How Crowded Is Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in December?

December runs about 0.3× Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 3% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees about 850 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1998 to 2025.

That makes December the 10th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the June peak (1.7×) and the January low (0.2×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 39/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated October at 45/100 — 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 45°F and an overnight low around 23°F, with about 1.2" of precipitation and roughly 4" of snow.

That average of about 34°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 38% 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, 2025 drew 27,531 recreation visits, down 8.1% from 29,955 in 2024.