How Crowded Is Fort Matanzas National Monument in December?

December runs about 0.6× Fort Matanzas National Monument's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 5% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees about 32,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

It is the quietest month of the year at Fort Matanzas; by contrast July, the busiest, runs about 1.5× the average — so December is the easiest time to have the place largely to yourself.

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 77/100 ("Excellent") — the single best-rated month at Fort Matanzas, balancing crowds against weather and daylight.

Typical December weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 69°F and an overnight low around 53°F, with about 2.9" of precipitation.

That average of about 61°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 35% 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 10.1 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 653,152 recreation visits, down 4% from 680,040 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 14.7%, so a December visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.