Tumacácori National Historical Park in December
December at Tumacácori National Historical Park averages a daytime high near 63°F and an overnight low around 32°F, with about 1" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 2.2× the park's average month, which makes December a very busy month here.
- Average low
- 32°F
- Average high
- 63°F
Range across the year: 32°F to 95°F
- Precipitation
- 1.0 in
- Daylight
- 10.0 hours
Roughly 18% of the park's yearly visitors come in December: roughly 6,900 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
It is the single busiest month of the year at Tumacácori; August, the quietest, runs only about 0.4× the average — a 6-to-1 swing between high and low season.
On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 24/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is October: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 47°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 0.1 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 9% 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 10 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.
Park-wide, 2024 drew 35,256 recreation visits, down 6.9% from 37,872 in 2023.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 20.6%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
How December compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 71°F / 38°F | 0.9× Average | 61 Good |
| December | 63°F / 32°F | 2.2× Very busy | 24 Poor |
| January | 63°F / 32°F | 1.2× Busy | 46 Fair |
All twelve months at Tumacácori, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Tumacácori in December
The National Park Service tags 10 Tumacácori activities for winter. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- See More Missions · 4 hours · reservation required
- Hike the Anza Trail from Tumacácori to Tubac, AZ · 2-6 hours
- Indulge Your Senses
- Join a Guided Tour · 1-4 hours · reservation required
- Admire Art and Architecture · 20-60 minutes
- Become a Tumacácori Junior Ranger · 30-60 minutes
- Explore the Mission Grounds · 10-60 minutes
- Go Natural in a Historical Park
Frequently Asked Questions
December averages a daytime high near 63°F and an overnight low around 32°F at Tumacácori National Historical Park, with about 1 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 0.1 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
December is very busy at Tumacácori National Historical Park (about 2.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 24/100. Our recommended month is October.
The busiest month is December and the quietest is August. December sits at about 2.2× the park's average, or 18% of annual visitation.
A typical December sees about 7,000 recreation visits at Tumacácori National Historical Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Tumacácori in December
Booking a December trip to Tumacácori National Historical Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live December availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Tumacácori
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in December.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.