How Crowded Is Washington Monument in December?
December runs about 0.8× Washington Monument's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 7% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.
In a typical December the park sees about 32,000 recreation visits, 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 August peak (1.3×) and the February low (0.7×).
On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 69/100 ("Good"), versus the top-rated February at 81/100 — the best overall balance of crowds and daylight.
Because June, July and August together draw about 31% 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 9.3 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.
Park-wide, 2024 drew 247,208 recreation visits, down 0.6% from 248,750 in 2023.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 38.5%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
Frequently Asked Questions
December is quiet at Washington Monument (about 0.8× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good". The single best month overall is February.
The busiest month is August and the quietest is February. December sits at about 0.8× the park's average, or 7% of annual visitation.
A typical December sees about 32,000 recreation visits at Washington Monument, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Washington Monument in December
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Top-rated places to stay near Washington Monument
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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). Updated 2026-07-14.