Crater Lake's crowd calendar, month by month.
Each bar is a calendar month's average recreation visits over the last five years (2021-2025), shown as a share of Crater Lake's own busiest month. The full numbers are in the table below, and available month guides are linked.
| Month | Avg visits (5-yr mean) | Share of peak | Crowd level |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5,756 | 4% | Very quietJan · quietest |
| February | 6,705 | 4% | Very quietFeb |
| March | 10,843 | 7% | Very quietMar |
| April | 16,857 | 10% | QuietApr |
| May | 36,245 | 22% | QuietMay |
| June | 72,067 | 44% | ModerateJun |
| July | 164,423 | 100% | PeakJul · busiest |
| August | 124,790 | 76% | BusyAug |
| September | 80,963 | 49% | ModerateSep |
| October | 37,261 | 23% | QuietOct |
| November | 11,777 | 7% | Very quietNov |
| December | 6,748 | 4% | Very quietDec |
Reading the shape of the year.
July is the clear high point. August follows at 76% of the peak. September averages 80,963 visits, compared with 124,790 in August.
The winter counts are much lower. December, January and February each stay below 5% of the peak. The busiest month has 28.6 times the visits of the quietest. This is a large seasonal difference, not a guarantee of solitude at a viewpoint.
Check parking and plans separately. These park-wide figures cannot tell you how long an entrance queue will be, whether Rim Village has parking, or whether a lodge or campground has space. Confirm reservations directly and use official conditions for current restrictions.
Compare months below the peak
June and September average 30% to under 60% of the peak month's visits. They are similar only in relative visit counts; the best-time guide explains their different seasonal tradeoffs. For the full "so when should I actually go?" verdict, which weighs crowds against weather and road access, see the Crater Lake best-time-to-visit page.
What these numbers measure
Each figure is the mean recreation visits for that calendar month across 2021–2025, from the NPS Visitor Use Statistics Data Package, 2025. Each percentage divides that mean by this park's highest monthly mean. Visits are not unique people.
The data does not separate holiday weekends, entrance lines, individual viewpoints or times of day. It compares months, not current crowd levels. We are independent of the National Park Service.
Common questions.
How crowded is Crater Lake in July?
July has the highest average monthly visitation, with 164,423 recreation visits across 2021–2025. The monthly data cannot isolate July 4 or predict an entrance wait on your travel day.
Is Crater Lake less crowded in June?
June averages 72,067 recreation visits, or 44% of July's count. Fewer visits do not establish which roads or activities are available. Compare seasonal limits in the best-time guide.
What time should I arrive to avoid crowds?
These monthly totals cannot identify the quietest hour or predict parking availability. They support choosing between months, not a precise arrival-time recommendation. Check official conditions and any reservations needed for your plans.
Independent site. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service. Data comes from the official NPS Visitor Use Statistics Data Package, 2025; editorial analysis is ours. The NPS Arrowhead and other NPS marks are not used.