How Crowded Is Washington Monument in January?
January 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 January.
In a typical January the park sees about 33,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes January the 10th-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 January rates 67/100 ("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 January instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.
You'll have about 9.6 hours of daylight in January 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 January may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
Frequently Asked Questions
January 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. January sits at about 0.8× the park's average, or 7% of annual visitation.
A typical January sees about 33,000 recreation visits at Washington Monument, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Washington Monument in January
Booking a January trip to Washington Monument? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live January availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Washington Monument
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Visiting Washington Monument in January?
Get crowd forecasts and lodging deals for Washington Monument by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in January.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025). Updated 2026-07-14.