Best Time to Visit First Ladies National Historic Site
MayBest month to visit
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Visit First Ladies in May
May offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, December is the most crowded month (~1.6× the average month) and January is the quietest.
Annual visits
13K
2024
Busiest month
Dec
1.6× avg
Quietest month
Jan
0.3× avg
10-yr trend
falling
-26.7%
More photos of First Ladies
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is First Ladies by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 2006–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 43 Poor | 36°F / 20°F | 9.4 h |
| February | Very quiet | 41 Poor | 39°F / 22°F | 10.4 h |
| March | Quiet | 39 Poor | 48°F / 29°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Quiet | 49 Fair | 62°F / 40°F | 13.1 h |
| May★ best | Average | 61 Good | 72°F / 50°F | 14.3 h |
| June | Busy | 54 Fair | 80°F / 59°F | 14.9 h |
| July | Busy | 46 Fair | 84°F / 63°F | 14.7 h |
| August | Busy | 56 Fair | 83°F / 62°F | 13.6 h |
| September | Busy | 50 Fair | 76°F / 55°F | 12.3 h |
| October | Average | 50 Fair | 63°F / 44°F | 10.9 h |
| November | Quiet | 34 Poor | 51°F / 34°F | 9.7 h |
| December | Busy | 2 Poor | 40°F / 26°F | 9.1 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USW00014895, ~9.1 mi away).
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About visiting First Ladies
First Ladies National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in OH and one of the system's hidden, low-traffic units, drawing about 13,000 recreation visits in 2024. Visitation has eased over the past decade, down about 26.7%. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: December is the busiest month at about 1.6× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.3× — a 5-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 35% 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 74°F in July down to about 28°F in January, with the wettest stretch in June. About 7 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 December rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.1 hours in midwinter to 14.9 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 2006–2025 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
First Ladies National Historic Site consists of two properties in downtown Canton, Ohio - the home of First Lady Ida Saxton-McKinley and our Visitor Center. Come learn about how the position of First Lady has evolved over time to include a public role.
Weather & conditions
The weather at First Ladies National Historic Site is typical of Northeastern Ohio: four distinct seasons. Spring's rain and warming temperatures bring new leaves on trees and blooming wildflowers. Summer temperatures range from 49 to 95 degrees F and can be humid. Fall temperatures can range from low 70s during the day to freezing during the night. Fallcolor peaks mid-October. Winter weather conditions can rapidly change. Temperatures vary from mid-30s to below zero.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near First Ladies
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near First Ladies 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 First Ladies
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Getting to First Ladies
The nearest airport is Akron-Canton Airport (CAK), about 11 mi (15 min drive) away. Most visitors reach First Ladies by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
May offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at First Ladies National Historic Site. The park is busiest in December (about 1.6× the average month) and quietest in January.
December is the busiest month at First Ladies National Historic Site, running roughly 1.6 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at First Ladies National Historic Site, at about 0.3× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
First Ladies National Historic Site recorded about 12,642 recreation visits in 2024. Visitation has been falling over the past decade (-26.7%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at First Ladies National Historic Site averages about 74°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) is the closest airport to First Ladies National Historic Site, about 11 mi (15 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near First Ladies
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.
- Salem Reservoir water qualityGrade D · 28 mi · OH
- Spring Valley Lake Lake water qualityGrade F · 26 mi · OH
- Tappan Lake water qualityGrade F · 33 mi · OH
- Leesville Lake water qualityGrade — · 24 mi · OH
- Tapan Lake Adj To Marina water qualityGrade — · 33 mi · OH
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (2006–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.