Best Time to Visit Arizona National Parks
Arizona has 21 National Park Service units that report visitation. Below, each is ranked by annual visits, with the month our data recommends for the best balance of light crowds, comfortable weather and daylight. Crowds peak in summer almost everywhere — the recommended months show where the quieter shoulder seasons fall.
| Park | Annual visits | Best time | Busiest | Quietest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake MeadNational Recreation Area | 6,135,586 | November | Jun | Dec |
| Grand CanyonNational Park | 4,430,653 | June | Jul | Jan |
| Glen CanyonNational Recreation Area | 3,729,502 | October | Jul | Jan |
| SaguaroNational Park | 847,749 | September | Mar | Sep |
| Petrified ForestNational Park | 559,254 | September | Jun | Jan |
| Montezuma CastleNational Monument | 379,967 | August | Mar | Jan |
| Canyon de ChellyNational Monument | 340,586 | October | Aug | Feb |
| WupatkiNational Monument | 220,205 | October | Jul | Jan |
| Walnut CanyonNational Monument | 187,205 | August | Apr | Jan |
| CoronadoNational Memorial | 179,216 | June | Mar | Jun |
| Organ Pipe CactusNational Monument | 174,623 | May | Mar | Jul |
| TuzigootNational Monument | 108,283 | June | Mar | Aug |
| Casa Grande RuinsNational Monument | 104,429 | May | Mar | Aug |
| Sunset Crater VolcanoNational Monument | 73,260 | September | Jul | Jan |
| ChiricahuaNational Monument | 70,406 | August | Mar | Aug |
| NavajoNational Monument | 58,442 | June | Sep | Jan |
| Hubbell Trading PostNational Historic Site | 45,207 | August | May | Jan |
| TumacácoriNational Historical Park | 35,256 | August | Dec | Aug |
| TontoNational Monument | 30,840 | October | Mar | Aug |
| Pipe SpringNational Monument | 24,530 | August | Sep | Jan |
| Fort BowieNational Historic Site | 8,739 | August | Mar | Aug |