Best Time to Visit Rocky Mountain National Park
Crowds and weather by month · Colorado · NPS visitor counts through 2025
The short answer
Mild weather, fewer people: May — 42% as busy as July, about 10,409 visitors a day, average high 61°F (16°C).
Also mild and quieter: October (52%).
Quietest month: February — about 3,668 visitors a day, average high 38°F (cold).
Busiest month: July — about 24,589 visitors a day.
Rocky Mountain month by month
| Month | Crowds · visitors/day | High / low · precip. |
|---|---|---|
| January× Cold | Quiet15% of peak · 3,709/day | 37° / 16°F3° / -9°C · 0.8 in · 2 wet days · snow 10 in |
| FebruaryQuietest× Cold | Very quiet15% of peak · 3,668/day | 38° / 16°F3° / -9°C · 0.7 in · 3 wet days · snow 13 in |
| March× Cool | Quiet20% of peak · 4,901/day | 45° / 21°F7° / -6°C · 1.6 in · 4 wet days · snow 19 in |
| April× Cool | Quiet22% of peak · 5,442/day | 52° / 26°F11° / -3°C · 2.3 in · 5 wet days · snow 19 in |
| MayBest◎ Mild weather, fewer people | Moderate42% of peak · 10,409/day | 61° / 35°F16° / 2°C · 2.3 in · 6 wet days · snow 10 in |
| June○ Mild weather, busy | Busy83% of peak · 20,476/day | 74° / 43°F23° / 6°C · 1.4 in · 4 wet days |
| July○ Mild weather, busy | Peak100% of peak · 24,589/day | 80° / 48°F27° / 9°C · 2.5 in · 7 wet days |
| August○ Mild weather, busy | Peak86% of peak · 21,142/day | 78° / 46°F25° / 8°C · 1.7 in · 5 wet days |
| September○ Mild weather, busy | Busy83% of peak · 20,353/day | 70° / 39°F21° / 4°C · 1.6 in · 4 wet days · snow 1 in |
| October◎ Mild weather, fewer people | Moderate52% of peak · 12,883/day | 57° / 30°F14° / -1°C · 1.1 in · 3 wet days · snow 9 in |
| November× Cool | Quiet20% of peak · 4,847/day | 44° / 24°F7° / -5°C · 0.7 in · 3 wet days · snow 11 in |
| December× Cold | Quiet17% of peak · 4,116/day | 36° / 16°F2° / -9°C · 0.7 in · 3 wet days · snow 13 in |
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 | 4,155,916 | |
| 2016 | 4,517,585 | |
| 2017 | 4,437,215 | |
| 2018 | 4,590,493 | |
| 2019 | 4,670,053 | |
| 2020pandemic | 3,305,199 | |
| 2021pandemic | 4,434,848 | |
| 2022 | 4,300,424 | |
| 2023 | 4,115,837 | |
| 2024 | 4,154,349 | |
| 2025 | 4,171,431 |
Where the weather numbers come from
Temperatures and precipitation are 30-year averages (1991–2020) from the NOAA station ESTES PARK 3 SSE — Estes Park (east entrance town), at 7,812 ft (2,381 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 Rocky Mountain 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
- Olympic
49% of peak · high 63°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 ESTES PARK 3 SSE, USC00052761, 7,812 ft / 2,381 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.