How Crowded Is Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site in December?

December runs about 0.5× Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 4% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees roughly 1,900 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes December the 10th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the August peak (1.6×) and the January low (0.3×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 45/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated October at 47/100 — 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 42°F and an overnight low around 27°F.

That average of about 35°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 37% 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 9.1 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2024 drew 48,776 recreation visits, down 10.2% from 54,293 in 2023.