Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit First State National Historical Park
National Historical ParkDelaware, Pennsylvania
Best month to visit
September
75°F / 59°F avg high / low
Our recommendation
Visit First State in September
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, October is the most crowded month (~2.4× the average month) and January is the quietest.
- Annual visits
- 200K
- 2025
- Busiest month
- Oct
- 2.4× avg
- Quietest month
- Jan
- 0.4× avg
- 10-yr trend
- steady
- —
More photos of First State
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is First State by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 2023–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
First State National Historical Park weather by month →
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 43 Poor | 38°F / 24°F | 9.5 h |
| February | Very quiet | 45 Fair | 41°F / 25°F | 10.5 h |
| March | Quiet | 48 Fair | 49°F / 32°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Quiet | 66 Good | 61°F / 43°F | 13.1 h |
| May | Average | 69 Good | 71°F / 52°F | 14.2 h |
| June | Very busy | 63 Good | 79°F / 62°F | 14.8 h |
| July | Very busy | 52 Fair | 84°F / 67°F | 14.6 h |
| August | Average | 69 Good | 82°F / 66°F | 13.6 h |
| Septemberour pick | Average | 74 Good | 75°F / 59°F | 12.2 h |
| October | Very busy | 30 Poor | 63°F / 47°F | 10.9 h |
| November | Quiet | 51 Fair | 53°F / 37°F | 9.8 h |
| December | Very quiet | 45 Fair | 43°F / 29°F | 9.2 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00079605, ~4.1 mi away).
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About visiting First State
First State National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in DE, PA and a relatively quiet park, drawing about 200,000 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has held fairly steady over the past decade. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: October is the busiest month at about 2.4× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.4× — a 7-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 39% 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 76°F in July down to about 31°F in January, with the wettest stretch in July. 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 September: 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 9.2 hours in midwinter to 14.8 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 2023–2025 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
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a distinct character that tolerated diversity in religion and national origin and valued independence.
Weather & conditions
For details and information, visit, http://www.nps.gov/frst/index.htm.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near First State
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near First State National Historical Park — live availability and prices to plan your trip. September is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather. Full lodging guide: when to book, gateway vs in-park, and the crowd calendar that drives room rates.
Top-rated places to stay near First State
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.
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Getting to First State
The nearest airport is Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), about 19 mi (36 min drive) away. Most visitors reach First State by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at First State National Historical Park. The park is busiest in October (about 2.4× the average month) and quietest in January.
October is the busiest month at First State National Historical Park, running roughly 2.4 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at First State National Historical Park, at about 0.4× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
First State National Historical Park recorded about 200,173 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been steady over the past decade.
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at First State National Historical Park averages about 76°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the closest airport to First State National Historical Park, about 19 mi (36 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near First State
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.
- Somerset Lake water qualityGrade — · 10 mi · PA
- West Chester Reservoir water qualityGrade — · 11 mi · PA
- Marsh Creek Reservoir water qualityGrade — · 19 mi · PA
- Coatesville Reservoir water qualityGrade — · 19 mi · PA
- Pickering Creek Reservoir water qualityGrade — · 20 mi · PA
Beach water quality near First State
Beaches within a 40-mile drive, graded on multi-year bacteria sampling from EPA BEACON — worth checking before you plan a swim day.
- West View Shores water qualityGrade B · 36 mi · MD
- Lower Alloways Creek Twp At Americas water qualityGrade C · 29 mi · NJ
- Lower Alloways Creek Twp At Shipwreck water qualityGrade C · 32 mi · NJ
- Crystal Beach Manor water qualityGrade C · 35 mi · MD
- Elk Neck State Park North East River water qualityGrade D · 32 mi · MD
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (2023–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.