How Crowded Is George Washington Carver National Monument in January?

January runs about 0.3× 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 January.

In a typical January the park sees roughly 1,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

It is the quietest month of the year at George Washington Carver; by contrast April, the busiest, runs about 1.5× the average — so January is the easiest time to have the place largely to yourself.

On our Best Time to Visit score January rates 48/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated August at 60/100 — 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 46°F and an overnight low around 23°F, with about 1.9" 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 27% 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 9.7 hours of daylight in January 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 January may feel a touch quieter than it once did.