How Crowded Is LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac in December?

December runs about 0.9× LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 7% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees about 18,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1984 to 2025.

That makes December the 8th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.3×) and the February low (0.6×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 31/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated April at 62/100 — 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 49°F and an overnight low around 35°F, with about 3.4" of precipitation and roughly 2" of snow.

That average of about 42°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter.

Because June, July and August together draw about 30% 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 9.3 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 236,042 recreation visits, down 2.2% from 241,358 in 2024.