The Best National Parks to Visit in Winter

Desert warmth, tropical beaches and snowbound canyons: 12 parks that are at their best from December to February.

Winter splits the national parks in two. In the desert Southwest, South Florida and the islands, December through February is the best season of the year: Death Valley averages 67°F / 19°C in January at Furnace Creek, the Everglades enters its dry season, and the summer heat that closes trails is months away. In the high country, winter shuts roads but opens a quieter park, with snow on canyon rims and bison steaming in the cold along the Lamar Valley.

This guide picks 12 parks that are genuinely good between December and February, nine warm-weather escapes and three snow parks that stay open. Each note gives the practical fact that decides a trip, a typical temperature from the National Park Service or what is open and what is not. Winter conditions change fast, from cold fronts that cancel Florida ferries to storms that close mountain roads, so check the park's alerts page before you set out.

#	Place	Why it's here
1	Death Valley National Park California, Nevada	January highs average 67°F / 19°C at Furnace Creek, with lows near 40°F. Winter is peak season here, not the off-season.
2	Joshua Tree National Park California	Winter days run near 60°F / 15°C with freezing nights. Snow sometimes dusts the higher elevations.
3	Saguaro National Park Pima County, Arizona	Winter days average about 65°F / 18°C and nights about 40°F / 4°C, good hiking weather among the saguaros near Tucson.
4	Big Bend National Park Brewster County, Texas	January highs average 62°F / 17°C at Panther Junction and 70°F / 21°C down by the Rio Grande at Rio Grande Village.
5	White Sands National Park Tularosa Basin, Otero and Dona Ana counties, New Mexico	January highs reach 57°F / 14°C, but lows drop to 22°F / -6°C. Bring layers if you stay for sunset on the dunes.
6	Everglades National Park Florida	The dry season runs from about December to mid-May, with temperatures from the low 50s to upper 70s °F and low humidity.
7	Dry Tortugas National Park Gulf of Mexico, west of Key West, Florida	Winter temperatures run from the low 60s to mid-70s °F. Seas are rougher, so confirm the ferry or seaplane before you go.
8	Virgin Islands National Park St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands	Open 24 hours a day all year. December to February is peak season, when St. John's weather turns drier and breezier.
9	Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Hawaii	Open 24 hours a day, every day. The Kīlauea summit runs 12 to 15 degrees cooler than sea level, so bring a jacket.
10	Yellowstone National Park Wyoming, Montana, Idaho	Snowcoach and snowmobile season runs Dec. 15 to mid-March. Only the North to Northeast Entrance road stays open to cars.
11	Bryce Canyon National Park Utah	January averages 37°F / 3°C by day and 15°F / -9°C at night. December through February is the snowiest stretch.
12	Grand Canyon National Park Arizona	The South Rim is open all year, with highs in the 40s °F and lows in the teens. The North Rim closes to cars Dec. 1.

What closes in winter

The big mountain roads are the first casualties. Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier is typically fully open only from early July to the third Monday of October, and in winter only its lower-elevation sections stay open. Tioga Road, the high route across Yosemite, usually closes in November and reopens in late May or June, once plowing that starts around April 15 is finished. Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain, which tops out at 12,183 ft / 3,713 m, closes to through travel each fall and has historically reopened on Memorial Day weekend.

The Grand Canyon's North Rim is open through November 30, then closes to vehicles until mid-May (it reopened on May 15 in 2026). The 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire destroyed Grand Canyon Lodge there, and the North Rim had no overnight lodging in 2026. In Yellowstone, most roads close to cars on November 1 and reopen to snowmobiles and snowcoaches on December 15.

Questions people ask

Are national parks open in winter?

Most are. The Grand Canyon's South Rim, Bryce Canyon, Hawaii Volcanoes and Virgin Islands stay open all year. What closes are high roads, seasonal campgrounds, lodges and some visitor centers, so a park can be open while the part you planned to see is not.

What is the warmest national park in winter?

The tropical parks. Virgin Islands on St. John and the National Park of American Samoa stay warm all year. On the mainland, the Everglades and Dry Tortugas in South Florida are the mildest, followed by the low deserts of Death Valley and Joshua Tree.

Can you drive into Yellowstone in winter?

Only on one road. The route from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, through Mammoth Hot Springs and the Lamar Valley to the Northeast Entrance near Cooke City stays open to cars all year, weather permitting. The rest of the park, including Old Faithful, is reached from December 15 to mid-March by snowcoach or snowmobile.

When is the best time to visit Death Valley?

Winter and early spring. January highs average 67°F / 19°C at Furnace Creek and February highs 73°F / 23°C, while summer afternoons routinely pass 110°F. Nights are cool, with January lows near 40°F / 4°C, so pack a warm layer for stargazing.

Each place links to its full entry, with key facts, a map and sources. Browse all guides or open the explore map.