How Crowded Is Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in December?
December runs about 0.6× Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 5% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.
In a typical December the park sees about 185,000 recreation visits, 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 (1.7×) and the January low (0.5×).
On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 74/100 ("Good"), versus the top-rated March at 82/100 — the best overall balance of crowds and daylight.
Because June, July and August together draw about 38% 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 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 3,986,709 recreation visits, down 2.3% from 4,079,763 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 18.1%, so a December visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
December is quiet at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (about 0.6× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good". The single best month overall is March.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. December sits at about 0.6× the park's average, or 5% of annual visitation.
A typical December sees about 185,000 recreation visits at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Delaware Water Gap in December
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Top-rated places to stay near Delaware Water Gap
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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). Updated 2026-07-14.