How Crowded Is Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve in December?

December runs about 0.1× Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 1% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees roughly 3,100 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes December the 11th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (2.3×) and the January low (0.1×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 41/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated August at 60/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.

Typical December weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 27°F and an overnight low around 14°F, with about 2" of precipitation.

That average of about 20°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 53% 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 8.8 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 260,418 recreation visits, down 17.1% from 314,118 in 2024.