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Best national parks to visit in January
All 63 US national parks ranked by January camping weather, using NOAA 1991–2020 averages at each park. Top picks: Dry Tortugas, Biscayne, Death Valley, Everglades, Channel Islands.
#1Dry Tortugas
Florida
100 avg 74° / 65°F · 2.4 in
Entry: Not required · $15 per person
#2Biscayne
Florida
100 avg 76° / 55°F · 2.0 in
Entry: Not required · No entrance fee
#3Death Valley
California, Nevada
100 avg 67° / 42°F · 0.4 in
Entry: Not required · $30 per vehicle
#4Everglades
Florida
100 avg 78° / 55°F · 1.7 in
Entry: Not required · $35 per vehicle
#5Channel Islands
California
100 avg 66° / 46°F · 2.9 in
Entry: Not required · No entrance fee
#6Saguaro
Arizona
100 avg 66° / 42°F · 0.9 in
Entry: Not required · $25 per vehicle
#7Joshua Tree
California
100 avg 63° / 42°F · 0.5 in
Entry: Not required · $30 per vehicle
#8Pinnacles
California
96 avg 63° / 34°F · 3.5 in
Entry: Not required · $30 per vehicle
#9Big Bend
Texas
96 avg 61° / 37°F · 0.5 in
Entry: Not required · $30 per vehicle
#10Virgin Islands
US Virgin Islands
92 avg 84° / 74°F · 2.6 in
Entry: Not required · No entrance fee
#11Congaree
South Carolina
80 avg 57° / 37°F · 3.4 in
Entry: Not required · No entrance fee
#12Haleakalā
Hawaii
79 avg 61° / 44°F · 5.1 in
Entry: Sunrise reservation (3–7 am) · $30 per vehicle
#13Carlsbad Caverns
New Mexico
79 avg 56° / 34°F · 0.3 in
Entry: Timed entry for the cavern · $15 per person
#14Guadalupe Mountains
Texas
71 avg 54° / 32°F · 0.6 in
Entry: Not required · $10 per person
#15Zion
Utah
69 avg 54° / 30°F · 2.0 in
Entry: Not required · $35 per vehicle
Questions
What are the best national parks to visit in January?
Based on NOAA average weather, the mildest parks in January are Dry Tortugas, Biscayne, Death Valley, Everglades, Channel Islands.
Which national parks should I avoid in January?
For camping weather, Grand Canyon, Arches, New River Gorge, Yosemite, Gateway Arch, Capitol Reef score lowest, because of cold, heat or rain.
Are there free national park days in January?
There is no national park fee-free day in January in 2026.
The score (0–100) rates weather only: best with average highs of 62–82°F, nights above freezing and under 3 inches of precipitation. It doesn't account for road closures, crowds or snow on high trails; check each park guide. All park guides
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