How Crowded Is Steamtown National Historic Site in December?

December runs about 0.8× Steamtown National Historic Site's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 7% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees roughly 5,600 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1989 to 2025.

That makes December the 8th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the August peak (1.9×) and the January low (0.3×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 28/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated May at 64/100 — 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 40°F and an overnight low around 26°F, with about 2.8" of precipitation and roughly 8" of snow.

That average of about 33°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 40% 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 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2024 drew 60,243 recreation visits, up 3.2% from 58,403 in 2023.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 26.4%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.