How Crowded Is Lake Meredith National Recreation Area in December?
December runs about 0.5× Lake Meredith National Recreation Area'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 about 51,000 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 July peak (1.9×) and the January low (0.4×).
On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 51/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated October at 71/100 — 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 52°F and an overnight low around 23°F, with about 0.6" of precipitation.
That average of about 38°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter.
Because June, July and August together draw about 42% 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 9.6 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 1,017,135 recreation visits, down 16.1% from 1,212,905 in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
December is very quiet at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (about 0.5× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair". The single best month overall is October.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. December sits at about 0.5× the park's average, or 4% of annual visitation.
A typical December sees about 51,000 recreation visits at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Lake Meredith in December
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Top-rated places to stay near Lake Meredith
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Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-07-14.