How Crowded Is Fort Laramie National Historic Site in December?
December runs about 0.2× Fort Laramie National Historic Site's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 2% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.
In a typical December the park sees about 680 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes December the 10th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (2.3×) and the January low (0.2×).
On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 41/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated June at 62/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.
Typical December weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 43°F and an overnight low around 15°F, with about 0.4" of precipitation and roughly 6" of snow.
That average of about 29°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.
Because June, July and August together draw about 51% 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 8.9 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 36,998 recreation visits, down 16% from 44,045 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 12.3%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
Frequently Asked Questions
December is very quiet at Fort Laramie National Historic Site (about 0.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor". The single best month overall is June.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. December sits at about 0.2× the park's average, or 2% of annual visitation.
A typical December sees about 1,000 recreation visits at Fort Laramie National Historic Site, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Fort Laramie in December
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Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-07-14.