Olympic in November: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Shoulder · VisitWhen score 53/100 · #11 of 12 months

November is a solid shoulder-season month to visit Olympic National Park: crowds run 28% of the August peak (177,710 average visits). Weather: highs average 49°F and lows 38°F, with 24.6″ of precipitation and 9.3 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Olympic in November: what the park service says

Plan November at Olympic around road closures. The park service says some roads, campgrounds and facilities close or cut their hours from October through May, and its road page (updated November 3, 2026) lists Hurricane Ridge, Obstruction Point and Deer Park roads as closed, while Sol Duc, Upper Hoh and Staircase roads are open. Hurricane Ridge Road can reopen or close again with the weather, and it and the visitor centers are closed on Thanksgiving. Call the road and weather line, 360-565-3131, before you drive.

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

Crowds in November

Olympic averages 177,710 recreation visits in November — 28% of what August, the peak month, draws. Plan lodging and entries with that in mind.

Weather & daylight

Expect cool days (highs average 49°F), and mornings are chilly (lows average 38°F). This is one of the wetter months (24.6″ of precipitation on average). Mid-month daylight runs 9.3 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 November.

What to pack for Olympic in November

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

• Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy) — mornings average 38°F
• Rain shell + pack cover — 24.6″ of precipitation is normal this month
• Headlamp — only 9.3 hours of daylight in mid-November (compare other options)
• Waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 24.6″ of precipitation is normal this month

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Looking for a better window? The computed best months for Olympic are April and May.

Also at their best in November

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

• Canyonlands in November — 35% of peak crowds, highs 55°F, score 72/100
• Mammoth Cave in November — 33% of peak crowds, highs 61°F, score 72/100
• New River Gorge in November — 33% of peak crowds, highs 54°F, score 72/100
• Petrified Forest in November — 45% of peak crowds, highs 58°F, score 72/100

Common questions

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