How Crowded Is Fort Laramie National Historic Site in January?

January runs about 0.2× Fort Laramie National Historic Site's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 1% of the park's yearly visitors come in January.

In a typical January the park sees about 590 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

It is the quietest month of the year at Fort Laramie; by contrast July, the busiest, runs about 2.3× the average — so January is the easiest time to have the place largely to yourself.

On our Best Time to Visit score January rates 42/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated June at 62/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.

Typical January 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 0.2" of precipitation and roughly 2" 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 January instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.

You'll have about 9.2 hours of daylight in January 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 January may feel a touch quieter than it once did.