Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit Pennsylvania State Parks & National Parks
Pennsylvania has 17 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 114 Pennsylvania 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
Pennsylvania parks on the map
Click a marker for the park page, or use Where to stay in the table.
Ways to pick a Pennsylvania park
Quietest months
- Johnstown Flood — January
- Eisenhower — January
- Flight 93 — January
- Fort Necessity — January
Most-visited
- Appalachian — 6,215,118 visits
- Delaware Water Gap — 3,986,709 visits
- Independence — 1,926,580 visits
- Valley Forge — 1,819,086 visits
Most-visited parks in Pennsylvania
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 OctoberDelaware Water Gap
National Recreation Area, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
Best in OctoberIndependence
National Historical Park, Pennsylvania
Valley Forge
National Historical Park, Pennsylvania
Best in SeptemberGettysburg
National Military Park, Pennsylvania
Upper Delaware
Scenic & Recreational River, New York, Pennsylvania
| Park | Annual visits | Best time | Busiest | Quietest | Stays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AppalachianNational Scenic Trail | 6,215,118 | September | Jul | Feb | Where to stay → |
| Delaware Water GapNational Recreation Area | 3,986,709 | October | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| IndependenceNational Historical Park | 1,926,580 | October | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Valley ForgeNational Historical Park | 1,819,086 | September | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| GettysburgNational Military Park | 730,398 | September | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Upper DelawareScenic & Recreational River | 380,245 | May | Jul | Dec | Where to stay → |
| Flight 93National Memorial | 286,079 | May | Sep | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Fort NecessityNational Battlefield | 225,783 | May | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| First StateNational Historical Park | 200,173 | September | Oct | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Allegheny Portage RailroadNational Historic Site | 162,905 | May | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| EisenhowerNational Historic Site | 75,328 | April | Sep | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Johnstown FloodNational Memorial | 74,977 | June | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| SteamtownNational Historic Site | 60,243 | May | Aug | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Hopewell FurnaceNational Historic Site | 48,776 | October | Aug | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Friendship HillNational Historic Site | 18,080 | October | Sep | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Edgar Allan PoeNational Historic Site | 15,473 | September | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
| Thaddeus KosciuszkoNational Memorial | 1,682 | October | Jul | Jan | Where to stay → |
Pennsylvania State Parks
114 state parks, with the month that usually brings the most comfortable weather and the longest days, where a nearby weather record exists.
- Allegheny Islands State ParkUsually best in June · about 38 acresOfficial park page
- Archbald Pothole State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Bald Eagle State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Beltzville State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Bendigo State ParkUsually best in July · about 160 acresOfficial park page
- Benjamin Rush State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Big Elk Creek State ParkUsually best in September · about 1,900 acresOfficial park page
- Big Pocono State ParkUsually best in July · about 1,300 acresOfficial park page
- Big Spring State ParkUsually best in June · about 45 acresOfficial park page
- Black Moshannon State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Blue Knob State ParkUsually best in June · about 6,200 acresOfficial park page
- Buchanan's Birthplace State ParkUsually best in SeptemberOfficial park page
- Caledonia State ParkUsually best in June · about 1,100 acresOfficial park page
- Canoe Creek State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Chapman State ParkUsually best in AugustOfficial park page
- Cherry Springs State ParkUsually best in July · about 140 acresOfficial park page
- Clear Creek State ParkUsually best in July · about 1,800 acresOfficial park page
- Codorus State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Colonel Denning State ParkUsually best in June · about 260 acresOfficial park page
- Colton Point State ParkUsually best in July · about 380 acresOfficial park page
- Cook Forest State ParkUsually best in July · about 11,000 acresOfficial park page
- Cowans Gap State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Delaware Canal State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Denton Hill State ParkUsually best in July · about 840 acresOfficial park page
- Elk State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Erie Bluffs State ParkUsually best in June · about 620 acresOfficial park page
- Evansburg State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Fort Washington State ParkUsually best in SeptemberOfficial park page
- Fowlers Hollow State ParkUsually best in June · about 100 acresOfficial park page
- Frances Slocum State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- French Creek State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Gifford Pinchot State ParkUsually best in SeptemberOfficial park page
- Gouldsboro State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Greenwood Furnace State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Hickory Run State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Hillman State ParkUsually best in June · about 3,700 acresOfficial park page
- Hills Creek State ParkUsually best in AugustOfficial park page
- Hyner Run State ParkUsually best in June · about 190 acresOfficial park page
- Hyner View State ParkUsually best in June · about 48 acresOfficial park page
- Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation AreaUsually best in June · about 380 acresOfficial park page
- Kettle Creek State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Keystone State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Kinzua Bridge State ParkUsually best in July · about 320 acresOfficial park page
- Kooser State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Lackawanna State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Laurel Hill State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Laurel Mountain State ParkUsually best in July · about 490 acresOfficial park page
- Laurel Ridge State ParkUsually best in July · about 15,000 acresOfficial park page
- Laurel Summit State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Lehigh Gorge State Park (South)Usually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Leonard Harrison State ParkUsually best in July · about 570 acresOfficial park page
- Linn Run State ParkUsually best in June · about 630 acresOfficial park page
- Little Buffalo State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Little Pine State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Locust Lake State ParkUsually best in AugustOfficial park page
- Lyman Run State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Marsh Creek State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Maurice K. Goddard State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- McCalls Dam State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- McConnells Mill State ParkUsually best in June · about 2,800 acresOfficial park page
- Memorial Lake State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Milton State ParkUsually best in June · about 98 acresOfficial park page
- Mont Alto State ParkUsually best in June · about 26 acresOfficial park page
- Moraine State ParkUsually best in AugustOfficial park page
- Mount Pisgah State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Nescopeck State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Neshaminy State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Nockamixon State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Ohiopyle State ParkUsually best in July · about 20,000 acresOfficial park page
- Oil Creek State ParkUsually best in July · about 7,200 acresOfficial park page
- Ole Bull State ParkUsually best in June · about 140 acresOfficial park page
- Parker Dam State ParkUsually best in AugustOfficial park page
- Patterson State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Penn-Roosevelt State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Pine Grove Furnace State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Poe Paddy State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Poe Valley State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Point State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Presque Isle State ParkUsually best in June · about 2,000 acresOfficial park page
- Prince Gallitzin State ParkUsually best in AugustOfficial park page
- Promised Land State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Prompton State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Prouty Place State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Pymatuning State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Raccoon Creek State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Ralph Stover State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Ravensburg State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Raymond B. Winter State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Reeds Gap State ParkUsually best in June · about 220 acresOfficial park page
- Ricketts Glen State ParkUsually best in AugustOfficial park page
- Ridley Creek State ParkUsually best in MayOfficial park page
- Ryerson Station State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Salt Springs State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Samuel S. Lewis State ParkUsually best in September · about 86 acresOfficial park page
- Sand Bridge State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Shawnee State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Shikellamy State ParkUsually best in June · about 240 acresOfficial park page
- Simon B. Elliott State ParkUsually best in August · about 330 acresOfficial park page
- Sinnemahoning State ParkUsually best in AugustOfficial park page
- Sizerville State ParkUsually best in June · about 430 acresOfficial park page
- Susquehanna Riverlands State ParkUsually best in September · about 1,000 acresOfficial park page
- Susquehanna State ParkUsually best in June · about 53 acresOfficial park page
- Susquehannock State ParkUsually best in September · about 710 acresOfficial park page
- Swatara State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Tobyhanna State ParkUsually best in JulyOfficial park page
- Trough Creek State ParkUsually best in June · about 540 acresOfficial park page
- Tuscarora State ParkUsually best in AugustOfficial park page
- Tyler State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Upper Pine Bottom State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Vosburg Neck State ParkUsually best in July · about 670 acresOfficial park page
- Warriors Path State ParkUsually best in June · about 300 acresOfficial park page
- Whipple Dam State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
- Worlds End State ParkUsually best in July · about 730 acresOfficial park page
- Yellow Creek State ParkUsually best in JuneOfficial park page
State park listings come from the Pennsylvania 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
Pennsylvania park crowd calendar (17 parks, all 12 months)
Download the full best-months table for all 17 of Pennsylvania'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 Pennsylvania's national parks
Find hotels, cabins and vacation rentals across Pennsylvania to base your national-park trip — live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Pennsylvania national parks
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