Grand Teton in December: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Harsh season · VisitWhen score 45/100 · #12 of 12 months

December is a harsh-season month at Grand Teton National Park: crowds run 7% of the July peak (49,334 average visits). Weather: highs average 24°F and lows 4°F, with 3.1″ of precipitation and 8.9 hours of daylight. Roads and services are only partly open this month — see the access note below. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Grand Teton in December: what the park service says

December returns Grand Teton to winter: the park says the first heavy snows fall by November 1 and continue through April, and Moose averages about 40 inches of snow in December. The park recommends four-wheel drive, all-wheel drive or all-weather tires, since roads can close in blizzards, and moose and other wildlife often cross the roads in winter.

Source: NPS, checked 2026-11-05.

Crowds in December

Grand Teton averages 49,334 recreation visits in December — 7% of what July, the peak month, draws — this is the quietest month of the year. Trailheads and parking fill accordingly — crowds are thin by this park's standards.

Weather & daylight

Days are cold (highs average 24°F), and nights are frigid (lows average 4°F). Average precipitation is 3.1″ for the month. Normal snowfall is 40″ — expect snow on the ground. Mid-month daylight runs 8.9 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station MORAN 5WNW, WY US (6 mi from park coordinates, 6,805 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of December.

What to pack for Grand Teton in December

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• Insulated parka + thermal base layers — average lows of 4°F
• Packable rain jacket — 3.1″ of precipitation is normal this month
• Traction devices (microspikes) and gaiters — 40″ normal snowfall (compare other options)
• Headlamp — only 8.9 hours of daylight in mid-December (compare other options)
• Insulated, waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 40″ of snow is normal this month
• Bear spray — recommended by the park in grizzly country (check current park regulations before you carry)

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If your dates are flexible, consider shifting: The computed best months for Grand Teton are April and May.

Also at their best in December

Other parks whose computed December verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

• American Samoa in December — 17% of peak crowds, highs 88°F, score 66/100
• Everglades in December — 72% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 64/100
• Biscayne in December — 77% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 62/100

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in December · Last verified 2026-09-24