How Crowded Is Greenbelt Park in December?
December runs about 0.4× Greenbelt Park'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 3,000 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 May peak (1.8×) and the January low (0.4×).
On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 76/100 ("Excellent"), versus the top-rated January at 78/100 — the best overall balance of crowds and daylight.
Because June, July and August together draw about 36% 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 9.3 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 130,314 recreation visits, up 67.8% from 77,642 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 44%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
Frequently Asked Questions
December is very quiet at Greenbelt Park (about 0.4× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Excellent". The single best month overall is January.
The busiest month is May and the quietest is January. December sits at about 0.4× the park's average, or 3% of annual visitation.
A typical December sees about 3,000 recreation visits at Greenbelt Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Greenbelt in December
Booking a December trip to Greenbelt Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live December availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Greenbelt
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in December.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025). Updated 2026-07-14.