How Crowded Is Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in December?

December runs about 0.8× Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 7% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees about 23,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes December the 9th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the March peak (1.4×) and the September low (0.8×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 65/100 ("Good"), versus the top-rated November at 67/100 — 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 64°F and an overnight low around 46°F, with about 5.1" of precipitation.

That average of about 55°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 24% 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 10.1 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 226,543 recreation visits, up 6.6% from 212,591 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 45.4%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.