Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit New York State Parks & National Parks
New York has 23 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.
The 153 New York state parks are listed in their own section below the national park table. Crowd levels are shown for national park units only; for state parks the best month reflects weather and daylight.
Reviewed by WhenToVisitParks Editorial Team · Updated
New York parks on the map
Click a marker for the park page, or use Where to stay in the table.
Ways to pick a New York park
Quietest months
- Governors Island — December
- Stonewall — September
- Women's Rights — February
- Upper Delaware — December
Most-visited
- Gateway — 7,696,939 visits
- Appalachian — 6,215,118 visits
- Castle Clinton — 3,656,350 visits
- Statue Of Liberty — 3,538,231 visits
Most-visited parks in New York
Best in OctoberGateway
National Recreation Area, New York, New Jersey
Appalachian
National Scenic Trail, Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia
Best in SeptemberCastle Clinton
National Monument, New York
Statue Of Liberty
National Monument, New York
Stonewall
National Monument, New York
Best in OctoberGovernors Island
National Monument, New York
| Park | Annual visits | Best time | Busiest | Quietest | Stays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GatewayNational Recreation Area | 7,696,939 | October | Jul | Feb | Where to stay → |
| AppalachianNational Scenic Trail | 6,215,118 | September | Jul | Feb | Where to stay → |
| Castle ClintonNational Monument | 3,656,350 | September | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Statue Of LibertyNational Monument | 3,538,231 | September | Jul | Feb | Where to stay → |
| StonewallNational Monument | 2,302,641 | August | Jun | Sep | Where to stay → |
| Governors IslandNational Monument | 522,859 | October | Aug | Dec | Where to stay → |
| Upper DelawareScenic & Recreational River | 380,245 | May | Jul | Dec | Where to stay → |
| Fire IslandNational Seashore | 305,520 | May | Aug | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Vanderbilt MansionNational Historic Site | 295,040 | June | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Sagamore HillNational Historic Site | 122,124 | May | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| SaratogaNational Historical Park | 119,249 | May | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| General GrantNational Memorial | 110,602 | October | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Home Of Franklin D RooseveltNational Historic Site | 101,927 | May | Oct | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Fort StanwixNational Monument | 77,507 | May | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Hamilton GrangeNational Memorial | 63,647 | September | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Federal HallNational Memorial | 63,314 | September | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| African Burial GroundNational Monument | 36,007 | September | Oct | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Women's RightsNational Historical Park | 27,346 | May | Jul | Feb | Where to stay → |
| Theodore Roosevelt InauguralNational Historic Site | 26,787 | May | Jun | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Theodore Roosevelt BirthplaceNational Historic Site | 25,086 | June | Oct | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Martin Van BurenNational Historic Site | 15,807 | May | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Eleanor RooseveltNational Historic Site | 13,586 | May | Oct | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Saint Paul's ChurchNational Historic Site | 12,135 | August | Oct | Aug | Where to stay → |
New York State Parks
153 state parks, with the month that usually brings the most comfortable weather and the longest days, where a nearby weather record exists.
- Alfred E. Smith/Sunken Meadow State ParkUsually best in June · about 3,100 acresOfficial park page
- Allegany State ParkUsually best in July · about 63,000 acresOfficial park page
- Amherst State ParkUsually best in June · about 79 acresOfficial state park listing
- Amsterdam Beach State ParkUsually best in June · about 200 acresOfficial state park listing
- Barcelona Lighthouse State Historic SiteUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Battle Island State ParkUsually best in August · about 180 acresOfficial park page
- Bayard Cutting Arboretum State ParkUsually best in June · about 730 acresOfficial park page
- Bayswater Point State ParkUsually best in SeptemberOfficial park page
- Bear Mountain State ParkUsually best in June · about 5,500 acresOfficial park page
- Beaver Island State ParkUsually best in June · about 950 acresOfficial park page
- Beechwood State ParkUsually best in August · about 280 acresOfficial state park listing
- Belmont Lake State ParkUsually best in June · about 510 acresOfficial park page
- Bethpage State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,500 acresOfficial park page
- Betty and Wilbur Davis State ParkUsually best in July · about 230 acresOfficial park page
- Blauvelt State ParkUsually best in June · about 620 acresOfficial park page
- Bonavista State ParkUsually best in June · about 250 acresOfficial park page
- Bowman Lake State ParkUsually best in July · about 1,100 acresOfficial park page
- Braddock Bay State ParkUsually best in June · about 380 acresOfficial state park listing
- Brentwood State ParkUsually best in June · about 52 acresOfficial park page
- Bristol Beach State ParkUsually best in July · about 200 acresOfficial state park listing
- Brookhaven State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,700 acresOfficial park page
- Buckhorn Island State ParkUsually best in June · about 890 acresOfficial park page
- Buffalo Harbor State ParkUsually best in June · about 190 acresOfficial park page
