Best Time to Visit Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
MayBest month to visit
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Visit Eleanor Roosevelt in May
May offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, October is the most crowded month (~2.1× the average month) and January is the quietest.
Annual visits
14K
2025
Busiest month
Oct
2.1× avg
Quietest month
Jan
0.2× avg
10-yr trend
falling
-64.6%
More photos of Eleanor Roosevelt
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is Eleanor Roosevelt by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 1985–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 42 Poor | 35°F / 19°F | 9.3 h |
| February | Very quiet | 44 Poor | 39°F / 20°F | 10.4 h |
| March | Very quiet | 50 Fair | 47°F / 27°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Quiet | 59 Fair | 60°F / 38°F | 13.1 h |
| May★ best | Average | 64 Good | 71°F / 49°F | 14.4 h |
| June | Busy | 64 Good | 78°F / 58°F | 15.0 h |
| July | Very busy | 53 Fair | 83°F / 63°F | 14.7 h |
| August | Very busy | 53 Fair | 82°F / 62°F | 13.7 h |
| September | Very busy | 50 Fair | 74°F / 54°F | 12.3 h |
| October | Very busy | 26 Poor | 62°F / 42°F | 10.8 h |
| November | Quiet | 46 Fair | 51°F / 33°F | 9.6 h |
| December | Very quiet | 40 Poor | 40°F / 25°F | 9.0 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00306820, ~2.7 mi away).
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About visiting Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in NY and one of the system's hidden, low-traffic units, drawing about 14,000 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has eased over the past decade, down about 64.6%. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: October is the busiest month at about 2.1× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.2× — a 9-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 41% 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 73°F in July down to about 27°F in January, with the wettest stretch in June. About 6 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: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). Visit then and you trade a little peak-season certainty for noticeably shorter lines and easier parking than the October rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.0 hours in midwinter to 15.0 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 1985–2025 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
Visit the home of Eleanor Roosevelt. Here, Franklin and Eleanor entertained friends, the press, activists, and official state visitors in the relaxed atmosphere of Val-Kill. Explore the Roosevelt saga in the homes of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, the exhibits at the nation’s first Presidential Library, and over a thousand acres of gardens and trails.
Weather & conditions
Spring: Temperatures usually range from 40°F to 70°F. Rain is not uncommon. Summer: Temperatures usually range from 70° F to 100° F. Humidity can be high throughout the summer months with periods of rain. Fall: Temperatures usually range from 40° F to 70° F. Peak leaf season is mid-October. Rain is not uncommon. Winter: Temperatures usually range from 30° F to 50°F. Ice, Freezing Rain and Snow are not uncommon.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Eleanor Roosevelt
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site — 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 Eleanor Roosevelt
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Getting to Eleanor Roosevelt
The nearest airport is Stewart International Airport (SWF), about 30 mi (48 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Eleanor Roosevelt by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
May offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site. The park is busiest in October (about 2.1× the average month) and quietest in January.
October is the busiest month at Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, running roughly 2.1 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, at about 0.2× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site recorded about 13,586 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been falling over the past decade (-64.6%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site averages about 73°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Stewart International Airport (SWF) is the closest airport to Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, about 30 mi (48 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Eleanor Roosevelt
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.
- Sepasco Lake water qualityGrade — · 14 mi · NY
- Orange Lake water qualityGrade — · 18 mi · NY
- Stissing Pond water qualityGrade — · 19 mi · NY
- Sagamore Lake water qualityGrade — · 21 mi · NY
- Seven Hills Lake water qualityGrade — · 21 mi · NY
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1985–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.