Best Time to Visit Olympic National Park
The best months to visit Olympic National Park are April, May and June — computed from official NPS visitation (2021–2025 average), NOAA weather normals and daylight. August is the crowd peak (625,799 monthly visits); January is quietest at 13% of peak.
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Monthly crowd curve
Average monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). Amber bar = current month.
Olympic month by month
| Month | Verdict | Avg visits | % of peak | High / Low | Precip | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Shoulder | 81,950 | 13% | 45°F / 35°F | 24.6″ | 8.8h |
| February | Shoulder | 93,324 | 15% | 48°F / 35°F | 13.3″ | 10.2h |
| March | Shoulder | 133,353 | 21% | 51°F / 36°F | 17.2″ | 11.8h |
| April | Best window | 134,215 | 21% | 56°F / 39°F | 12.4″ | 13.6h |
| May | Best window | 247,409 | 40% | 63°F / 43°F | 6.9″ | 15.1h |
| June | Best window | 301,287 | 48% | 67°F / 47°F | 4.1″ | 16h |
| July | Peak crowds | 501,508 | 80% | 73°F / 51°F | 2.3″ | 15.6h |
| August | Peak crowds | 625,799 | 100% | 73°F / 52°F | 3.1″ | 14.3h |
| September | Shoulder | 420,210 | 67% | 69°F / 49°F | 6.1″ | 12.6h |
| October | Shoulder | 263,849 | 42% | 59°F / 43°F | 16.0″ | 10.9h |
| November | Shoulder | 177,710 | 28% | 49°F / 38°F | 24.6″ | 9.3h |
| December | Shoulder | 99,558 | 16% | 44°F / 35°F | 20.8″ | 8.4h |
Crowds: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, mean of 2021–2025 (2020 excluded as a COVID-19 anomaly). Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station QUINAULT 4 NE, WA US (13 mi from park coordinates). Daylight: computed for the 15th of each month at the park's location. Methodology.
How many people visit Olympic each year
Olympic National Park had 3,584,187 recreation visits in 2025, 4% fewer than 2024 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). The busiest year since 2015 was 2024, with 3,717,267. Over 2021–2025 it averaged 3,080,172 visits a year, which makes it the 9th most-visited of the 63 national parks.
| Year | Recreation visits | vs. year before |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,584,187 | −4% |
| 2024 | 3,717,267 | +26% |
| 2023 | 2,947,503 | +21% |
| 2022 | 2,432,972 | −11% |
| 2021 | 2,718,925 | +9% |
| 2020 | 2,499,177 | −23% |
| 2019 | 3,245,806 | +5% |
| 2018 | 3,104,455 | −9% |
| 2017 | 3,401,996 | 0% |
| 2016 | 3,390,221 | +4% |
| 2015 | 3,263,761 | — |
Calendar-year recreation visits as published by NPS Visitor Use Statistics. 2020 is shown here but left out of the monthly averages above, because the COVID-19 pandemic makes it unrepresentative. See how every park compares: all 63 parks ranked by visits.
What to pack for Olympic in April
Computed from April's weather normals — Olympic's best month above. Visiting another month? Each month page has its own weather-computed list.
- Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy) — mornings average 39°F
- Rain shell + pack cover — 12.4″ of precipitation is normal this month
- Waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 12.4″ of rain is normal this month
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit Olympic?
April, May and June rank best for Olympic on VisitWhen's computed score — the strongest balance of low crowds (NPS data), comfortable weather (NOAA normals) and daylight.
What is the most crowded month at Olympic?
August: an average of 625,799 recreation visits (NPS, 2021–2025). The quietest is January, at 13% of the August peak.
When is Olympic least crowded with decent conditions?
January. It is the park's quietest month (13% of the August peak, 81,950 average visits) without harsh-season weather.
How many people visit Olympic per year?
Olympic National Park had 3,584,187 recreation visits in 2025, 4% fewer than 2024 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). The busiest year since 2015 was 2024, with 3,717,267. Over 2021–2025 it averaged 3,080,172 visits a year.
What is the weather like at Olympic through the year?
The warmest month is August, with average highs of 73°F. The coldest nights come in December, averaging 35°F. The wettest month is January, with 24.6″ of precipitation. (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, QUINAULT 4 NE, WA US station.)
Dive into a month
Comparing parks for the same trip? See how Olympic ranks against all 63 parks in April, May and June.
Last verified 2026-09-24 · all parks