Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit Lincoln Memorial
District of Columbia
Best month to visit
September
81°F / 64°F avg high / low
Our recommendation
Visit Lincoln Memorial in September
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, July is the most crowded month (~1.3× the average month) and January is the quietest.
- Annual visits
- 7.7M
- 2025
- Busiest month
- Jul
- 1.3× avg
- Quietest month
- Jan
- 0.6× avg
- 10-yr trend
- rising
- +10.1%
How crowded is Lincoln Memorial 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
Lincoln Memorial weather by month →
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Quiet | 43 Poor | 45°F / 30°F | 9.6 h |
| February | Quiet | 45 Fair | 48°F / 32°F | 10.5 h |
| March | Average | 32 Poor | 57°F / 39°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Busy | 40 Poor | 68°F / 48°F | 13.0 h |
| May | Busy | 53 Fair | 77°F / 58°F | 14.1 h |
| June | Average | 51 Fair | 85°F / 68°F | 14.7 h |
| July | Busy | 26 Poor | 90°F / 72°F | 14.5 h |
| August | Busy | 37 Poor | 88°F / 71°F | 13.5 h |
| Septemberour pick | Average | 60 Good | 81°F / 64°F | 12.2 h |
| October | Average | 50 Fair | 69°F / 52°F | 11.0 h |
| November | Average | 46 Fair | 58°F / 42°F | 9.8 h |
| December | Quiet | 39 Poor | 49°F / 35°F | 9.3 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USW00013743, ~3 mi away).
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About visiting Lincoln Memorial
Lincoln Memorial is a unit of the National Park System in DC and one of the most-visited units in the entire National Park System, drawing about 7.7 million recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has climbed over the past decade, up roughly 10.1%, so crowds are trending heavier each year. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: July is the busiest month at about 1.3× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.6× — a 2-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 30% 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 81°F in July down to about 38°F in January, with the wettest stretch in July and meaningful snowfall around February. 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 September: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). 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 9.3 hours in midwinter to 14.7 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. A standard private-vehicle entrance pass runs about $1, 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
"...as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever." Beneath these words, the 16th president of the United States sits immortalized in marble as an enduring symbol of unity, strength, and wisdom.
Weather & conditions
Washington, DC experiences all four seasons. Humidity will make the temps feel hotter in summer and colder in winter. Spring (March - May) Temp: Average high is 65.5 degrees with a low of 46.5 degrees Summer (June - August) Temp: Average high is 86 degrees with a low of 68.5 degrees Fall (September - November) Temp: Average high is 68 degrees with a low of 51.5 degrees Winter (December - February) Temp: Average high is 45 degrees with a low of 30 degrees (Source: www.usclimatedata.com)
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Lincoln Memorial
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Lincoln Memorial — live availability and prices to plan your trip. September is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather. Full lodging guide: when to book, gateway vs in-park, and the crowd calendar that drives room rates.
Top-rated places to stay near Lincoln Memorial
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
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Getting to Lincoln Memorial
The nearest airport is Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), about 5 mi (12 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Lincoln Memorial by car.
Entrance fees
A standard private-vehicle entrance pass is about $1, typically valid for several days.
Frequently Asked Questions
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at Lincoln Memorial. The park is busiest in July (about 1.3× the average month) and quietest in January.
July is the busiest month at Lincoln Memorial, running roughly 1.3 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Lincoln Memorial, at about 0.6× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Lincoln Memorial recorded about 7,743,295 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been rising over the past decade (+10.1%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Lincoln Memorial averages about 81°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) is the closest airport to Lincoln Memorial, about 5 mi (12 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
0 mi away · best in September
0 mi away · best in September
0 mi away · best in September
1 mi away · best in September
1 mi away · best in September
1 mi away · best in September
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Lincoln Memorial
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.
- Beaverdam Creek Reservior Lake water qualityGrade A · 27 mi · VA
- Goose Creek Reservoir water qualityGrade A · 28 mi · VA
- Beaverdam Creek Reservoir water qualityGrade A · 28 mi · VA
- Smith Lake water qualityGrade A · 34 mi · VA
- Burke Lake water qualityGrade C · 16 mi · VA
Beach water quality near Lincoln Memorial
Beaches within a 40-mile drive, graded on multi-year bacteria sampling from EPA BEACON — worth checking before you plan a swim day.
- Chesapeake Station water qualityGrade A · 31 mi · MD
- Bay Ridge At River Dr. water qualityGrade A · 32 mi · MD
- Bay Ridge At Bay Dr. water qualityGrade A · 32 mi · MD
- Highland Beach water qualityGrade A · 32 mi · MD
- Mountain Point At Gibson Island water qualityGrade A · 35 mi · MD
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.