Olympic in December: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

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

December is a solid shoulder-season month to visit Olympic National Park: crowds run 16% of the August peak (99,558 average visits), days average 44°F with 8.4 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

Crowds in December

Olympic averages 99,558 recreation visits in December — 16% of what August, the peak month, draws — the third-quietest month of the year. That crowd level sets the tone for parking, permits and lodging — this is genuine quiet-season territory.

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
• Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month

Want quieter or kinder conditions? The computed best months for Olympic are April and May.

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in December · Last verified 2026-07-16