Kentucky
National parks in Kentucky
Kentucky has 1 national park and 3 other busy National Park System sites in this guide. The best months below balance mild weather and crowds.
| Park | Best months | Busiest | July high / January low °F | Visitors a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mammoth Cave National Park | Oct and Nov | Jul | 91° / 29° | 687,000 |
| Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area | May, Sep and Nov | Oct | 85° / 25° | 773,000 |
| Cumberland Gap National Historical Park | May, Sep and Nov | Oct | 85° / 23° | 764,000 |
| Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park | Sep, Oct and Nov | Jul | 86° / 24° | 234,000 |
Kentucky parks by month
| Month | Visitors, all 4 sites | Sites with mild weather |
|---|---|---|
| January | 84,000 | none |
| February | 113,000 | none |
| March | 195,000 | none |
| April | 225,000 | none |
| May | 252,000 | Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park |
| June | 281,000 | none |
| July | 294,000 | none |
| August | 248,000 | none |
| September | 224,000 | Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park |
| October | 253,000 | Mammoth Cave, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park |
| November | 152,000 | Mammoth Cave, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park |
| December | 136,000 | none |
Weather 1991–2020 NOAA normals at each park's nearest station. Visitors National Park Service recreation visits, 2023–2025 average. Mild means an average high of 55–80°F without above-normal rain.