Best Time to Visit Devils Tower National Monument
MayBest month to visit
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Visit Devils Tower in May
May offers best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight. For comparison, July is the most crowded month (~2.9× the average month) and January is the quietest.
Annual visits
515K
2025
Busiest month
Jul
2.9× avg
Quietest month
Jan
0.1× avg
10-yr trend
rising
+8.6%
More photos of Devils Tower
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is Devils Tower 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
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 42 Poor | 34°F / 8°F | 9.0 h |
| February | Very quiet | 44 Poor | 37°F / 11°F | 10.2 h |
| March | Very quiet | 45 Fair | 47°F / 21°F | 11.6 h |
| April | Very quiet | 51 Fair | 57°F / 29°F | 13.3 h |
| May★ best | Average | 63 Good | 66°F / 39°F | 14.6 h |
| June | Very busy | 55 Fair | 76°F / 49°F | 15.4 h |
| July | Very busy | 53 Fair | 85°F / 55°F | 15.0 h |
| August | Very busy | 56 Fair | 85°F / 52°F | 13.9 h |
| September | Busy | 59 Fair | 75°F / 42°F | 12.3 h |
| October | Quiet | 51 Fair | 60°F / 30°F | 10.7 h |
| November | Very quiet | 41 Poor | 45°F / 19°F | 9.3 h |
| December | Very quiet | 41 Poor | 35°F / 9°F | 8.6 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00482466, ~0.5 mi away).
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About visiting Devils Tower
Devils Tower National Monument is a National Monument in WY and a moderately visited park, drawing about 515,000 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has climbed over the past decade, up roughly 8.6%, so crowds are trending heavier each year. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: July is the busiest month at about 2.9× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.1× — a 29-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 67% 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 70°F in July down to about 21°F in January, with the wettest stretch in June and meaningful snowfall around December. About 5 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 May: best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight. 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 8.6 hours in midwinter to 15.4 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. A standard private-vehicle entrance pass runs about $25, 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
The Tower is an astounding geologic feature that protrudes out of the prairie surrounding the Black Hills. It is considered sacred by Northern Plains Indians and indigenous people. Hundreds of parallel cracks make it one of the finest crack climbing areas in North America. Devils Tower entices us to learn more, explore more and define our place in the natural and cultural world.
Weather & conditions
Obtain forecast information before beginning your adventure at Devils Tower National Monument and observe changing weather conditions. Thunderstorms can develop quickly bringing lightning, hail, rain, slippery rock surfaces, and hypothermia. Summer days can bring very hot temperatures. Carry enough water, and realize the rock of the Tower can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter weather can bring blowing snow and road closures. Check local forecasts and road conditions before visiting.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Devils Tower
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Devils Tower National Monument — live availability and prices to plan your trip. May is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather.
Top-rated places to stay near Devils Tower
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Getting there — nearest airports
Updated July 2026The closest airport to Devils Tower National Monument is Campbell County Airport (GCC), about 70 mi (1 hr 25 min drive) away. For the most flight options, most visitors fly into Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP), about 2 hr 22 min away.
| Airport | Distance | Drive time | Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell County Airport (GCC)Closest | 70 mi | 1 hr 25 min | Delta, United Airlines |
| Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP)Best for flights | 120 mi | 2 hr 22 min | Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines |
| Chadron Airport (CDR) | 211 mi | 4 hr 3 min | Frontier Airlines, Great Lakes Airlines, United Airlines |
| Dickinson Regional Airport (DIK) | 248 mi | 5 hr 1 min | Frontier Airlines, Great Lakes Airlines, United Airlines |
| Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF) | 255 mi | 5 hr 13 min | Frontier Airlines, Great Lakes Airlines, United Airlines |
Which airport should you choose?
- Shortest drive: Campbell County Airport (GCC) — about 1 hr 25 min from the park.
- Most flights / best value: Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) — the largest hub near Devils Tower, about 2 hr 22 min away.
Entrance fees
A standard private-vehicle entrance pass is about $25, typically valid for several days.
Frequently Asked Questions
May offers best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight at Devils Tower National Monument. The park is busiest in July (about 2.9× the average month) and quietest in January.
July is the busiest month at Devils Tower National Monument, running roughly 2.9 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Devils Tower National Monument, at about 0.1× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Devils Tower National Monument recorded about 515,303 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been rising over the past decade (+8.6%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Devils Tower National Monument averages about 70°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Campbell County Airport (GCC) is the closest airport to Devils Tower National Monument, about 70 mi (1 hr 25 min drive) away.
Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) is the nearest major airport, about 120 mi (2 hr 22 min drive) away, with the most flight options of any airport near Devils Tower.
There is no airport inside Devils Tower National Monument. Fly into Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) and drive the rest of the way — about 2 hr 22 min.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Devils Tower
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.
- Keyhole Reservoir water qualityGrade B · 15 mi · WY
- Keyhole Reservoir water qualityGrade B · 15 mi · WY
- Keyhole Reservoir water qualityGrade B · 17 mi · WY
- Sundance Fairgrounds Pond water qualityGrade — · 21 mi · WY
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.