Best time to visit Congaree National Park
The short answer
Best months to visit Congaree National Park: March and October–November. Daily highs run about 65–75°F, with about 80% of May's visitors.
Hardest months: July, mostly because of heat.
How we picked these months: each month is scored on daily highs (65–82°F is ideal), rain, snow and seasonal closures, then reduced by up to 30% for crowds, measured against the park's busiest month. We list the months within 15% of the top score (at most 5).
Weather and crowds by month
Congaree National Park month by month
Park-wide averages. Crowds compare each month with the park's busiest month: Quiet is under 35% of it, Moderate under 60%, Busy under 85%, Peak above that.
| Month | Rating | High / low | Rain | Crowds | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Fair | 55° / 38°F | 3.8 in | Moderate | – |
| February | Good | 61° / 42°F | 3.7 in | Moderate | – |
| March | Best | 68° / 47°F | 2.9 in | Peak | – |
| April | Good | 76° / 54°F | 4.0 in | Busy | – |
| May | Fair | 83° / 63°F | 4.1 in | Peak | – |
| June | Fair | 89° / 70°F | 4.0 in | Busy | – |
| July | Poor | 91° / 74°F | 4.3 in | Moderate | – |
| August | Fair | 89° / 73°F | 4.6 in | Moderate | – |
| September | Fair | 84° / 68°F | 4.7 in | Moderate | – |
| October | Best | 76° / 58°F | 3.6 in | Busy | – |
| November | Best | 65° / 46°F | 3.1 in | Busy | – |
| December | Fair | 60° / 43°F | 4.7 in | Moderate | – |
Congaree National Park by season
Spring (March–May)
Spring (March–May) is a good time to visit Congaree National Park. Daily highs average 68–83°F and lows 47–63°F. Expect about 3.7 in of rain a month and little or no snow. Visitor numbers run 82–100% of the busiest month, which is peak by this park's standards.
Summer (June–August)
Summer (June–August) is a mixed time to visit Congaree National Park. Daily highs average 89–91°F and lows 70–74°F. Expect about 4.3 in of rain a month and little or no snow. Visitor numbers run 43–70% of the busiest month, which is moderate by this park's standards.
Fall (September–November)
Fall (September–November) is a good time to visit Congaree National Park. Daily highs average 65–84°F and lows 46–68°F. Expect about 3.8 in of rain a month and little or no snow. Visitor numbers run 59–76% of the busiest month, which is busy by this park's standards.
Winter (December–February)
Winter (December–February) is a mixed time to visit Congaree National Park. Daily highs average 55–61°F and lows 38–43°F. Expect about 4.1 in of rain a month and little or no snow. Visitor numbers run 49–58% of the busiest month, which is moderate by this park's standards.
For what to do in each season, see our guides to trip planning, fees and hours, trails, camping and things to do, where the planning page also has our written advice on when to go. In-depth topic guides cover individual places and hikes.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Check the forecast before getting on the road. Conditions can change rapidly within the park. Flooding can happen with little or no warning, so make sure to check water levels for Cedar Creek and the Congaree River.
Weather: modeled monthly averages for 2014-2023 (Open-Meteo Archive API), averaged over 1 location. Modeled grid cells can read cooler than weather stations in deep canyons and deserts, and warmer or colder at high elevation. Visits: monthly recreation visits for 2021-2024, National Park Service.
