Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site in December
December at Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site averages a daytime high near 49°F and an overnight low around 32°F, with about 3.7" of precipitation and roughly 1" of snow. Visitation runs about 0.7× the park's average month, which makes December a quiet month here.
- Average low
- 32°F
- Average high
- 49°F
Range across the year: 28°F to 90°F
- Precipitation
- 3.7 in
- Snowfall
- 1 in
- Daylight
- 9.3 hours
Roughly 6% of the park's yearly visitors come in December: about 610 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1997 to 2025.
That makes December the 11th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.7×) and the January low (0.5×).
On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 42/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is April: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 41°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 3.3 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 33% 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, 2024 drew 3,338 recreation visits, down 5.6% from 3,537 in 2023.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 60.7%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
How December compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 58°F / 39°F | 0.8× Quiet | 52 Fair |
| December | 49°F / 32°F | 0.7× Quiet | 42 Poor |
| January | 45°F / 28°F | 0.5× Quiet | 43 Poor |
All twelve months at Mary McLeod Bethune Council House, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Mary McLeod Bethune Council House in December
The National Park Service tags 6 Mary McLeod Bethune Council House activities for winter. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Become a Bethune Council House Junior Ranger · 30-60 minutes
- Collect all the National Capital Parks - East Passport Stamps · 5-10 minutes
- Explore the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House · 30-90 minutes · reservation required
- Junior Ranger Programs at National Capital Parks - East · 30-90 minutes
- Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS Bookstore · 5-30 minutes
- Places of Interest Related to Mary McLeod Bethune · 1-4 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
December averages a daytime high near 49°F and an overnight low around 32°F at Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, with about 3.7 inches of precipitation and roughly 1 inches of snow. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 3.3 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
December is quiet at Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site (about 0.7× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 42/100. Our recommended month is April.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. December sits at about 0.7× the park's average, or 6% of annual visitation.
A typical December sees about 1,000 recreation visits at Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1997–2025.
Where to stay near Mary McLeod Bethune Council House in December
Booking a December trip to Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live December availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Mary McLeod Bethune Council House
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in December.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1997–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.