Best Time to Visit George Washington Memorial Parkway
SeptemberBest month to visit
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Visit George Washington in September
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, August is the most crowded month (~1.4× the average month) and January is the quietest.
Annual visits
6.7M
2025
Busiest month
Aug
1.4× avg
Quietest month
Jan
0.4× avg
10-yr trend
falling
-9.7%
More photos of George Washington
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is George Washington 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 | 43 Poor | 43°F / 26°F | 9.6 h |
| February | Quiet | 43 Poor | 46°F / 27°F | 10.5 h |
| March | Average | 41 Poor | 55°F / 34°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Average | 48 Fair | 68°F / 44°F | 13.0 h |
| May | Busy | 56 Fair | 76°F / 54°F | 14.1 h |
| June | Busy | 54 Fair | 84°F / 63°F | 14.7 h |
| July | Busy | 40 Poor | 88°F / 68°F | 14.5 h |
| August | Busy | 40 Poor | 86°F / 66°F | 13.5 h |
| September★ best | Average | 58 Fair | 79°F / 59°F | 12.2 h |
| October | Average | 46 Fair | 68°F / 47°F | 11.0 h |
| November | Average | 37 Poor | 56°F / 36°F | 9.8 h |
| December | Quiet | 37 Poor | 47°F / 30°F | 9.3 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00182325, ~2.6 mi away).
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About visiting George Washington
George Washington Memorial Parkway is a Memorial Parkway in DC, MD, VA and one of the most-visited units in the entire National Park System, drawing about 6.7 million recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has eased over the past decade, down about 9.7%. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: August is the busiest month at about 1.4× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.4× — a 4-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 34% 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 July. 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 September: 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 August rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.3 hours in midwinter to 14.7 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 George Washington Memorial Parkway was designed for recreational driving. It links sites that commemorate important episodes in American history and preserve habitat for local wildlife. The parkway and its associated trails provide a scenic place to play and rest in the busy Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Weather & conditions
Summers on the parkway are generally hot and humid, with daytime highs frequently above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and scattered afternoon thunderstorms. Please carry water while participating in physical activity and be prepared to take shelter from lightning. Winters on the parkway are generally cold, with nighttime lows frequently near freezing and occasional snowfall. Please be alert for snowplows and icy spots on roadways. Weather during spring and fall is generally moderate, but can change quickly.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near George Washington
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near George Washington Memorial Parkway — live availability and prices to plan your trip. September is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather.
Top-rated places to stay near George Washington
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Getting to George Washington
The nearest airport is Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), about 13 mi (26 min drive) away. Most visitors reach George Washington by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at George Washington Memorial Parkway. The park is busiest in August (about 1.4× the average month) and quietest in January.
August is the busiest month at George Washington Memorial Parkway, running roughly 1.4 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at George Washington Memorial Parkway, at about 0.4× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
George Washington Memorial Parkway recorded about 6,732,932 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been falling over the past decade (-9.7%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at George Washington Memorial Parkway averages about 78°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) is the closest airport to George Washington Memorial Parkway, about 13 mi (26 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near George Washington
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.
- Goose Creek Reservoir water qualityGrade A · 21 mi · VA
- Beaverdam Creek Reservior Lake water qualityGrade A · 21 mi · VA
- Beaverdam Creek Reservoir water qualityGrade A · 21 mi · VA
- Smith Lake water qualityGrade A · 35 mi · VA
- Burke Lake water qualityGrade C · 16 mi · VA
Beach water quality near George Washington
Beaches within a 40-mile drive, graded on multi-year bacteria sampling from EPA BEACON — worth checking before you plan a swim day.
- Bay Ridge At River Dr. water qualityGrade A · 37 mi · MD
- Bay Ridge At Bay Dr. water qualityGrade A · 37 mi · MD
- Highland Beach water qualityGrade A · 37 mi · MD
- Chesapeake Station water qualityGrade A · 38 mi · MD
- Fort Smallwood Park water qualityGrade A · 38 mi · MD
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.