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.

Planning Olympic? Pack a guidebook: Moon Olympic Peninsula on Amazon. · affiliate link, VisitWhen earns from qualifying purchases

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 rain is normal this month

As an Amazon Associate, VisitWhen earns from qualifying purchases. Gear names above link to Amazon searches or to a specific product — we don't show or set prices; you always see Amazon's current price.

Packing for a trip with a date on it? Amazon Prime includes fast delivery on eligible items, and eligible new members may be offered a free trial, so gear ordered this week can arrive before you leave. Delivery speed varies by item and address. See if you can try Prime free →
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on qualifying sign-ups, at no extra cost to you. Current terms are on Amazon's page.

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