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A night under the stars
A look at overnight stays at US National Parks

When should you pitch your tent? Or when is it better to opt for lodging? When should you visit to avoid the crowds? Let’s have a look!

How to read

We plotted the number of nights spent per month in each park. We separated four categories of accommodation: lodging, RV, tent, and backcountry. Each accommodation type comes with their own characteristics which determine their popularity over time.

0k5k10k15k20kWinterSpringSummerFall
The average temperature is above 70°F (21°C)
The larger the red area, the warmer
Number of nights spent per month per accommodation type
Here, the peak season for tent camping is ~18,000 nights in summer
Each concentric ring represents 5,000 nights
The average temperature is below 50°F (10°C)
The larger the white area, the colder

A word of caution, parks don’t have the same infrastructure. Some parks, such as Denali National Park, don't have any lodging; and we know all too well that campsites are in limited supply in all National Parks.

Mountain

Mountainous parks are known for their snowy winters. Only lodges provide the appropriate shelter during the cold season. They are great camping destination once the snow melts from late spring to early fall.

You will notice a peak of frequentation in the Appalachian Mountains in October when leaves turn yellow.

Lodging
RV
Tent
Backcountry
140kJanFMAMJJASONDYellowstoneWyoming, Montana, Idaho
110kJanFMAMJJASONDYosemiteCalifornia
55kJanFMAMJJASONDGrand TetonWyoming
50kJanFMAMJJASONDOlympicWashington
45kJanFMAMJJASONDGlacierMontana
45kJanFMAMJJASONDGreat Smoky MountainsTennessee, North Carolina
40kJanFMAMJJASONDSequoiaCalifornia
40kJanFMAMJJASONDRocky MountainColorado
35kJanFMAMJJASONDKings CanyonCalifornia
30kJanFMAMJJASONDMount RainierWashington
25kJanFMAMJJASONDLassen VolcanicCalifornia
25kJanFMAMJJASONDShenandoahVirginia
20kJanFMAMJJASONDCrater LakeOregon
10kJanFMAMJJASONDBryce CanyonUtah
10kJanFMAMJJASONDNorth CascadesWashington
Tundra

These parks are similar to mountainous parks but with much more severe winters. Temperature only exceeds 50°F for 2–3 months in summer.

They are all situated in remote parts of Alaska, which contributes to the low frequentation.

Lodging
RV
Tent
Backcountry
15kJanFMAMJJASONDDenaliAlaska
15kJanFMAMJJASONDVoyageursMinnesota
5kJanFMAMJJASONDGlacier BayAlaska
5kJanFMAMJJASONDGates of the ArcticAlaska
5kJanFMAMJJASONDLake ClarkAlaska
5kJanFMAMJJASONDKatmaiAlaska
5kJanFMAMJJASONDKobuk ValleyAlaska
5kJanFMAMJJASONDKenai FjordsAlaska
Desert

Desertic parks feature very hot summers and surprisingly cold winters. Deserts have two high seasons, in spring and in fall, when temperatures are optimal.

Lodges equipped with air conditioning attract tourists even during the warmest months.

Lodging
RV
Tent
Backcountry
80kJanFMAMJJASONDGrand CanyonArizona
50kJanFMAMJJASONDJoshua TreeCalifornia
25kJanFMAMJJASONDZionUtah
25kJanFMAMJJASONDDeath ValleyCalifornia
20kJanFMAMJJASONDBig BendTexas
15kJanFMAMJJASONDCanyonlandsUtah
10kJanFMAMJJASONDBadlandsSouth Dakota
10kJanFMAMJJASONDMesa VerdeColorado
10kJanFMAMJJASONDGreat BasinNevada
10kJanFMAMJJASONDGreat Sand DunesColorado
5kJanFMAMJJASONDArchesUtah
5kJanFMAMJJASONDCapitol ReefUtah
5kJanFMAMJJASONDBlack Canyon of the GunnisonColorado
5kJanFMAMJJASONDGuadalupe MountainsTexas
5kJanFMAMJJASONDSaguaroArizona
Tropical

The best time of the year to visit parks in tropical climates is during the dry season. Temperature tends to stay constant year-round, but wet season sees storms and heavy rain.

Lodging
RV
Tent
Backcountry
5kJanFMAMJJASONDEvergladesFlorida
5kJanFMAMJJASONDVirgin IslandsVirgin Islands
5kJanFMAMJJASONDDry TortugasFlorida
5kJanFMAMJJASONDBiscayneFlorida
Coast

Parks along the coast have relatively constant temperature and weather. They can be visited any time of the year.

Lodging
RV
Tent
Backcountry
15kJanFMAMJJASONDHawaii VolcanoesHawaii
5kJanFMAMJJASONDChannel IslandsCalifornia
5kJanFMAMJJASONDRedwoodCalifornia
5kJanFMAMJJASONDHaleakalaHawaii
Continental

Somewhat of a catch-all category. Parks in the Midwest region have harsh winters and warm summers. Parks closer to Canada feature long winters with abundant snowfalls.

Lodging
RV
Tent
Backcountry
45kJanFMAMJJASONDAcadiaMaine
10kJanFMAMJJASONDIsle RoyaleMichigan
10kJanFMAMJJASONDMammoth CaveKentucky
5kJanFMAMJJASONDTheodore RooseveltNorth Dakota
5kJanFMAMJJASONDIndiana DunesIndiana
5kJanFMAMJJASONDHot SpringsArkansas
5kJanFMAMJJASONDWind CaveSouth Dakota
5kJanFMAMJJASONDCuyahoga ValleyOhio