How Crowded Is Cumberland Island National Seashore in December?

December runs about 0.7× Cumberland Island National Seashore'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 3,600 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes December the 9th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the March peak (1.6×) and the January low (0.6×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 68/100 ("Good"), versus the top-rated October at 76/100 — 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 65°F and an overnight low around 46°F, with about 3.1" of precipitation.

That average of about 55°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 26% 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 10 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 60,299 recreation visits, down 6.8% from 64,706 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 18.4%, so a December visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.