If you’re wondering about the best US national parks to visit in January, this list will help you out! Whether you’re looking for ideas for a holiday weekend, or want to break up the gloominess that winter brings, several US national parks are beautiful in January.
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 is beautiful, but it brings a lot of extra considerations, 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 January, 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.
8 of the Best National Parks to Visit in January
1. Death Valley National Park, California
Average temperatures in January: 67° F / 40° F
Death Valley is the hottest place in the continental US, so winter is the prime time to visit. Not only do they have the highest temperature ever recorded, but the park is also home to the lowest spot in the country. With mountains, salt flats, sand dunes, and more, this park is full of extremes.
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.
January is a great time to visit for hiking, as it brings sunny days and chilly nights. January also receives fewer visitors than February or March, so it’s a quiet time to visit. Personally, I visited at the end of January and had a great experience.
Read my guide to Death Valley National Park
2. Everglades National Park, Florida
Average temperatures in January: 77° F / 61° F
The Everglades cover a massive area of South Florida. In fact, this is the 3rd largest national park in the lower 48. The park protects wetland landscapes, pine forests, marine habitats, and more. It has more variety than you might think.
On a trip to Everglades National Park, you can enjoy boat tours, kayaking, hiking, biking, and more. It’s an amazing park for wildlife, and you’re practically guaranteed to see alligators. One of the most unique activities in the Everglades is to take a ranger-led wet walk where you’ll walk out into the swamp.
You should visit this national park during the dry season, which is November to April. These months bring lower humidity, fewer mosquitoes and lower water levels. January is the peak time to visit.
Read my guide to Everglades National Park
3. Saguaro National Park, Arizona
Average temperatures in January: 67° F / 41° F
Saguaro is a desert national park, so you’ll have more pleasant temperatures in the fall, winter and spring. It’s famous for being home to a high concentration of the largest cacti in the world. Along with desert plants, the park also has mountains, waterfalls, and more.
January brings comfortable daytime temperatures for hiking, and cooler temperatures at night. It can be quite busy, as many people spend their winters in Tucson. However, January tends to be a bit less crowded than February and March.
Snow can occur in this park, but it’s very rare. It comes about once or twice per decade. Whether you visit in January or not, I recommend avoiding the summer.
Read my guide to visiting Saguaro National Park
4. Haleakalā National Park, Hawai’i
Average temperatures in January: 51° F / 35° F (summit temperatures)
Haleakalā has a pretty drastic change in altitude. There are two main areas: the Summit district and the Kīpahulu District. The Summit reaches an altitude of over 10,000 feet, so it can be quite cold in January. It can even snow up there, but that’s rare. However, it can be freezing up there year round, so don’t let winter discourage you.
January brings nice weather to the lower areas of the park, and you can enjoy hiking among lush greenery and waterfalls.
One of the best things to do in Haleakalā National Park is watching the sunrise at the summit. You’ll need a reservation to enter at this time, so make sure to obtain it ahead of time. Pack warm layers for sunrise, as it can be very windy and cold.
I visited Haleakalā in January and had a great experience. It’s a stunning park full of variety.
Read my guide to Haleakalā National Park
5. Virgin Islands National Park
Average temperatures in January: 82° F / 75° F
This unique park is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, along with great snorkeling, historic sites, hiking trails, and wildlife. It’s an amazing place for a true national park vacation.
A lot of people visit this park via a cruise ship, but I recommend spending a few days there if you can. You can fly into St. Thomas and take a ferry over to St. John, which is where the national park is located.
The best time to visit this park is between December and June, as July to November is hurricane season. January brings warm and humid days, with nights that are about as cool as you can get year round. While January brings some of the best weather, it can be crowded.
Read my guide to Virgin Islands National Park
6. Joshua Tree National Park, California
Average temperatures in January: 60° F / 36° F
Joshua Tree is a desert park that is home to mountains, endless boulders, and amazing desert plants. It’s named after the unique joshua trees, which are actually a type of yucca. You’ll see them all over the park.
As Joshua Tree is a desert park, you should avoid visiting during the summer. January brings cool hiking temperatures, and fewer crowds than the spring. The nights can be cold in the winter, so make sure to bring layers.
Read my itinerary for Joshua Tree National Par
7. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai’i
Average temperatures in January: 67° F / 50° F
Hawai’i Volcanoes is home to one of the most active volcanoes in the world! This park is always evolving 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. January tends to be less crowded after the New Year's crowds have cleared out.
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
8. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Average temperatures in January: 75° F / 65° F
Dry Tortugas National Park is very unique, but requires some extra planning. It’s located 70 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida. The island is home to a historic army fort, and is rich in birdlife, aquatic life and unique vegetation.
January tends to bring nice weather to Southern Florida, but it can be windy, and the strong winds can cause rough ferry rides and occasional ferry delays.
In order to visit, make sure to book your ferry ride at least a couple months ahead of time. It sells out early. You also have the option to book a sea plane to reach the island.
As long as you can book far enough ahead to get your spot, Dry Tortugas is a beautiful and unique park that makes for an epic winter vacation.
Read my guide to taking a day trip to Dry Tortugas
Honorable Mentions
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 some great ideas for a January national park trip! Whether you visit the Arizona desert, the Florida national parks, or Hawaii, there are lots of amazing national parks to visit in the winter.
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
- The Best Hikes in US National Parks
Thanks for Reading!
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