Best Time to Visit Virginia National Parks
Virginia has 19 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 |
| George WashingtonMemorial Parkway | 6,732,932 | September | Aug | Jan |
| AppalachianNational Scenic Trail | 6,215,118 | September | Jul | Feb |
| Assateague IslandNational Seashore | 2,325,195 | October | Jul | Dec |
| ShenandoahNational Park | 1,682,152 | May | Oct | Jan |
| ColonialNational Historical Park | 1,582,994 | February | Jul | Feb |
| Fredericksburg & SpotsylvaniaNational Military Park | 765,991 | September | Jul | Feb |
| Cumberland GapNational Historical Park | 765,010 | September | Oct | Jan |
| Harpers FerryNational Historical Park | 537,876 | September | Jul | Jan |
| PetersburgNational Battlefield | 494,358 | October | Aug | Jan |
| ManassasNational Battlefield Park | 473,482 | May | Apr | Jan |
| Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts | 437,413 | May | Jul | Feb |
| Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial | 363,284 | January | May | Jan |
| Prince William ForestPark | 339,015 | April | Jul | Jan |
| RichmondNational Battlefield Park | 149,545 | September | Oct | Jan |
| Appomattox Court HouseNational Historical Park | 77,496 | October | Jun | Jan |
| George Washington BirthplaceNational Monument | 72,072 | September | Jul | Jan |
| Booker T WashingtonNational Monument | 24,209 | January | Jun | Jan |
| Maggie L WalkerNational Historic Site | 6,310 | January | Jul | Jan |