How Crowded Is Mojave National Preserve in December?

December runs about 1.1× Mojave National Preserve's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 9% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees about 68,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1997 to 2025.

That makes December the 3rd-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the November peak (1.3×) and the August low (0.7×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 35/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated August at 79/100 — 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 53°F and an overnight low around 40°F, with about 1.6" of precipitation.

That average of about 46°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter.

Because June, July and August together draw about 22% 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 9.6 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 569,844 recreation visits, up 34.1% from 424,864 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 7.7%, so a December visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.