How Crowded Is Ford's Theatre National Historic Site in December?
December runs about 0.8× Ford's Theatre National Historic Site's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 7% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.
In a typical December the park sees about 38,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes December the 7th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the April peak (1.7×) and the January low (0.4×).
On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 54/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated January at 78/100 — the best overall balance of crowds and daylight.
Because June, July and August together draw about 28% 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 9.3 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.
Park-wide, 2024 drew 457,132 recreation visits, up 16.3% from 393,214 in 2023.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 33%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
Frequently Asked Questions
December is quiet at Ford's Theatre National Historic Site (about 0.8× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair". The single best month overall is January.
The busiest month is April and the quietest is January. December sits at about 0.8× the park's average, or 7% of annual visitation.
A typical December sees about 38,000 recreation visits at Ford's Theatre National Historic Site, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Ford's Theatre in December
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Top-rated places to stay near Ford's Theatre
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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.