If you’re considering a late fall trip to a national park, this list has some great ideas. November is the shoulder season or off season for many parks, but it’s also a great time to explore the desert and enjoy fewer crowds at some of the busiest parks.
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 November 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 November, but it was hard to narrow it down. For more ideas, check out my longer list of the national parks to visit in the fall or 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.
12 of the Best US National Parks to Visit in November
1. Big Bend National Park, Texas
Average temperatures in November: 66° F / 46° F
Big Bend is a remote Texas park that has a mix of desert and mountains. It’s also famous for its views along the Rio Grande River, which flows along the border between the United States and Mexico.
Most of this park gets very warm during the summer months, so November is a nice to visit for cooler temps. November usually brings warm weather during the day and cool nights. This is a busy time in the park, but not busier than the rest of fall, winter and spring. If you’d like to stay inside the park, book your lodging or campground early.
Pro Tip: This is a huge park that is pretty spread out. Staying inside the park will save you some valuable driving time.
Check out my Big Bend and Marfa itinerary
2. Zion National Park, Utah
Average temperatures in November: 56° F / 30° F
Zion is a iconic national park for good reason. The park is famous for its massive sandstone cliffs and is an incredible place for hiking, canyoneering and just taking in the views.
Zion gets very hot and busy in the summer, so it’s best to avoid the warmer months. November brings cool temperatures which can be great for hiking. However, you might see snow and temperatures close to freezing at the month goes on.
One of the best benefits of visiting in November is fewer crowds. Zion is one of the most visited parks, so it can be a bit difficult to find solitude. However, November is much less crowded than the peak months of May - October.
You can also enjoy some fall foliage in Zion at the beginning and middle of the month.
Pro Tip: If you want to hike the famous Angel’s Landing, you’ll need to apply for a lottery permit either a few months before, or on the day before.
3. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
Average temperatures in November: 62° F / 40° F
Carsbad Caverns is one of the most impressive caves I’ve ever visited. There are over 100 caves below the surface in this park. On a self-guided tour, you can visit the largest cave chamber in North America, the Big Room. It’s a whopping 1,200 meters long and 190 meters wide.
This park also has hiking trails above ground, and the desert here gets quite warm in the summer. Late fall brings cooler weather and fewer crowds than the peak season. One cool thing to see in Carlsbad Caverns are the Brazilian free-tailed bats emerge from the cave at sunset, but they are mostly gone by November. However, you might get to see a smaller group of them in early November.
Pro Tip: Make sure to reserve your tickets to enter the cave ahead of time.
Read my New Mexico West Texas road trip
4. White Sands National Park, New Mexico
Average temperatures in November: 66° F / 28° F
White Sands is a magical park that is home to the largest dunefield of gypsum sand. The white dunes glisten in the sun and are a beautiful sight, especially at sunset. The park is also fun for sand sledding or sand boarding, picnicking, hiking, and more.
November is a great time to visit White Sands for cool hiking temperatures and fewer crowds. The park gets very hot during part of the year, but November brings sunny days and chilly nights.
Pro Tip: This park is not open 24 hours a day and has a gate that typically closes right after sunset (the hours vary throughout the year). Be sure to plan accordingly.
5. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Average temperatures in November: 48° F / 23° F
Bryce Canyon is a stunning Utah park that is home to an excellent display of hoodoos, which are towering rock spires that can be over 100 feet tall. It’s a fantastic park for hiking, sunsets and sunrises, or just enjoying the views. One of the best parts about this park is that there are amazing hiking views on both easy and more difficult trails.
Bryce is one of the coldest and highest elevation parks on this list. November can bring a lot of snow, and begins the off season in the park. However, I still recommend November because Bryce is very beautiful with snow. The contrast between the snow and orange rocks is stunning.
While November can be quite cold, it’s not as cold as December through February, and it’s a good month to visit the other Utah national parks that are located at slightly lower altitudes. If you’ll be hiking in Bryce in the winter, make sure to bring microspikes and come prepared.
