Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
National Historical ParkMaryland
Best month to visit
October
72°F / 49°F avg high / low
Our recommendation
Visit Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad in October
October offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, July is the most crowded month (~1.6× the average month) and January is the quietest.
- Annual visits
- 15K
- 2025
- Busiest month
- Jul
- 1.6× avg
- Quietest month
- Jan
- 0.4× avg
- 10-yr trend
- steady
- —
How crowded is Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 2023–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park weather by month →
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 54 Fair | 48°F / 28°F | 9.6 h |
| February | Quiet | 49 Fair | 50°F / 29°F | 10.6 h |
| March | Average | 45 Fair | 58°F / 36°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Busy | 55 Fair | 69°F / 44°F | 13.0 h |
| May | Busy | 63 Good | 78°F / 54°F | 14.1 h |
| June | Busy | 51 Fair | 86°F / 63°F | 14.7 h |
| July | Busy | 33 Poor | 90°F / 69°F | 14.4 h |
| August | Busy | 45 Fair | 88°F / 67°F | 13.5 h |
| September | Average | 69 Good | 82°F / 61°F | 12.2 h |
| Octoberour pick | Average | 63 Good | 72°F / 49°F | 11.0 h |
| November | Quiet | 56 Fair | 61°F / 39°F | 9.9 h |
| December | Very quiet | 57 Fair | 51°F / 31°F | 9.3 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00189140, ~17.3 mi away).
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About visiting Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in MD and one of the system's hidden, low-traffic units, drawing about 15,000 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has held fairly steady over the past decade. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: July is the busiest month at about 1.6× 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 37% 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 79°F in July down to about 38°F in January, with the wettest stretch in January. 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 October: 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 July 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 2023–2025 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
Harriet Tubman was a deeply spiritual woman who lived her ideals and dedicated her life to freedom. She is the Underground Railroad’s best known conductor and before the Civil War repeatedly risked her life to guide 70 enslaved people north to new lives of freedom. This new national historical park preserves the same landscapes that Tubman used to carry herself and others away from slavery.
Weather & conditions
Cambridge, Maryland generally experiences warm, humid summers and mild winters. Average summertime highs are in the 80s, with evening lows in the 60s. Winter temperatures usually range from the 30s to the 50s. Spring and fall are variable, but tend to be in the 50s and 60s. Precipitation is spread throughout the year. For more information, see: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=38.37100441991913&lon=-76.13347536809295#.WCNeYWorLIU
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park — live availability and prices to plan your trip. October is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather. Full lodging guide: when to book, gateway vs in-park, and the crowd calendar that drives room rates.
Top-rated places to stay near Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
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Getting to Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad
The nearest airport is Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY), about 48 mi (1 hr 11 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
October offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park. The park is busiest in July (about 1.6× the average month) and quietest in January.
July is the busiest month at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, running roughly 1.6 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, at about 0.4× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park recorded about 15,348 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been steady over the past decade.
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park averages about 79°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY) is the closest airport to Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, about 48 mi (1 hr 11 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad
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.
- Long Pond water qualityGrade — · 34 mi · VA
- Herring Pond water qualityGrade — · 36 mi · VA
- Corbin Pond water qualityGrade — · 37 mi · VA
Beach water quality near Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad
Beaches within a 40-mile drive, graded on multi-year bacteria sampling from EPA BEACON — worth checking before you plan a swim day.
- Flag Harbor water qualityGrade A · 18 mi · MD
- Cedar Cove Community Beach water qualityGrade A · 20 mi · MD
- Elm's Beach - Public Beach water qualityGrade A · 22 mi · MD
- Chesapeake Station water qualityGrade A · 27 mi · MD
- Point Lookout State Park water qualityGrade A · 30 mi · MD
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (2023–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.