Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in January
January at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park averages a daytime high near 49°F and an overnight low around 38°F, with about 10.6" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 0.5× the park's average month, which makes January a very quiet month here.
- Average low
- 38°F
- Average high
- 49°F
Range across the year: 37°F to 69°F
- Precipitation
- 10.6 in
- Daylight
- 8.8 hours
Roughly 4% of the park's yearly visitors come in January: roughly 9,900 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes January the 11th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.9×) and the December low (0.4×).
On our Best Time to Visit score January rates 47/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is May: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 44°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 5.4 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 44% of annual visitors, choosing January instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.
You'll have about 8.8 hours of daylight in January to explore — between the 8.4-hour midwinter low and the 15.6-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 244,195 recreation visits, down 8.6% from 267,118 in 2024.
How January compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| December | 49°F / 38°F | 0.4× Very quiet | 47 Fair |
| January | 49°F / 38°F | 0.5× Very quiet | 47 Fair |
| February | 51°F / 37°F | 0.5× Very quiet | 51 Fair |
All twelve months at Lewis and Clark, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Lewis and Clark in January
The National Park Service tags 11 Lewis and Clark activities for winter. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Clay Pit Pond Trail · 15-60 minutes
- Continue South to Find a Whale · 1-4 hours
- Experience History Come Alive at Fort Clatsop · 1-3 hours
- Fort Clatsop Audio Tour · 20-60 minutes
- Fort to Sea Trail · 3-6 hours
- Kwis Kwis Trail · 1-5 hours
- South Slough Trail · 1-3 hours
- Stretch Your Legs at the Dismal Nitch Wayside · 5-30 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
January averages a daytime high near 49°F and an overnight low around 38°F at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, with about 10.6 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 5.4 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
January is very quiet at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (about 0.5× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 47/100. Our recommended month is May.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is December. January sits at about 0.5× the park's average, or 4% of annual visitation.
A typical January sees about 10,000 recreation visits at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Lewis and Clark in January
Booking a January trip to Lewis and Clark National Historical Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live January availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Lewis and Clark
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in January.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.