Read my guide to visiting Bryce Canyon
6. Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas
Average temperatures in November: 63° F / 42° F
Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas is a very unique park. It protects several historic bathhouses in an urban area, and is also home to thermal hot springs, and some lovely hiking trails.
Spring and fall tends to be the best time to visit this park for nice hiking weather. Fall foliage typically peaks at the end of October or early November, making late fall is a lovely time to visit. Even if you visit after the leaves have fallen, November is a nice time for fewer crowds and cool weather.
Read my guide to Hot Springs National Park
7. Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Average temperatures in November: 55° F / 27° F
Canyonlands is an underrated Utah national park that features a massive canyon carved away by rivers. The park has some fantastic overlooks, but also has opportunities for adventurous backcountry exploration. You can go backpacking, drive a 4x4 down into the canyon, enjoy the night skies, and more.
While November is a bit cold in this park, I think that late fall is a great time to visit the Utah Mighty Five to avoid crowds and enjoy cool hiking temperatures. While snow is possible in November is Canyonlands, it’s not common, and you’re likely to enjoy solitude.
Read my guide to visiting Moab
8. Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina
Average temperatures in November: 55° F / 29° F
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a popular park full of waterfalls, mountainous hiking trails, and stunning fall foliage. This is the most visited US national park, so it can get quite crowded, especially in the fall.
Peak foliage in this park occurs from mid-October to early November, and you can avoid the biggest crowds by visiting a little after the October rush. The lower elevation areas, such as Cades Cove, peak at the end of this period.
If you’re visiting later in November, the leaves may be gone, but you’re more likely to enjoy far fewer crowds, and crisp weather for hiking. This is a park that is beautiful and relatively accessible year round.
9. Saguaro National Park, Arizona
Average temperatures in November: 66° F / 48° F
Saguaro is famous for its saguaro cacti, which is the largest type of cacti in the world. Not only is the park full of desert landscapes, but it’s home to mountains, lots of wildlife, and even some waterfalls.
Saguaro is a national park that you should avoid in the summer due to high heat. November marks the beginning of the peak season in the park, and brings warm days with chilly nights. This can be a busy time in the park, so it’s best to arrive to the popular trailheads early.
Read my guide to Saguaro National Park
10. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
Average temperatures in November: 57° F / 35° F
Hawaii Volcanoes is home to one of the most active volcanoes on earth! If you’re lucky, you can see some lava flow during your visit here. But even if the lava isn’t flowing, this is a stunning place to explore. You can see former lava flows, walk through a lava tube, admire a crater, see cinder cones, and more.
This park can be nice to visit year round, but tends to have the best temperatures in the spring and fall. The summer and winter holidays are the busiest times of year, so November has fewer crowds. Most importantly, lava flows have occurred in November in recent years. They could occur at any time, but if this is a priority for you, November tends to be a good bet.
Read my guide to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
11. Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
Average temperatures in November: 60° F / 39° F
Mammoth Cave protects the largest cave system in the world. There are over 400 miles of surveyed passageways, so there is a lot to see inside the cave. However, the park also has some beautiful above ground trails that lead to views of rivers, interesting rocks, and forests.
Fall is a great time to visit this park, as you can enjoy fall foliage from mid-October to early November. The cave stays a constant temperature year round, and the colorful trees make this park extra beautiful in autumn. Make sure to book your cave tour a couple weeks in advance, they sell out.
12. Arches National Park, Utah
Average temperatures in November: 56° F / 30° F
Arches is home to a multitude of arches and natural bridge formations, and has some epic hiking opportunities. One of the most famous arches is Delicate Arch, which is featured on the Utah license plate. You can also see the longest arch in North America, double arches, and much more.
November is a great time to visit for cool hiking temperatures and fewer crowds than summer or early fall. You could have snow or ice later in the month, but it isn’t super common. November can be a nice time to explore Moab without the blistering heat and throngs of people.
Honorable Mentions
Final Thoughts
I hope this list helps you plan an amazing trip to a national park in November! Whether you’re looking for a cool time to visit the desert, or fall foliage in some of the lower altitude parks, a lot of national parks are very beautiful this time of year.
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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