Valley Forge National Historical Park in December
December at Valley Forge National Historical Park averages a daytime high near 45°F and an overnight low around 27°F, with about 4.1" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 0.6× the park's average month, which makes December a quiet month here.
- Average low
- 27°F
- Average high
- 45°F
Range across the year: 23°F to 88°F
- Precipitation
- 4.1 in
- Daylight
- 9.2 hours
Roughly 5% of the park's yearly visitors come in December: about 91,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes December the 11th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.5×) and the January low (0.4×).
On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 41/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is September: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 36°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 2.6 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 35% 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 9.2 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 1,819,086 recreation visits, down 2.5% from 1,866,480 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 18.9%, 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 | 56°F / 34°F | 0.9× Average | 40 Poor |
| December | 45°F / 27°F | 0.6× Quiet | 41 Poor |
| January | 41°F / 23°F | 0.4× Very quiet | 43 Poor |
All twelve months at Valley Forge, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Valley Forge in December
The National Park Service tags 12 Valley Forge activities for winter. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Be a Valley Forge B.A.R.K. Ranger · 10-30 minutes
- Be a Valley Forge Junior Ranger · 1-2 hours
- Bike the Joseph Plumb Martin Loop
- Dial in to the Cell Phone Guide · 2-120 minutes
- Explore the Valley Forge Encampment Museum Exhibit · 20-60 minutes
- Explore the Washington's Wartime Family Exhibit · 5-30 minutes
- Walk or Run the Joseph Plumb Martin Trail
- Watch the Park Orientation Film · 19 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
December averages a daytime high near 45°F and an overnight low around 27°F at Valley Forge National Historical Park, with about 4.1 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 2.6 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
December is quiet at Valley Forge National Historical Park (about 0.6× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 41/100. Our recommended month is September.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. December sits at about 0.6× the park's average, or 5% of annual visitation.
A typical December sees about 91,000 recreation visits at Valley Forge National Historical Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Valley Forge in December
Booking a December trip to Valley Forge National Historical Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live December availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Valley Forge
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.
Visiting Valley Forge in December?
Get crowd forecasts and lodging deals for Valley Forge by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.