How Crowded Is Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in December?

December runs about 0.4× Lewis and Clark National Historical Park's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 3% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees roughly 9,100 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

It is the quietest month of the year at Lewis and Clark; by contrast July, the busiest, runs about 1.9× the average — so December is the easiest time to have the place largely to yourself.

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 47/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated May at 59/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.

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 38°F, with about 10.7" of precipitation.

That average of about 43°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter.

Because June, July and August together draw about 44% 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 8.4 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 244,195 recreation visits, down 8.6% from 267,118 in 2024.