Our recommendation
Visit World War II Memorial in September
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, May is the most crowded month (~1.4× the average month) and January is the quietest.
Annual visits
4.0M
2025
Busiest month
May
1.4× avg
Quietest month
Jan
0.4× avg
10-yr trend
rising
+7.9%
How crowded is World War II Memorial by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 2004–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 43 Poor | 45°F / 30°F | 9.6 h |
| February | Very quiet | 44 Poor | 48°F / 32°F | 10.5 h |
| March | Average | 36 Poor | 57°F / 39°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Busy | 40 Poor | 68°F / 48°F | 13.0 h |
| May | Busy | 50 Fair | 77°F / 58°F | 14.1 h |
| June | Busy | 48 Fair | 85°F / 68°F | 14.7 h |
| July | Busy | 45 Fair | 90°F / 72°F | 14.5 h |
| August | Average | 50 Fair | 88°F / 71°F | 13.5 h |
| September★ best | Average | 59 Fair | 81°F / 64°F | 12.2 h |
| October | Average | 50 Fair | 69°F / 52°F | 11.0 h |
| November | Quiet | 47 Fair | 58°F / 42°F | 9.8 h |
| December | Quiet | 41 Poor | 49°F / 35°F | 9.3 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USW00013743, ~2.9 mi away).
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About visiting World War II Memorial
World War II Memorial is a unit of the National Park System in DC and one of the busier parks in the system, drawing about 4.0 million recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has climbed over the past decade, up roughly 7.9%, so crowds are trending heavier each year. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: May is the busiest month at about 1.4× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.4× — a 4-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 31% 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 81°F in July down to about 38°F in January, with the wettest stretch in July and meaningful snowfall around February. About 6 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 May rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.3 hours in midwinter to 14.7 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 2004–2025 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
Through stone architecture and bronze sculptures, the World War II Memorial recognizes the ways Americans served, honors those who fell, and recognizes the victory they achieved to restore freedom and end tyranny around the globe.
Weather & conditions
Washington DC gets to see all four seasons. Humidity will make the temps feel hotter in summer and colder in winter. Spring (March - May) Temp: Average high is 65.5 degrees with a low of 46.5 degrees Summer (June - August) Temp: Average high is 86 degrees with a low of 68.5 degrees Fall (September - November) Temp: Average high is 68 degrees with a low of 51.5 degrees Winter (December - February) Temp: Average high is 45 degrees with a low of 30 degrees (Source: www.usclimatedata.com)
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near World War II Memorial
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near World War II Memorial — 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 World War II Memorial
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Getting to World War II Memorial
The nearest airport is Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), about 4 mi (9 min drive) away. Most visitors reach World War II Memorial by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at World War II Memorial. The park is busiest in May (about 1.4× the average month) and quietest in January.
May is the busiest month at World War II Memorial, running roughly 1.4 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at World War II Memorial, at about 0.4× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
World War II Memorial recorded about 3,993,717 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been rising over the past decade (+7.9%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at World War II Memorial averages about 81°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) is the closest airport to World War II Memorial, about 4 mi (9 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
0 mi away · best in January
0 mi away · best in February
0 mi away · best in September
0 mi away · best in September
0 mi away · best in January
0 mi away · best in February
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near World War II Memorial
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.
- Goose Creek Reservoir water qualityGrade A · 28 mi · VA
- Beaverdam Creek Reservior Lake water qualityGrade A · 28 mi · VA
- Beaverdam Creek Reservoir water qualityGrade A · 28 mi · VA
- Smith Lake water qualityGrade A · 34 mi · VA
- Burke Lake water qualityGrade C · 16 mi · VA
Beach water quality near World War II Memorial
Beaches within a 40-mile drive, graded on multi-year bacteria sampling from EPA BEACON — worth checking before you plan a swim day.
- Bay Ridge At Bay Dr. water qualityGrade A · 31 mi · MD
- Highland Beach water qualityGrade A · 31 mi · MD
- Chesapeake Station water qualityGrade A · 31 mi · MD
- Bay Ridge At River Dr. water qualityGrade A · 32 mi · MD
- Hunters Harbor water qualityGrade A · 34 mi · MD
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (2004–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.