 23°F | 13.2 h |
| May | Quiet | 47 Fair | 49°F / 29°F | 14.5 h |
| June | Very busy | 45 Fair | 57°F / 34°F | 15.2 h |
| July | Very busy | 42 Poor | 69°F / 41°F | 14.9 h |
| August | Very busy | 48 Fair | 69°F / 42°F | 13.8 h |
| Septemberour pick | Very busy | 49 Fair | 63°F / 37°F | 12.3 h |
| October | Quiet | 38 Poor | 51°F / 30°F | 10.8 h |
| November | Very quiet | 43 Poor | 38°F / 23°F | 9.5 h |
| December | Very quiet | 2 Poor | 33°F / 19°F | 8.8 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00351946, ~3 mi away).
Email me when Crater Lake's crowd forecast updates
Get an email when new NPS visitation data changes the best time to visit Crater Lake or its month-by-month crowd levels. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
About visiting Crater Lake
Crater Lake National Park is a National Park in OR and a moderately visited park, drawing about 632,000 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has eased over the past decade, down about 19.4%. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: July is the busiest month at about 3.4× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.1× — a 34-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 65% 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 55°F in August down to about 26°F in December, with the wettest stretch in December and meaningful snowfall around December. About 3 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: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months. Visit then and you trade a little peak-season certainty for noticeably shorter lines and easier parking than the July rush. Daylight ranges from about 8.8 hours in midwinter to 15.2 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. A standard private-vehicle entrance pass runs about $30, valid for several days, so a shoulder-season trip stretches that fee across quieter, more comfortable days. 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
Crater Lake inspires awe. Native Americans witnessed its formation 7,700 years ago, when a violent eruption triggered the collapse of a tall peak. Scientists marvel at its purity—fed by rain and snow, it’s the deepest lake in the USA and one of the most pristine on Earth. Artists, photographers, and sightseers gaze in wonder at its blue water and stunning setting atop the Cascade Mountain Range.
Weather & conditions
July, August, and September are your best bets for warm, dry weather. In May, June, and October, sunny days alternate with periods of rain and snow. Winters at Crater Lake are long and snowy. Storms from the Pacific Ocean dump an annual average of 41 feet (13.5 meters) of snow at park headquarters. When it's raining or snowing, the lake is usually hidden by clouds. Crater Lake is completely invisible about 50% of the time in the winter!
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Crater Lake
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Crater Lake National Park — 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 Crater Lake
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 Crater Lake?
Get the best time to visit Crater Lake plus lodging deals near the park by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Getting there — nearest airports
Updated October 2026The closest airport to Crater Lake National Park is Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR), about 82 mi (2 hr 7 min drive) away.
| Airport | Distance | Drive time | Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR)Best for flights | 82 mi | 2 hr 7 min | Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta, Silk Avia, United Airlines |
| Roberts Field Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) | 117 mi | 2 hr 40 min | Alaska Airlines, Delta, Silk Avia, United Airlines |
| Eugene Airport (EUG) | 147 mi | 3 hr 31 min | Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta, Silk Avia, United Airlines |
| Portland International Airport (PDX) | 254 mi | 5 hr 38 min | Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Copa Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines |
| Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) | 338 mi | 7 hr 2 min | Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Silk Avia, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines |
Which airport should you choose?
- Shortest drive: Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR) — about 2 hr 7 min from the park.
Entrance fees
A standard private-vehicle entrance pass is about $30, typically valid for several days.
What takes a reservation at Crater Lake
From National Park Service records read on October 11, 2026. Timed-entry and permit rules change from season to season; the official Crater Lake page has this year's.
Campgrounds with reservable sites
- Mazama Campground: 214 reservable sites
Frequently Asked Questions
September offers the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months at Crater Lake National Park. The park is busiest in July (about 3.4× the average month) and quietest in January.
July is the busiest month at Crater Lake National Park, running roughly 3.4 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Crater Lake National Park, at about 0.1× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Crater Lake National Park recorded about 632,242 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been falling over the past decade (-19.4%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Crater Lake National Park averages about 55°F (August). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR) is the closest airport to Crater Lake National Park, about 82 mi (2 hr 7 min drive) away.
There is no airport inside Crater Lake National Park. Fly into Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR) and drive the rest of the way — about 2 hr 7 min.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Crater Lake
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.
- Fourmile Lake water qualityGrade A · 34 mi · OR
- Crescent Lake water qualityGrade A · 38 mi · OR
- Crescent Lake water qualityGrade A · 38 mi · OR
- Lake of the Woods water qualityGrade A · 39 mi · OR
- Crescent Lake water qualityGrade A · 40 mi · OR
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.