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

January runs about 0.2× Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 2% of the park's yearly visitors come in January.

In a typical January the park sees about 150 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1981 to 2025.

It is the quietest month of the year at Frederick Law Olmsted; by contrast July, the busiest, runs about 1.8× 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 May at 63/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

Typical January weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 37°F and an overnight low around 19°F, with about 3.9" of precipitation.

That average of about 28°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 39% 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 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 January visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.