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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 in winter, although you may have to deal with cold weather.
But there are plenty of national parks that enjoy warm weather in the winter. These are parks that can otherwise be unbearably hot in the summer, making winter the best time to visit.
Here are the warmest national parks to visit this winter:
1. Death Valley National Park
After being closed since August due to flooding caused by summer storms, Death Valley National Park now is expected to open again on October 15, just in time for visitors to enjoy it this winter.
Death Valley is known as the hottest place on Earth, with a record high of 134° F. During the summer, the average daily high is a whopping 116° F. Even in spring and fall, daytime temperatures regularly exceed 90° F. , making it difficult to be outdoors in 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 that you can visit in winter is the Everglades National Park in Florida. Located about an hour’s drive 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 in this national park are out of control, with temperatures regularly exceeding 30°C for six months of the year.
However, winter is the milder dry season, where you can still enjoy warm weather but not suffer from excessive humidity or rain. From December through February, the average high temperature in 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. This national park, just outside Tucson, is home to the largest cacti in the United States.
While it can be difficult to appreciate the desert beauty of this national park during the summer, with temperatures above 40°C, winter is the perfect time to go.
In 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 visit in the winter. Although it has a remote location in West Texas, it is worth the long drive to visit this beautiful national park.
Big Bend is known as one of the best stargazing locations in the United States, thanks to its lack of light pollution. In this national park you can also enjoy hiking, hot springs and more. During the summer, temperatures in Big Bend can soar above 90° F.
However, in winter it is much cooler, with average daytime temperatures around sixty degrees.
5. Joshua Tree National Park
Finally, Joshua Tree National Park in California is best visited in winter. This is also a scorching hot place to go during the summer, with temperatures around 40°C. It’s hard to enjoy the otherworldly landscapes of this national park, located about 2.5 hours from Los Angeles, when it’s so hot.
But in winter it cools down considerably, while still remaining warm and pleasant. In December and January, the average daily high is in the low sixties.
This makes winter the best time to enjoy Joshua Tree National Park.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
