How Crowded Is Prince William Forest Park in September?
September runs about 1.2× Prince William Forest Park's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 10% of the park's yearly visitors come in September.
In a typical September the park sees about 34,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes September the 5th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.3×) and the January low (0.6×).
On our Best Time to Visit score September rates 51/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated April at 59/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
Typical September weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 80°F and an overnight low around 62°F, with about 3.4" of precipitation.
That average of about 71°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.
Because June, July and August together draw about 32% of annual visitors, choosing September instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.
You'll have about 12.2 hours of daylight in September to explore — between the 9.3-hour midwinter low and the 14.7-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 339,015 recreation visits, down 4.6% from 355,196 in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
September is busy at Prince William Forest Park (about 1.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair". The single best month overall is April.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. September sits at about 1.2× the park's average, or 10% of annual visitation.
A typical September sees about 34,000 recreation visits at Prince William Forest Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Prince William Forest in September
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in September.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-07-14.