Olympic in December: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Shoulder · VisitWhen score 51/100 · #12 of 12 months

December is a quiet month with trade-offs at Olympic National Park: crowds run 16% of the August peak (99,558 average visits). Weather: highs average 44°F and lows 35°F, with 20.8″ of precipitation and 8.4 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Olympic in December: what the park service says

December at Olympic is in the park's October-to-May stretch, when the park service says some roads, campgrounds and facilities close or cut their hours. The road to Hurricane Ridge can close at any time for weather, and both it and the visitor centers are closed on Christmas Day. Heart O' the Hills, 5 miles south of Port Angeles, is a campground that stays open all year. Call the road and weather line, 360-565-3131, before driving up.

Source: NPS 1, NPS 2, checked 2026-11-05.

Crowds in December

Olympic averages 99,558 recreation visits in December — 16% of what August, the peak month, draws — this is the third-quietest month of the year. That crowd level sets the tone for parking, permits and lodging — crowds are thin by this park's standards.

Weather & daylight

It is properly cold (highs average 44°F), and mornings are chilly (lows average 35°F). This is one of the wetter months (20.8″ of precipitation on average). Mid-month daylight runs 8.4 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station QUINAULT 4 NE, WA US (13 mi from park coordinates, 286 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of December.

What to pack for Olympic in December

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

• Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy) — mornings average 35°F
• Rain shell + pack cover — 20.8″ of precipitation is normal this month
• Headlamp — only 8.4 hours of daylight in mid-December (compare other options)
• Waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 20.8″ of precipitation is normal this month

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Want quieter or kinder conditions? The computed best months for Olympic 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