Winter is a fantastic time to visit many national parks in the United States.
Some of the most popular national parks are much less crowded and significantly cheaper to visit during the winter, although you may have to contend with cold weather.
But there are plenty of national parks that enjoy warm weather during the winter. These are parks that may otherwise be unbearably hot during the summer, making winter the best time to visit.
Here are the warmest national parks to check out this winter:
1. Death Valley National Park
After being closed since August due to flooding caused by summer storms, Death Valley National Park is expected to reopen on October 15, just in time for visitors to enjoy it this winter.
Death Valley is famous for being the hottest place on Earth, with a record high of 134° F. During the summer, the average daily high is as much as 116° F. Even in the spring and fall, daytime temperatures regularly exceed 90° F, making it difficult to enjoy being outside at this national park.
This makes winter the best time to visit Death Valley National Park. The “coldest” months to visit are December and January, when the average daily high is still 67° F.
2. Everglades National Park
Another warm national park to visit during the winter is Florida’s Everglades National Park. Located about one hour from Miami, this national park is the largest area of tropical wilderness in the United States, known for its unique climate and abundance of wildlife.
During the summer, the heat and humidity at this national park are out of control, with temperatures regularly exceeding 90° F for six months out of the year.
However, winter is the milder dry season, where you can still enjoy warm weather but not have to deal with excessive humidity or rain. From December through February, the average high at Everglades National Park is around 77° F.
3. Saguaro National Park
Another great national park to visit in the winter is Saguaro National Park in Arizona. Located just outside Tucson, this national park is home to the largest cacti in the United States.
While during the summer, it can be hard to appreciate the desert beauty of this national park with temperatures exceeding 100° F, winter is the perfect time to go.
In the winter, the average weather is in the mid-sixties and sunny.
4. Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park in Texas is another warm national park to check out during the winter. Although it has an isolated location in West Texas, it’s worth the long drive to visit this beautiful national park.
Big Bend is known for being one of the best stargazing locations in the United States, thanks to the lack of light pollution. You can also enjoy hiking, hot springs, and more at this national park. During the summer, temperatures at Big Bend can soar above 90° F.
However, it’s much cooler in the winter with average temperatures in the low sixties during the day.
5. Joshua Tree National Park
Finally, California’s Joshua Tree National Park is best visited in the winter. This is another scorching-hot place to go during the summer, with temperatures around 100° F. It’s hard to enjoy the otherworldly landscapes of this national park that’s about 2.5 hours from Los Angeles when it’s so hot.
But things cool off significantly during the winter, while still remaining warm and pleasant. During December and January, the average daily high is in the low sixties.
This makes winter the best time to go and enjoy Joshua Tree National Park.
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