How Crowded Is George Washington Carver National Monument in December?

December runs about 0.4× George Washington Carver National Monument'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 roughly 1,200 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes December the 11th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the April peak (1.5×) and the January low (0.3×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 48/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated August at 60/100 — 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 49°F and an overnight low around 26°F, with about 2.5" of precipitation.

That average of about 38°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter.

Because June, July and August together draw about 27% 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 9.5 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2024 drew 39,081 recreation visits, up 4.8% from 37,282 in 2023.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 29.4%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.