Best Time to Visit Olympic National Park
Crowds and weather by month · Washington · NPS visitor counts through 2025
The short answer
Mild weather, fewer people: May — 49% as busy as August, about 9,829 visitors a day, average high 63°F (17°C).
Also mild and quieter: October (53%).
Quietest month: January — about 3,197 visitors a day, average high 41°F (cool).
Busiest month: August — about 20,203 visitors a day.
Olympic month by month
| Month | Crowds · visitors/day | High / low · precip. |
|---|---|---|
| JanuaryQuietest× Cool | Quiet16% of peak · 3,197/day | 41° / 33°F5° / 0°C · 8.9 in · 14 wet days · snow 1 in |
| February× Cool | Quiet20% of peak · 4,100/day | 44° / 33°F7° / 0°C · 6.1 in · 11 wet days · snow 1 in |
| March× Cool | Quiet27% of peak · 5,384/day | 50° / 35°F10° / 2°C · 6.9 in · 13 wet days |
| April△ Very few visitors — check what is open | Quiet26% of peak · 5,246/day | 56° / 38°F13° / 3°C · 3.3 in · 8 wet days |
| MayBest◎ Mild weather, fewer people | Moderate49% of peak · 9,829/day | 63° / 43°F17° / 6°C · 1.9 in · 6 wet days |
| June○ Mild weather, busy | Busy62% of peak · 12,451/day | 67° / 47°F20° / 8°C · 1.4 in · 5 wet days |
| July○ Mild weather, busy | Peak88% of peak · 17,872/day | 74° / 51°F23° / 10°C · 0.7 in · 2 wet days |
| August○ Mild weather, busy | Peak100% of peak · 20,203/day | 74° / 52°F24° / 11°C · 1.1 in · 2 wet days |
| September○ Mild weather, busy | Busy84% of peak · 16,927/day | 68° / 48°F20° / 9°C · 1.6 in · 4 wet days |
| October◎ Mild weather, fewer people | Moderate53% of peak · 10,732/day | 56° / 42°F13° / 5°C · 5.8 in · 9 wet days |
| November× Cool | Moderate37% of peak · 7,572/day | 46° / 36°F8° / 2°C · 10.1 in · 14 wet days |
| December× Cool | Quiet19% of peak · 3,831/day | 41° / 33°F5° / 0°C · 9.9 in · 14 wet days |
Crowds = visitors per day as % of the busiest month: ●●●●● Peak (85–100) · ●●●●○ Busy (60–84) · ●●●○○ Moderate (35–59) · ●●○○○ Quiet (15–34) · ●○○○○ Very quiet (under 15). ◎ mild weather, fewer people · ○ mild but busy · △ very few visitors (often seasonal closures) · × cold or hot. Wet days = days with at least 0.1 in of rain or melted snow.
Visitors per year
| Year | Recreation visits | |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 3,263,761 | |
| 2016 | 3,390,221 | |
| 2017 | 3,401,996 | |
| 2018 | 3,104,455 | |
| 2019 | 3,245,806 | |
| 2020pandemic | 2,499,177 | |
| 2021pandemic | 2,718,925 | |
| 2022 | 2,432,972 | |
| 2023 | 2,947,503 | |
| 2024 | 3,717,267 | |
| 2025 | 3,584,187 |
Where the weather numbers come from
Temperatures and precipitation are 30-year averages (1991–2020) from the NOAA station ELWHA RS — Elwha (north side, near Port Angeles and Lake Crescent), at 361 ft (110 m). Higher viewpoints and trails can be much colder and snowier than the station.
Months with very few visitors often have roads, campgrounds or visitor centers closed for the season. Check current conditions on the official Olympic National Park website before you go.
Other parks at their best in May
- Yellowstone
55% of peak · high 55°F
- Acadia
41% of peak · high 64°F
- Rocky Mountain
42% of peak · high 61°F
- Badlands
45% of peak · high 72°F
How “best” is chosen: the least crowded month with an average high between 55°F and 85°F (13–29°C), skipping months with under 30% of peak visitors because those are often seasonal closures. Crowds compare visitors per day, so short and long months are treated fairly.
Sources. Visitor counts: National Park Service, Visitor Use Statistics (recreation visits, final figures through 2025; typical months use 2022–2025). Weather: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station ELWHA RS, USC00452548, 361 ft / 110 m). Both are U.S. Government works in the public domain. How we calculate.
Park Months is an independent site and is not affiliated with the National Park Service or NOAA.