- Burnham Point State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Buttermilk Falls State ParkUsually best in July · about 820 acresOfficial park page
- Camp Hero State ParkUsually best in June · about 750 acresOfficial park page
- Canoe-Picnic Point State ParkUsually best in July · about 76 acresOfficial park page
- Captree State ParkUsually best in June · about 470 acresOfficial park page
- Cayuga Lake State ParkUsually best in August · about 140 acresOfficial park page
- Cedar Island State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Cedar Point State ParkUsually best in July · about 46 acresOfficial park page
- Chenango Valley State ParkUsually best in July · about 1,100 acresOfficial park page
- Cherry Plain State ParkUsually best in July · about 180 acresOfficial park page
- Chimney Bluffs State ParkUsually best in August · about 620 acresOfficial park page
- Chittenango Falls State ParkUsually best in July · about 180 acresOfficial park page
- Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Cold Spring Harbor State ParkUsually best in June · about 48 acresOfficial park page
- Coles Creek State ParkUsually best in August · about 1,900 acresOfficial park page
- Crab Island State ParkUsually best in August · about 43 acresOfficial state park listing
- Croil Island State ParkUsually best in August · about 720 acresOfficial state park listing
- Cumberland Bay State ParkUsually best in August · about 310 acresOfficial park page
- Darien Lakes State ParkUsually best in August · about 1,800 acresOfficial park page
- Delta Lake State ParkUsually best in August · about 530 acresOfficial park page
- Denny Farrell Riverbank State ParkUsually best in September · about 27 acresOfficial park page
- DeVeaux Woods State ParkUsually best in June · about 49 acresOfficial park page
- DeWolf Point State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Donald J. Trump State ParkUsually best in June · about 440 acresOfficial state park listing
- Eel Weir State ParkUsually best in AugustOfficial park page
- Evangola State ParkUsually best in August · about 750 acresOfficial park page
- Fair Haven Beach State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,100 acresOfficial park page
- Fillmore Glen State ParkUsually best in July · about 940 acresOfficial park page
- Fort Niagara State ParkUsually best in June · about 270 acresOfficial park page
- Four Mile Creek State ParkUsually best in June · about 280 acresOfficial park page
- Franklin D. Roosevelt State ParkUsually best in June · about 850 acresOfficial park page
- Franny Reese Preserve State ParkUsually best in June · about 250 acresOfficial park page
- Galop Island State ParkUsually best in August · about 710 acresOfficial state park listing
- Gantry Plaza State ParkUsually best in SeptemberOfficial park page
- Gilbert Lake State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Gilgo State ParkUsually best in June · about 2,800 acresOfficial park page
- Glimmerglass State ParkUsually best in July · about 590 acresOfficial park page
- Golden Hill State ParkUsually best in June · about 370 acresOfficial park page
- Grafton Lakes State ParkUsually best in July · about 2,600 acresOfficial park page
- Grass Point State ParkUsually best in July · about 110 acresOfficial park page
- Green Lakes State ParkUsually best in June · about 2,200 acresOfficial park page
- Hamlin Beach State ParkUsually best in June · about 990 acresOfficial park page
- Harriman State ParkUsually best in June · about 49,000 acresOfficial park page
- Haverstraw Beach State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial state park listing
- Heckscher State ParkUsually best in June · about 2,100 acresOfficial park page
- Helen L. McNitt State ParkUsually best in July · about 140 acresOfficial park page
- Hempstead Lake State ParkUsually best in June · about 490 acresOfficial park page
- High Tor State ParkUsually best in June · about 700 acresOfficial park page
- Highland Lakes State ParkUsually best in June · about 3,100 acresOfficial park page
- Higley Flow State ParkUsually best in July · about 1,100 acresOfficial park page
- Hither Hills State ParkUsually best in June · about 4,300 acresOfficial park page
- Hook Mountain State ParkUsually best in June · about 710 acresOfficial state park listing
- Hudson River Islands State ParkUsually best in June · about 190 acresOfficial park page
- Jacques Cartier State ParkUsually best in July · about 460 acresOfficial park page
- James Baird State ParkUsually best in June · about 780 acresOfficial park page
- John Boyd Thacher State ParkUsually best in August · about 2,500 acresOfficial park page
- Jones Beach State ParkUsually best in September · about 6,000 acresOfficial park page
- Joseph Davis State ParkUsually best in June · about 370 acresOfficial park page
- Keewaydin State ParkUsually best in July · about 280 acresOfficial park page
- Keuka Lake State ParkUsually best in June · about 630 acresOfficial park page
- Knox Farm State ParkUsually best in July · about 670 acresOfficial park page
- Kring Point State ParkUsually best in July · about 54 acresOfficial park page
- Lake Erie State ParkUsually best in June · about 370 acresOfficial park page
- Lake Superior State ParkUsually best in August · about 1,400 acresOfficial park page
- Lake Taghkanic State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,700 acresOfficial park page
- Letchworth State ParkUsually best in August · about 14,000 acresOfficial park page
- Long Point State ParkUsually best in AugustOfficial park page
- Margaret Lewis Norrie State ParkUsually best in June · about 400 acresOfficial park page
- Mark Twain State ParkUsually best in August · about 470 acresOfficial park page
- Marsha P. Johnson State ParkUsually best in SeptemberOfficial park page
