Our recommendation
Visit Waco Mammoth in September
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, March is the most crowded month (~1.9× the average month) and January is the quietest.
Annual visits
92K
2025
Busiest month
Mar
1.9× avg
Quietest month
Jan
0.5× avg
10-yr trend
steady
-3.2%
How crowded is Waco Mammoth by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 2015–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Quiet | 62 Good | 59°F / 36°F | 10.2 h |
| February | Quiet | 66 Good | 62°F / 40°F | 10.9 h |
| March | Very busy | 36 Poor | 68°F / 48°F | 11.8 h |
| April | Busy | 68 Good | 76°F / 54°F | 12.8 h |
| May | Average | 66 Good | 83°F / 64°F | 13.6 h |
| June | Busy | 57 Fair | 91°F / 72°F | 14.1 h |
| July | Busy | 50 Fair | 95°F / 75°F | 13.9 h |
| August | Quiet | 64 Good | 95°F / 75°F | 13.2 h |
| September★ best | Quiet | 73 Good | 89°F / 68°F | 12.2 h |
| October | Average | 74 Good | 80°F / 57°F | 11.2 h |
| November | Quiet | 66 Good | 68°F / 46°F | 10.4 h |
| December | Quiet | 56 Fair | 60°F / 39°F | 9.9 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00419417, ~2.4 mi away).
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About visiting Waco Mammoth
Waco Mammoth National Monument is a National Monument in TX and a relatively quiet park, drawing about 92,000 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has held fairly steady over the past decade. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: March is the busiest month at about 1.9× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.5× — a 4-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 28% 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 85°F in August down to about 47°F in January, with the wettest stretch in May. 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 September: 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 March rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.9 hours in midwinter to 14.1 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 2015–2025 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
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and only recorded evidence of a nursery herd of ice age Columbian mammoths.
Weather & conditions
The monument enjoys a sunny, mild climate during three seasons of the year. Spring: Temperatures range from 45 F to 85 F (7 C/29 C). Rain is common in April and May. Summer: Temperatures range from 70 F to 95 F (21 C/35 C). Temperatures can exceed 100 F (38 C) in July and August. Lightweight clothing and sunscreen are advisable. Be prepared with plenty of water. Fall: Temperatures range from 45 F to 85 F (7 C/29 C). Winter: Temperatures range from 35 F to 65 F (2 C/18 C) . Snow and ice are rare.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Waco Mammoth
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Waco Mammoth National Monument — live availability and prices to plan your trip. September is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather.
Top-rated places to stay near Waco Mammoth
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Getting to Waco Mammoth
The nearest airport is Dallas Love Field (DAL), about 100 mi (1 hr 53 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Waco Mammoth by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at Waco Mammoth National Monument. The park is busiest in March (about 1.9× the average month) and quietest in January.
March is the busiest month at Waco Mammoth National Monument, running roughly 1.9 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Waco Mammoth National Monument, at about 0.5× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Waco Mammoth National Monument recorded about 91,678 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been steady over the past decade (-3.2%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Waco Mammoth National Monument averages about 85°F (August). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Dallas Love Field (DAL) is the closest airport to Waco Mammoth National Monument, about 100 mi (1 hr 53 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Waco Mammoth
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.
- Whitney Lake water qualityGrade D · 22 mi · TX
- Lake Whitney water qualityGrade D · 30 mi · TX
- Lake Waco water qualityGrade F · 4 mi · TX
- Lake Waco N Bosque Arm water qualityGrade F · 6 mi · TX
- Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir water qualityGrade F · 12 mi · TX
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (2015–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.