Best Time to Visit James A Garfield National Historic Site
SeptemberBest month to visit
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Visit James A Garfield in September
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, July is the most crowded month (~2.4× the average month) and January is the quietest.
Annual visits
40K
2024
Busiest month
Jul
2.4× avg
Quietest month
Jan
0.2× avg
10-yr trend
falling
-29.9%
More photos of James A Garfield
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is James A Garfield by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 1997–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 42 Poor | 34°F / 19°F | 9.3 h |
| February | Quiet | 35 Poor | 36°F / 20°F | 10.4 h |
| March | Quiet | 46 Fair | 45°F / 28°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Quiet | 55 Fair | 58°F / 38°F | 13.1 h |
| May | Busy | 62 Good | 69°F / 49°F | 14.4 h |
| June | Busy | 71 Good | 77°F / 58°F | 15.0 h |
| July | Very busy | 46 Fair | 82°F / 62°F | 14.7 h |
| August | Busy | 62 Good | 80°F / 61°F | 13.7 h |
| September★ best | Average | 66 Good | 74°F / 55°F | 12.3 h |
| October | Average | 52 Fair | 62°F / 45°F | 10.8 h |
| November | Very quiet | 48 Fair | 49°F / 35°F | 9.6 h |
| December | Very quiet | 39 Poor | 39°F / 25°F | 9.0 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00334260, ~4.2 mi away).
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About visiting James A Garfield
James A Garfield National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in OH and one of the system's hidden, low-traffic units, drawing about 40,000 recreation visits in 2024. Visitation has eased over the past decade, down about 29.9%. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: July is the busiest month at about 2.4× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.2× — a 12-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 45% 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 72°F in July down to about 26°F in January, with the wettest stretch in July. 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 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 July rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.0 hours in midwinter to 15.0 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 1997–2025 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
A front porch can serve many purposes. For some, it is a place to enjoy the breeze on a warm summer night. For others, a perch from which to keep eyes on what's happening in their neighborhood. In 1880, James Garfield used his front porch as a platform to greet thousands of well-wishers during his presidential campaign. Today, the porch serves as a gateway to the story of the Garfield family.
Weather & conditions
Winter tends to be cold with snow and ice from January - early March. Summers are comfortable, but can be humid and reach into the 90's. There is a 100 yard walk between the Visitor Center and Garfield home; visitors are advised to check weather conditions prior to their visit.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near James A Garfield
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near James A Garfield National Historic Site — live availability and prices to plan your trip. September is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather.
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Getting to James A Garfield
The nearest airport is Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), about 36 mi (49 min drive) away. Most visitors reach James A Garfield by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at James A Garfield National Historic Site. The park is busiest in July (about 2.4× the average month) and quietest in January.
July is the busiest month at James A Garfield National Historic Site, running roughly 2.4 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at James A Garfield National Historic Site, at about 0.2× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
James A Garfield National Historic Site recorded about 39,671 recreation visits in 2024. Visitation has been falling over the past decade (-29.9%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at James A Garfield National Historic Site averages about 72°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is the closest airport to James A Garfield National Historic Site, about 36 mi (49 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Beach water quality near James A Garfield
Beaches within a 40-mile drive, graded on multi-year bacteria sampling from EPA BEACON — worth checking before you plan a swim day.
- Fairport Harbor water qualityGrade C · 8 mi · OH
- Edgewater State Park water qualityGrade C · 24 mi · OH
- Headlands State Park (E) water qualityGrade D · 7 mi · OH
- Edgecliff Beach water qualityGrade D · 10 mi · OH
- Villa Angela State Park water qualityGrade D · 12 mi · OH
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1997–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.