Best Time to Visit North Carolina National Parks
North Carolina has 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue RidgeParkway | 16,533,753 | January | Oct | Jan |
| Great Smoky MountainsNational Park | 11,527,939 | August | Jul | Jan |
| AppalachianNational Scenic Trail | 6,215,118 | September | Jul | Feb |
| Cape HatterasNational Seashore | 2,684,009 | November | Jul | Jan |
| Cape LookoutNational Seashore | 512,737 | March | Jul | Feb |
| Guilford CourthouseNational Military Park | 449,802 | April | Jul | Jan |
| Wright BrothersNational Memorial | 341,576 | January | Jul | Jan |
| Fort RaleighNational Historic Site | 266,775 | October | Jun | Jan |
| Carl Sandburg HomeNational Historic Site | 94,796 | January | Mar | Jan |
| Moores CreekNational Battlefield | 69,079 | September | Feb | Jan |