Death Valley National Park in December
December at Death Valley National Park averages a daytime high near 63°F and an overnight low around 41°F, with about 0.1" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1× the park's average month, which makes December an average month here.
- Average low
- 41°F
- Average high
- 63°F
Range across the year: 41°F to 115°F
- Precipitation
- 0.1 in
- Daylight
- 9.5 hours
Roughly 8% of the park's yearly visitors come in December: about 107,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes December the 8th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the March peak (1.4×) and the June low (0.7×).
On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 54/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is January: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 52°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 7.9 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 22% 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 9.5 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 1,320,134 recreation visits, down 8.4% from 1,440,484 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 18.3%, 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 | 74°F / 51°F | 1.0× Average | 65 Good |
| December | 63°F / 41°F | 1.0× Average | 54 Fair |
| January | 65°F / 42°F | 0.8× Quiet | 66 Good |
All twelve months at Death Valley, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Death Valley in December
The National Park Service tags 11 Death Valley activities for winter. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
December averages a daytime high near 63°F and an overnight low around 41°F at Death Valley National Park, with about 0.1 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 7.9 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
December is average at Death Valley National Park (about 1.0× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 54/100. Our recommended month is January.
The busiest month is March and the quietest is June. December sits at about 1.0× the park's average, or 8% of annual visitation.
A typical December sees about 107,000 recreation visits at Death Valley National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Death Valley in December
Booking a December trip to Death Valley National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live December availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Death Valley
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.
Visiting Death Valley in December?
Get crowd forecasts and lodging deals for Death Valley by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.