- Mary Island State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Max V. Shaul State ParkUsually best in July · about 75 acresOfficial park page
- Mexico Point State ParkUsually best in July · about 120 acresOfficial park page
- Midway State ParkUsually best in June · about 41 acresOfficial park page
- Mine Kill State ParkUsually best in July · about 460 acresOfficial park page
- Montauk Downs State ParkUsually best in June · about 170 acresOfficial park page
- Montauk Point State ParkUsually best in June · about 2,300 acresOfficial park page
- Moreau Lake State ParkUsually best in August · about 6,600 acresOfficial park page
- Napeague State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,400 acresOfficial state park listing
- Nissequogue River State ParkUsually best in June · about 510 acresOfficial park page
- Nyack Beach State ParkUsually best in June · about 84 acresOfficial park page
- Ogden Mills and Ruth Livingston Mills Memorial State ParkUsually best in June · about 570 acresOfficial park page
- Oquaga Creek State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,300 acresOfficial park page
- Orient Beach State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,100 acresOfficial park page
- Palisades State ParkUsually best in June · about 33 acresOfficial state park listing
- Peebles Island State ParkUsually best in June · about 190 acresOfficial park page
- Pinnacle State ParkUsually best in August · about 710 acresOfficial state park listing
- Pixley Falls State ParkUsually best in July · about 380 acresOfficial park page
- Point Au Roche State ParkUsually best in June · about 820 acresOfficial park page
- Reservoir State ParkUsually best in June · about 130 acresOfficial park page
- Robert G. Wehle State ParkUsually best in July · about 1,100 acresOfficial park page
- Robert H. Treman State ParkUsually best in July · about 1,100 acresOfficial park page
- Robert Moses State ParkUsually best in July · about 3,700 acresOfficial park page
- Robert V. Riddell State ParkUsually best in July · about 2,700 acresOfficial park page
- Roberto Clemente State ParkUsually best in SeptemberOfficial park page
- Rock Island Lighthouse State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Rockefeller State Park PreserveUsually best in June · about 1,800 acresOfficial park page
- Rockland Lake State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,100 acresOfficial park page
- Sampson State ParkUsually best in June · about 2,000 acresOfficial park page
- Sandy Island Beach State ParkUsually best in July · about 250 acresOfficial park page
- Saratoga Spa State ParkUsually best in June · about 2,000 acresOfficial park page
- Schodack Island State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,200 acresOfficial park page
- Schunnemunk State ParkUsually best in June · about 4,500 acresOfficial park page
- Selkirk Shores State ParkUsually best in July · about 1,000 acresOfficial park page
- Seneca Lake State ParkUsually best in August · about 160 acresOfficial park page
- Shadmoor State ParkUsually best in June · about 99 acresOfficial park page
- Shirley Chisholm State ParkUsually best in September · about 410 acresOfficial park page
- Silver Lake State ParkUsually best in July · about 780 acresOfficial park page
- Sojourner Truth State ParkUsually best in June · about 510 acresOfficial park page
- Southwick Beach State ParkUsually best in July · about 480 acresOfficial park page
- St. Lawrence State ParkUsually best in August · about 310 acresOfficial park page
- Sterling Forest State ParkUsually best in June · about 19,000 acresOfficial park page
- Stony Brook State ParkUsually best in June · about 550 acresOfficial park page
- Storm King State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,900 acresOfficial park page
- Taconic State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Tallman Mountain State ParkUsually best in June · about 680 acresOfficial park page
- Taughannock Falls State ParkUsually best in July · about 840 acresOfficial park page
- Trail View State ParkUsually best in June · about 480 acresOfficial park page
- Two Rivers State ParkUsually best in June · about 560 acresOfficial park page
- Valley Stream State ParkUsually best in September · about 78 acresOfficial park page
- Verona Beach State ParkUsually best in July · about 1,700 acresOfficial park page
- Waterson Point State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Watkins Glen State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Wellesley Island State ParkUsually best in July · about 2,800 acresOfficial park page
- Westcott Beach State ParkUsually best in July · about 310 acresOfficial park page
- Whetstone Gulf State ParkUsually best in July · about 1,900 acresOfficial park page
- Wildwood State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,800 acresOfficial park page
- Wilson-Tuscarora State ParkUsually best in June · about 480 acresOfficial park page
- Wonder Lake State ParkUsually best in August · about 1,200 acresOfficial park page
- Woodlawn Beach State ParkUsually best in June · about 100 acresOfficial park page
State park listings come from the New York state park agency. Boundaries and acreage come from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Best-month estimates use NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals and computed daylight.
CSV
New York park crowd calendar (23 parks, all 12 months)
Download the full best-months table for all 23 of New York's national parks — each park's month-by-month crowd index (1.0 = its average month), busiest and quietest months, and Best-Time-to-Visit score. Built from NPS visitation data. Enter your email to download. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Where to stay near New York's national parks
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Top-rated places to stay near New York national parks
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