Best Time to Visit George Washington Carver National Monument
AugustBest month to visit
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Visit George Washington Carver in August
August offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, April is the most crowded month (~1.4× the average month) and January is the quietest.
Annual visits
39K
2024
Busiest month
Apr
1.4× avg
Quietest month
Jan
0.3× avg
10-yr trend
falling
-29.4%
More photos of George Washington Carver
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is George Washington Carver by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 1979–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 48 Fair | 46°F / 23°F | 9.7 h |
| February | Quiet | 46 Fair | 51°F / 26°F | 10.6 h |
| March | Busy | 31 Poor | 60°F / 35°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Busy | 34 Poor | 69°F / 44°F | 13.0 h |
| May | Busy | 45 Fair | 76°F / 54°F | 14.0 h |
| June | Average | 55 Fair | 85°F / 63°F | 14.5 h |
| July | Busy | 44 Poor | 90°F / 67°F | 14.3 h |
| August★ best | Average | 60 Good | 90°F / 65°F | 13.4 h |
| September | Busy | 49 Fair | 83°F / 57°F | 12.2 h |
| October | Busy | 39 Poor | 72°F / 45°F | 11.0 h |
| November | Quiet | 46 Fair | 59°F / 35°F | 10.0 h |
| December | Very quiet | 48 Fair | 49°F / 26°F | 9.5 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00232240, ~0.1 mi away).
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About visiting George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver National Monument is a National Monument in MO and one of the system's hidden, low-traffic units, drawing about 39,000 recreation visits in 2024. Visitation has eased over the past decade, down about 29.4%. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: April is the busiest month at about 1.4× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.3× — a 4-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 27% of the year's visitors arrive in the three summer months of June, July and August alone, so timing a trip outside that window is the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels. Weather swings from an average high-season warmth near 78°F in July down to about 34°F in January, with the wettest stretch in May. About 7 months a year see comfortable average temperatures in the 50–80°F range, which is part of why crowd timing and weather timing don't always line up. The sweet spot is August: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). Visit then and you trade a little peak-season certainty for noticeably shorter lines and easier parking than the April rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.5 hours in midwinter to 14.5 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 1979–2025 of National Park Service visitor-use records, paired with 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals, and are updated as new monthly data is released.
Park overview
The young child known as the "Plant Doctor" tended his secret garden while observing the day-to-day operations of a 19th century farm. Nature and nurture ultimately influenced George on his quest for education to becoming a renowned agricultural scientist, educator, and humanitarian.
Weather & conditions
George Washington Carver National Monument is located in southwestern Missouri just outside of Diamond and about 10 miles from Joplin. Summer temperatures generally range from 75-100 degrees with high humidity. Winter temperatures generally range from 0-50 degrees with periods of intermittent freezing.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near George Washington Carver
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near George Washington Carver National Monument — live availability and prices to plan your trip. August is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather.
Top-rated places to stay near George Washington Carver
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Getting to George Washington Carver
The nearest airport is Northwest Arkansas Regional (XNA), about 62 mi (1 hr 18 min drive) away. Most visitors reach George Washington Carver by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
August offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at George Washington Carver National Monument. The park is busiest in April (about 1.4× the average month) and quietest in January.
April is the busiest month at George Washington Carver National Monument, running roughly 1.4 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at George Washington Carver National Monument, at about 0.3× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
George Washington Carver National Monument recorded about 39,081 recreation visits in 2024. Visitation has been falling over the past decade (-29.4%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at George Washington Carver National Monument averages about 78°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Northwest Arkansas Regional (XNA) is the closest airport to George Washington Carver National Monument, about 62 mi (1 hr 18 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near George Washington Carver
If you are planning to swim, paddle or fish on this trip, these graded lakes are within a 40-mile drive. Grades are A–F from EPA and state-agency sampling.
- Grand Lake water qualityGrade D · 36 mi · OK
- Lamar City Lk. South Arm Lake water qualityGrade F · 34 mi · MO
- Lamar City Lake water qualityGrade F · 34 mi · MO
- Lamar City Lk. East Arm Lake water qualityGrade F · 35 mi · MO
- Lamar City Lake water qualityGrade F · 35 mi · MO
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.