How Crowded Is Missouri National Recreational River in December?

December runs about 0.6× Missouri National Recreational River's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 5% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees roughly 6,600 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 2004 to 2025.

That makes December the 9th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the September peak (1.8×) and the February low (0.4×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 37/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated May at 62/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

Typical December weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 34°F and an overnight low around 14°F, with about 0.9" of precipitation and roughly 7" of snow.

That average of about 24°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 35% 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 8.9 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 166,390 recreation visits, up 8.4% from 153,521 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 11.4%, so a December visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.