Our recommendation
Visit Sunset Crater Volcano in September
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, July is the most crowded month (~1.5× the average month) and January is the quietest.
Annual visits
73K
2024
Busiest month
Jul
1.5× avg
Quietest month
Jan
0.4× avg
10-yr trend
falling
-31.8%
How crowded is Sunset Crater Volcano by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 1979–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 44 Poor | 44°F / 13°F | 9.9 h |
| February | Very quiet | 45 Fair | 47°F / 16°F | 10.7 h |
| March | Busy | 19 Poor | 54°F / 21°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Busy | 26 Poor | 61°F / 27°F | 12.9 h |
| May | Busy | 46 Fair | 70°F / 34°F | 13.9 h |
| June | Busy | 53 Fair | 82°F / 42°F | 14.4 h |
| July | Busy | 51 Fair | 84°F / 49°F | 14.2 h |
| August | Busy | 57 Fair | 81°F / 47°F | 13.3 h |
| September★ best | Average | 52 Fair | 75°F / 40°F | 12.2 h |
| October | Average | 40 Poor | 65°F / 28°F | 11.1 h |
| November | Quiet | 36 Poor | 53°F / 18°F | 10.1 h |
| December | Very quiet | 41 Poor | 44°F / 12°F | 9.6 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00028329, ~1.9 mi away).
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About visiting Sunset Crater Volcano
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is a National Monument in AZ and a relatively quiet park, drawing about 73,000 recreation visits in 2024. Visitation has eased over the past decade, down about 31.8%. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: July is the busiest month at about 1.5× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.4× — a 4-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 34% of the year's visitors arrive in the three summer months of June, July and August alone, so timing a trip outside that window is the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels. Weather swings from an average high-season warmth near 67°F in July down to about 28°F in December, with the wettest stretch in August. About 5 months a year see comfortable average temperatures in the 50–80°F range, which is part of why crowd timing and weather timing don't always line up. The sweet spot is September: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). Visit then and you trade a little peak-season certainty for noticeably shorter lines and easier parking than the July rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.6 hours in midwinter to 14.4 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. A standard private-vehicle entrance pass runs about $25, valid for several days, so a shoulder-season trip stretches that fee across quieter, more comfortable days. These crowd figures are drawn from 1979–2025 of National Park Service visitor-use records, paired with 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals, and are updated as new monthly data is released.
Park overview
The lava flow lies on the land like a dream, a wonderland of rock. A thousand years ago the ground was torn open and lava erupted into the sky, forever changing the landscape and the lives of the people who lived here. A thousand years later, trees and flowers grow among the rocks, and people visit the lava flow to see and remember the most recent volcanic eruption in Arizona.
Weather & conditions
Be prepared for variable and extreme weather conditions. Expect high winds any time of year. Summer temperatures are often above 95ºF (35ºC) and we have afternoon thunderstorms from July through September. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures are common in the winter. Dress in layers, as weather at Sunset Crater Volcano can change quickly at any time of year.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Sunset Crater Volcano
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument — live availability and prices to plan your trip. September is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather.
Top-rated places to stay near Sunset Crater Volcano
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Getting to Sunset Crater Volcano
The nearest airport is Prescott Airport (PRC), about 115 mi (2 hr 18 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Sunset Crater Volcano by car.
Entrance fees
A standard private-vehicle entrance pass is about $25, typically valid for several days.
Frequently Asked Questions
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. The park is busiest in July (about 1.5× the average month) and quietest in January.
July is the busiest month at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, running roughly 1.5 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, at about 0.4× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument recorded about 73,260 recreation visits in 2024. Visitation has been falling over the past decade (-31.8%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument averages about 67°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Prescott Airport (PRC) is the closest airport to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, about 115 mi (2 hr 18 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Sunset Crater Volcano
If you are planning to swim, paddle or fish on this trip, these graded lakes are within a 40-mile drive. Grades are A–F from EPA and state-agency sampling.
- Lake Mary water qualityGrade — · 22 mi · AZ
- Whitehorse Lake water qualityGrade — · 33 mi · AZ
- Kinnikinick Lake water qualityGrade — · 35 mi · AZ
- Dogtown Reservoir water qualityGrade — · 36 mi · AZ
- Dogtown Res. Lake water qualityGrade — · 37 mi · AZ
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.