How Crowded Is Pennsylvania Avenue in December?
December runs about 0.5× Pennsylvania Avenue'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 9,200 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1986 to 2025.
That makes December the 10th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.5×) and the January low (0.4×).
On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 70/100 ("Good"), versus the top-rated January at 78/100 — the best overall balance of crowds and daylight.
Because June, July and August together draw about 36% 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 141,840 recreation visits, up 2.7% from 138,108 in 2023.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 38.8%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
Frequently Asked Questions
December is quiet at Pennsylvania Avenue (about 0.5× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good". The single best month overall is January.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. December sits at about 0.5× the park's average, or 5% of annual visitation.
A typical December sees about 9,000 recreation visits at Pennsylvania Avenue, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1986–2025.
Where to stay near Pennsylvania Avenue in December
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Top-rated places to stay near Pennsylvania Avenue
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in December.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1986–2025). Updated 2026-07-14.