Best Time to Visit Washington National Parks
Washington has 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OlympicNational Park | 3,584,187 | May | Aug | Dec |
| Mount RainierNational Park | 1,635,342 | May | Jul | Feb |
| Lake RooseveltNational Recreation Area | 1,183,757 | May | Jul | Dec |
| Fort VancouverNational Historic Site | 1,071,161 | September | Jul | Dec |
| San Juan IslandNational Historical Park | 420,922 | April | Jul | Jan |
| Nez PerceNational Historical Park | 343,910 | July | Aug | Jan |
| Lewis and ClarkNational Historical Park | 244,195 | May | Jul | Dec |
| Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle UnitNational Historical Park | 81,652 | February | Jul | Jan |
| Manhattan ProjectNational Historical Park | 56,390 | May | Jul | Jan |
| Whitman MissionNational Historic Site | 54,089 | August | May | Dec |
| North CascadesNational Park | 46,925 | May | Jul | Jan |
| MinidokaNational Historic Site | 43,539 | September | Jul | Dec |