Best Time to Visit Independence National Historical Park
OctoberBest month to visit
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Visit Independence 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
1.9M
2025
Busiest month
Jul
1.6× avg
Quietest month
Jan
0.5× avg
10-yr trend
falling
-39.9%
More photos of Independence
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is Independence 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 | 42°F / 28°F | 9.5 h |
| February | Quiet | 42 Poor | 45°F / 30°F | 10.5 h |
| March | Quiet | 42 Poor | 54°F / 36°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Average | 52 Fair | 66°F / 46°F | 13.1 h |
| May | Busy | 59 Fair | 76°F / 56°F | 14.2 h |
| June | Busy | 51 Fair | 85°F / 66°F | 14.8 h |
| July | Busy | 37 Poor | 89°F / 71°F | 14.6 h |
| August | Busy | 48 Fair | 87°F / 70°F | 13.6 h |
| September | Average | 60 Good | 80°F / 63°F | 12.2 h |
| October★ best | Average | 55 Fair | 68°F / 51°F | 10.9 h |
| November | Quiet | 48 Fair | 56°F / 41°F | 9.7 h |
| December | Quiet | 37 Poor | 47°F / 33°F | 9.2 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00366886, ~1.5 mi away).
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About visiting Independence
Independence National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in PA and one of the busier parks in the system, drawing about 1.9 million recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has eased over the past decade, down about 39.9%. 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 0.5× — a 3-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 35% 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 80°F in July down to about 35°F in January, with the wettest stretch in August. About 6 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 9.2 hours in midwinter to 14.8 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. A standard private-vehicle entrance pass runs about $1, valid for several days, so a shoulder-season trip stretches that fee across quieter, more comfortable days. 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 park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of Independence and US Constitution were both debated and signed inside Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Weather & conditions
Summers are typically hot and muggy, fall and spring are generally mild, and winter is cold. Snowfall is highly variable, with some winters bringing only light snow and others bringing several major snowstorms, with the normal seasonal snowfall standing at 22.4 in (57 cm). Precipitation is generally spread throughout the year, with eight to twelve wet days per month.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Independence
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Independence 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Independence
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Getting to Independence
The nearest airport is Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), about 12 mi (20 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Independence by car.
Entrance fees
A standard private-vehicle entrance pass is about $1, typically valid for several days.
Frequently Asked Questions
October offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at Independence 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 Independence National Historical Park, running roughly 1.6 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Independence National Historical Park, at about 0.5× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Independence National Historical Park recorded about 1,926,580 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been falling over the past decade (-39.9%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Independence National Historical Park averages about 80°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the closest airport to Independence National Historical Park, about 12 mi (20 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Independence
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.
- Lake Nockamixon water qualityGrade — · 36 mi · PA
Beach water quality near Independence
Beaches within a 40-mile drive, graded on multi-year bacteria sampling from EPA BEACON — worth checking before you plan a swim day.
- Lower Alloways Creek Twp At Americas water qualityGrade C · 40 mi · NJ
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.