Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit Thomas Stone National Historic Site
National Historic SiteMaryland
Best month to visit
June
84°F / 66°F avg high / low
Our recommendation
Visit Thomas Stone in June
June offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, September is the most crowded month (~1.7× the average month) and January is the quietest.
- Annual visits
- 5K
- 2024
- Busiest month
- Sep
- 1.7× avg
- Quietest month
- Jan
- 0.3× avg
- 10-yr trend
- falling
- -50.2%
How crowded is Thomas Stone by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 1992–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
Thomas Stone National Historic Site weather by month →
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 43 Poor | 45°F / 28°F | 9.6 h |
| February | Very quiet | 44 Poor | 48°F / 30°F | 10.6 h |
| March | Quiet | 45 Fair | 56°F / 37°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Busy | 49 Fair | 68°F / 47°F | 13.0 h |
| May | Busy | 65 Good | 76°F / 57°F | 14.1 h |
| Juneour pick | Average | 64 Good | 84°F / 66°F | 14.7 h |
| July | Busy | 44 Poor | 88°F / 71°F | 14.4 h |
| August | Average | 58 Fair | 86°F / 69°F | 13.5 h |
| September | Very busy | 45 Fair | 80°F / 62°F | 12.2 h |
| October | Busy | 51 Fair | 69°F / 50°F | 11.0 h |
| November | Average | 43 Poor | 58°F / 39°F | 9.9 h |
| December | Quiet | 33 Poor | 49°F / 32°F | 9.3 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USW00013773, ~14.6 mi away).
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About visiting Thomas Stone
Thomas Stone National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in MD and one of the system's hidden, low-traffic units, drawing about 5,000 recreation visits in 2024. Visitation has eased over the past decade, down about 50.2%. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: September is the busiest month at about 1.7× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.3× — a 5-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 27% 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 79°F in July down to about 37°F in January, with the wettest stretch in July and meaningful snowfall around February. About 7 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 June: 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 September rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.3 hours in midwinter to 14.7 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 1992–2025 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
In 1776, Thomas Stone and 55 others signed the Declaration of Independence. In doing so, Stone risked his home, his family's security, and even his life to support the Declaration of Independence's promise of freedom.
Weather & conditions
Thomas Stone National Historic Site experiences all four seasons. Temperatures can be very warm and humid in the summer months and wet and rainy in the winter months.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Thomas Stone
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Thomas Stone National Historic Site — live availability and prices to plan your trip. June is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather. Full lodging guide: when to book, gateway vs in-park, and the crowd calendar that drives room rates.
Top-rated places to stay near Thomas Stone
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
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Getting to Thomas Stone
The nearest airport is Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), about 31 mi (58 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Thomas Stone by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
June offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at Thomas Stone National Historic Site. The park is busiest in September (about 1.7× the average month) and quietest in January.
September is the busiest month at Thomas Stone National Historic Site, running roughly 1.7 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Thomas Stone National Historic Site, at about 0.3× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Thomas Stone National Historic Site recorded about 4,538 recreation visits in 2024. Visitation has been falling over the past decade (-50.2%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Thomas Stone National Historic Site averages about 79°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) is the closest airport to Thomas Stone National Historic Site, about 31 mi (58 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
11 mi away · best in September
13 mi away · best in October
19 mi away · best in April
23 mi away · best in September
24 mi away · best in September
24 mi away · best in September
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Thomas Stone
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.
- Smith Lake water qualityGrade A · 20 mi · VA
- Upper Lake water qualityGrade A · 30 mi · VA
- Near Spillway Lake Mooney water qualityGrade A · 31 mi · VA
- Motts Run Reservoir water qualityGrade A · 32 mi · VA
- Hunting Run Reservior Lake water qualityGrade A · 35 mi · VA
Beach water quality near Thomas Stone
Beaches within a 40-mile drive, graded on multi-year bacteria sampling from EPA BEACON — worth checking before you plan a swim day.
- Chesapeake Station water qualityGrade A · 29 mi · MD
- Flag Harbor water qualityGrade A · 31 mi · MD
- Cedar Cove Community Beach water qualityGrade A · 39 mi · MD
- Breezy Point water qualityGrade B · 29 mi · MD
- Cape Anne water qualityGrade B · 34 mi · MD
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1992–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.