If you’re wondering about the best US national parks to visit in December, this list will help you out! Whether you’re looking for ideas for a winter break trip, or want to spend the holidays in a national park, there are some epic options across the country.
Winter can be a challenging time to visit many of the US national parks. The high altitude parks usually receive a lot of snow in the winter. The snow can be really pretty, but it means there are a lot of extra considerations for visiting, such as tire chains, road closures, and special hiking gear.
With those factors in mind, I kept this list to the national parks with warmer climates. However, I listed a few national parks at the bottom that are likely to bring about a winter wonderland!
I’m an avid national park traveler who has almost been to all 63 US national parks, and these picks are based on my experiences in the parks. Use this list to come up with ideas for a winter national park trip, and guide your planning process.
I tried to keep this list short so that I could really focus on the best parks for December, but it was hard to narrow it down. For more ideas, check out my longer lists of the best national parks to visit in the winter.
No matter which national park you visit, please make sure to leave no trace! That includes packing out all of your trash, following all park rules, never feeding wildlife and staying on durable surfaces. Please make an effort to respect our public lands.
7 of the Best US National Parks to Visit in December
1. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai’i
Average temperatures in December: 69° F / 52° F
Hawai’i Volcanoes is home to one of the most active volcanoes in the world! This park continuously changes due to volcanic eruptions from Kīlauea, and is home to lava tubes, craters, cinder cones, and more.
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park tends to be comfortable to visit year round, but summers bring higher heat. The busiest times of year in this park are summer and winter, especially during the holidays. I recommend sticking to early December if you want to avoid the crowds. I visited in early December and didn’t feel like the crowds were bad.
No matter when you visit, be prepared with sun protection, as there isn’t a lot of shade in much of this park.
Read my guide to visit Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
2. Saguaro National Park, Arizona
Average temperatures in December: 59° F / 42° F
Saguaro is home to the largest cacti in the world! This Arizona park has beautiful desert landscapes and is full of interesting plant life.
December brings good hiking temperatures to Saguaro, but it can be quite cold at night. December is also part of the “snowbird” season in Tucson, which can bring more people and higher prices. However, this can be the case for all of winter and spring.
Snow can occur in this park, but it’s very rare (snow comes about once or twice a decade).
Read my guide to visiting Saguaro National Park
3. Death Valley National Park, California
Average temperatures in December: 66° F / 39° F
Death Valley is the lowest, driest and hottest place in the United States! This unique park is full of extremes and unique landscapes. There are mountains, sand dunes, salt flats, and tons of interesting rocks.
Due to the high heat, you should stick with visiting Death Valley in the winter. This is extra important if you want to hike. Severe summer heat leads to fatalities each year.
December is a great time to visit for sunny days and chilly nights. The holidays can be quite busy in this park, but it tends to be calm in early December.
Read my guide to Death Valley National Park
4. Everglades National Park, Florida
Average temperatures in December: 79° F / 63° F
Everglades National Park is an amazing park for wildlife and wetland landscapes. You’re practically guaranteed to see alligators and beautiful birds, and the park has a nice variety of easy trails, biking opportunities, boat tours, kayaking, and more.
Kayaking among alligators isn’t for everyone, but I had the best experience paddling through mangrove tunnels at sunrise right outside of the national park.
December is towards the beginning of the dry season in the Everglades, which goes from November to April. You should stick to visiting in these months because you’ll experience lower humidity, fewer mosquitoes and lower water levels.
Plus, December brings cooler hiking temperatures and is a great time to see wildlife.
Read my guide to Everglades National Park
5. Big Bend National Park, Texas
Average temperatures in December: 60° F / 41° F
Big Bend is a remote park that is home to mountains, hot springs, desert landscapes and the famous Rio Grande River. It’s an amazing place for hiking, taking a scenic drive or doing a float trip. You can even cross the border into Mexico and spend the day visiting a small town.
The park doesn’t receive a ton of visitors due to its location, but it's so worth the trip. This also means you’re less likely to encounter crowds than many other parks on this list, even during the holidays.
Big Bend is quite hot in the summer, so you’ll want to stick to spring, winter or fall for your visit. December brings great hiking weather during the day and cold nights. Snow and freezing conditions can occur in the higher altitude areas of the park, but it isn’t super common.
Read my guide Big Bend and Marfa Road Trip Itinerary
6. Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii
Average temperatures in December: 50° F / 33° F
Haleakalā is a stunning park known for its extremes. The summit is an active shield volcano that towers up above 10,000 feet, but the national park also protects a sub-tropical rainforest near the coast that has lush waterfalls, a bamboo forest, and lots of greenery.
December brings nice weather to the lower elevations of the park, but you’ll need to be prepared for potentially freezing weather at the summit. The summit can be extremely windy and cold, especially at sunrise. However, you can experience cold temperatures up there year round.
The holiday season can also be very busy in Haleakalā and Maui, but the first part of December isn’t too bad.
Tip: Make sure to make an advanced reservation if you want to watch the sunrise from the summit!
Read my guide to Haleakalā National Park
7. Biscayne National Park, Florida
Average temperatures in December: 70° F / 64° F
Biscayne is a Florida national park that is mostly water. The park protects coral reefs, shipwrecks, mangrove tunnels, islands and marine life. During a visit, I highly recommend joining a tour that gets you out on the water. Options include a boat ride with historic tales, paddle boarding, snorkeling, and more.
December brings dry and mild weather in Biscayne. The water can be a little chilly, but this tends to be a great time to visit. As with any park, you may encounter crowds if you’re visiting over the holidays, so be sure to book your tour early.
Read my guide to Biscayne National Park
Honorable Mentions
- Guadalupe Mountains
- Joshua Tree
- US Virgin Islands
- Dry Tortugas
- White Sands
National Parks that are Great for Winter Snow
If you want to visit a national park that gets a lot of snow in the winter, here are some ideas! (Perhaps you’re dreaming of a white Christmas).
There is a lot to consider before traveling to high elevation areas in the winter. Be sure to carry tire chains and check the current rules on that for the area, and come prepared with the right gear, ie microspikes, if you plan to hike.
- Crater Lake
- Rocky Mountain
- Yosemite
- Bryce Canyon
- Yellowstone
Final Thoughts
I hope this list gives you ideas on where to take a national park road trip in December! From the ocean to the desert, there are some incredible parks that are perfect for a winter trip.
For more US National Park Guides, check out these blogs:
- The Best National Park to Visit in the Spring
- The Best National Parks to Visit in the Summer
- The Best National Parks to Visit in the Fall
- The Best National Parks to Visit in the Winter
- How to Avoid Crowds in National Parks
- A Guide to Which National Parks Require Reservations
- Exactly How to Plan a National Park Road Trip
Thanks for Reading!
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