How Crowded Is Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in December?

December runs about 0.4× Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 3% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees about 290 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1981 to 2025.

That makes December the 10th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.8×) and the January low (0.2×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 37/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated May at 63/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

Typical December weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 42°F and an overnight low around 26°F, with about 5.1" of precipitation.

That average of about 34°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 39% 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 7,240 recreation visits, down 45.2% from 13,218 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 25.3%, so a December visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.