Our recommendation
Visit Lewis and Clark in May
May offers best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight. For comparison, July is the most crowded month (~1.9× the average month) and December is the quietest.
Annual visits
244K
2025
Busiest month
Jul
1.9× avg
Quietest month
Dec
0.4× avg
10-yr trend
steady
+4.4%
How crowded is Lewis and Clark 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 | 47 Fair | 49°F / 38°F | 8.8 h |
| February | Very quiet | 51 Fair | 51°F / 37°F | 10.1 h |
| March | Quiet | 46 Fair | 53°F / 39°F | 11.6 h |
| April | Quiet | 53 Fair | 56°F / 42°F | 13.3 h |
| May★ best | Average | 59 Fair | 61°F / 46°F | 14.8 h |
| June | Busy | 55 Fair | 64°F / 51°F | 15.6 h |
| July | Very busy | 49 Fair | 67°F / 54°F | 15.2 h |
| August | Very busy | 50 Fair | 69°F / 54°F | 14.0 h |
| September | Busy | 58 Fair | 68°F / 51°F | 12.3 h |
| October | Average | 49 Fair | 61°F / 45°F | 10.6 h |
| November | Quiet | 48 Fair | 54°F / 40°F | 9.2 h |
| December | Very quiet | 47 Fair | 49°F / 38°F | 8.4 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USW00094224, ~5.4 mi away).
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About visiting Lewis and Clark
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in OR, WA and a relatively quiet park, drawing about 244,000 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has held fairly steady over the past decade. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: July is the busiest month at about 1.9× the park's average month, while December is the calmest at roughly 0.4× — a 5-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 44% 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 61°F in August down to about 43°F in December, with the wettest stretch in November. 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 May: best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight. 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 8.4 hours in midwinter to 15.6 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. A standard private-vehicle entrance pass runs about $10, 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
Explore the timeless rainforests and majestic coastal vistas. Discover the rich heritage of the native people. Unfold the dramatic stories of America's most famous explorers. The park encompasses sites along the Columbia River and the Pacific Coast. Follow in the footsteps of the explorers and have an adventure in history.
Weather & conditions
We see an average of 70 inches of rain a year and we are the foggiest location in the Lower 48 states. Summer months are usually nice with days ranging from 55-70 degrees. Winters are wet and mild, usually 40-55 degrees. During the 106 days the Lewis and Clark Expedition wintered at Fort Clatsop in 1806 it rained all but 12 days and they saw the sun 6 times. While we are usually not so dreary make sure to prepare for rain or shine.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Lewis and Clark
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Lewis and Clark National Historical Park — live availability and prices to plan your trip. May is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather.
Top-rated places to stay near Lewis and Clark
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Getting to Lewis and Clark
The nearest airport is Portland International Airport (PDX), about 106 mi (2 hr 37 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Lewis and Clark by car.
Entrance fees
A standard private-vehicle entrance pass is about $10, typically valid for several days.
Frequently Asked Questions
May offers best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. The park is busiest in July (about 1.9× the average month) and quietest in December.
July is the busiest month at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, running roughly 1.9 times the park's average monthly visitation.
December is the quietest month at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, at about 0.4× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park recorded about 244,195 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been steady over the past decade (+4.4%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park averages about 61°F (August). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Portland International Airport (PDX) is the closest airport to Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, about 106 mi (2 hr 37 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Lewis and Clark
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.
- Cullaby Lake water qualityGrade F · 9 mi · OR
- Scout Lake water qualityGrade — · 39 mi · OR
Beach water quality near Lewis and Clark
Beaches within a 40-mile drive, graded on multi-year bacteria sampling from EPA BEACON — worth checking before you plan a swim day.
- Del Rey Beach State Recreation Site water qualityGrade A · 14 mi · OR
- Seaside Beach water qualityGrade A · 16 mi · OR
- Oswald West State Park water qualityGrade A · 31 mi · OR
- Fort Stevens State Park water qualityGrade B · 4 mi · OR
- Sunset Beach State Rec Site water qualityGrade C · 9 mi · OR
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.