Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit Timpanogos Cave National Monument
National MonumentUtah
Best month to visit
May
66°F / 44°F avg high / low
Our recommendation
Visit Timpanogos Cave in May
May offers the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months. For comparison, July is the most crowded month (~2.9× the average month) and January is the quietest.
- Annual visits
- 92K
- 2025
- Busiest month
- Jul
- 2.9× avg
- Quietest month
- Jan
- 0.0× avg
- 10-yr trend
- rising
- +18.8%
How crowded is Timpanogos Cave 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
Timpanogos Cave National Monument weather by month →
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 3 Poor | 34°F / 22°F | 9.4 h |
| February | Very quiet | 5 Poor | 40°F / 24°F | 10.5 h |
| March | Very quiet | 16 Poor | 49°F / 31°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Very quiet | 65 Good | 56°F / 35°F | 13.1 h |
| Mayour pick | Average | 66 Good | 66°F / 44°F | 14.2 h |
| June | Very busy | 61 Good | 78°F / 52°F | 14.9 h |
| July | Very busy | 43 Poor | 88°F / 60°F | 14.6 h |
| August | Very busy | 53 Fair | 87°F / 58°F | 13.6 h |
| September | Busy | 66 Good | 76°F / 50°F | 12.3 h |
| October | Average | 58 Fair | 60°F / 39°F | 10.9 h |
| November | Very quiet | 10 Poor | 44°F / 30°F | 9.7 h |
| December | Very quiet | 2 Poor | 33°F / 22°F | 9.1 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00428733, ~0.2 mi away).
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About visiting Timpanogos Cave
Timpanogos Cave National Monument is a National Monument in UT and a relatively quiet park, drawing about 92,000 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has climbed over the past decade, up roughly 18.8%, so crowds are trending heavier each year. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: July is the busiest month at about 2.9× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.0× — a 29-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 64% 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 74°F in July down to about 28°F in December, with the wettest stretch in May. 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 May: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months. 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 9.1 hours in midwinter to 14.9 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. A standard private-vehicle entrance pass runs about $12, 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 visitor center, caves, and cave tours have not yet opened for the 2026 season. Hike your way past stunning vistas to explore a hidden underground world. Taste the thrill of caving as you twist and bend to enter beautifully decorated rooms. Learn the science behind formations and hear stories of cave exploration and preservation. Experience and discover as you go – geologic mysteries await
Weather & conditions
Although inside the caves its always 43-48 F, temperatures on the cave trail can range from the 30s up to above 100 degrees F, depending on time of year. Carrying drinking water is a necessity, especially in summer. In the mountains, weather sometimes presents interesting challenges. The cave and cave trail do not close due to rain, unless that rain is heavy enough to bring rockfall. They will close due to high winds/rockfall, or in lightning storms. Call the visitor center if you have specific concerns.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Timpanogos Cave
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Timpanogos Cave National Monument — live availability and prices to plan your trip. May 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 Timpanogos Cave
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 Timpanogos Cave
The nearest airport is Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), about 39 mi (52 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Timpanogos Cave by car.
Entrance fees
A standard private-vehicle entrance pass is about $12, typically valid for several days.
What takes a reservation at Timpanogos Cave
From National Park Service records read on October 11, 2026. Timed-entry and permit rules change from season to season; the official Timpanogos Cave page has this year's.
Activities the park marks as needing a reservation
Frequently Asked Questions
May offers the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months at Timpanogos Cave National Monument. The park is busiest in July (about 2.9× the average month) and quietest in January.
July is the busiest month at Timpanogos Cave National Monument, running roughly 2.9 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Timpanogos Cave National Monument, at about 0.0× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Timpanogos Cave National Monument recorded about 92,031 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been rising over the past decade (+18.8%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Timpanogos Cave National Monument averages about 74°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is the closest airport to Timpanogos Cave National Monument, about 39 mi (52 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Timpanogos Cave
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.
- Silver Lake Flat Reservoir water qualityGrade A · 5 mi · UT
- Lake Mary water qualityGrade A · 12 mi · UT
- Little Dell Reservoir water qualityGrade A · 23 mi · UT
- Salem Pond water qualityGrade A · 27 mi · UT
- Settlement Canyon Reservoir water qualityGrade A · 31 mi · UT
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.