5 of the Best National Parks to Visit in November

Last Updated on October 13, 2026 by Melissa

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November is one of the most underrated months to visit a national park. Summer crowds are gone, the desert finally cools off, and in Zion you can still catch fall color along the river. The key is picking the right parks: many mountain parks are closing roads for winter, while the desert Southwest and South Florida are entering their best weather of the year.

These are the five best national parks to visit in November, with top hikes and trail stats, where to stay, and the planning details that trip people up, like Zion’s shuttle schedule and the Angels Landing permit.

Best National Parks to Visit in November at a Glance
Joshua Tree National Park, California
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Everglades National Park, Florida
Zion National Park, Utah
Saguaro National Park, Arizona
Planning Your November National Park Trip
FAQ: Visiting National Parks in November
Final Thoughts

Best National Parks to Visit in November at a Glance

Park	Why November	Don’t miss	Where to stay
Joshua Tree, CA	Days in the 70s, dark skies	Ryan Mountain, Keys View at sunset	Joshua Tree or Twentynine Palms
Big Bend, TX	Mild temps, quiet trails	Lost Mine Trail, Santa Elena Canyon	Terlingua
Everglades, FL	Dry season starts, fewer bugs	Anhinga Trail, Shark Valley	Homestead or Florida City
Zion, UT	Smaller crowds, fall color on the Virgin River	Canyon Overlook, Angels Landing (permit)	Springdale
Saguaro, AZ	Days in the 70s	Cactus Forest Loop, Valley View Overlook	Tucson

1. Joshua Tree National Park, California

Joshua Tree is one of the best national parks to visit in November. Days are typically sunny and in the 70s, and nights cool off fast, which means comfortable hiking and clear skies for stargazing. The park is about 140 miles from Los Angeles and 215 miles from Las Vegas.

We visited in the dead of winter. We mostly drove through the park, stayed outside it, and fit in a little stargazing. That didn’t do the park justice, and the warmer days in November are exactly why we’d go back then.

Top things to do in Joshua Tree

Hidden Valley (1-mile loop, easy): a boulder-ringed valley and the best first stop in the park.
Ryan Mountain (3 miles round trip, 1,050 ft gain, moderate): a steady climb to a 360-degree view of the park. There’s no shade, so go early or late.
Keys View (drive-up): looks across the Coachella Valley toward the Salton Sea. Go for sunset and bring a jacket.
Stargazing: long November nights give you more dark hours to see the Milky Way.

Planning tips for Joshua Tree

Where to stay: Joshua Tree is closest to the West Entrance, and Twentynine Palms is closest to the North Entrance.
Camping: fall is peak camping season. Reserve campsites on Recreation.gov as early as you can.
Crowds: weekdays are quiet. Weekends fill up with climbers, so get to the West Entrance before 9 a.m.
Water: most of the park has none. Bring at least a gallon per person per day.

2. Big Bend National Park, Texas

Big Bend is too hot for most hiking in summer, but by November the temperatures are mild and the trails are quiet. It’s also an International Dark Sky Park. The park is huge and remote, so plan for long drives between areas.

We visited in March and April, hiked Lost Mine Trail and Santa Elena Canyon, and stayed at an RV park in Terlingua. We didn’t make it to the hot springs. Next time we want to camp inside the park and see the spots we missed.

Planning a longer trip? Read our Ultimate Guide to Big Bend National Park.

Top things to do in Big Bend

Lost Mine Trail (4.8 miles round trip, 1,100 ft elevation change, moderate): big Chisos Mountains views. The trailhead lot is small, so arrive early.
Santa Elena Canyon (1.6 miles round trip, easy): walk into a canyon with 1,500-ft walls above the Rio Grande. Drive the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive on the way there.
Hot Springs Historic District (0.5 mile round trip, easy): soak in 105°F spring water on the edge of the Rio Grande. An optional 1-mile loop continues along the bluff.
Terlingua Ghost Town: just outside the park, with food and a popular sunset spot.

Planning tips for Big Bend

Cell service: most of the park has none. Download offline maps before you arrive.
Fuel and food: gas stations are few and far apart. Fill up whenever you can and carry extra water.
Layers: the Chisos Basin sits around 5,400 ft and runs much cooler than the desert and the river.
Where to stay: Terlingua and neighboring Study Butte, just west of the park, have the most lodging.

3. Everglades National Park, Florida

Everglades National Park is a completely different trip from the desert parks. NPS considers November through April the dry season. Humidity drops, mosquitoes ease up, and wildlife gathers around the remaining water, which makes animals easier to spot.

We visited in winter and took a kayak tour. On that one paddle we saw alligators, wading birds, and manatees.

Top things to do in the Everglades

Anhinga Trail (0.8 mile round trip, easy boardwalk): the best wildlife walk in the park, with alligators, turtles, herons, and anhingas close to the path.
Shark Valley: a 15-mile paved loop you can bike or ride by tram, with an observation tower about halfway.
Kayaking or a boat tour: paddling the mangrove channels gets you closest to the “river of grass.” Airboat tours operate just outside the park.
Flamingo Marina: at the southern end of the main park road. Watch for manatees in the marina. Flamingo is also one of the best places to see American crocodiles, and South Florida is the only place where crocodiles and alligators live side by side.

Planning tips for the Everglades

Pick your entrance: the main entrance near Homestead (Anhinga Trail and Flamingo), Shark Valley, and the Gulf Coast area in Everglades City don’t connect inside the park. Each is at least an hour’s drive from the others.
Where to stay: Homestead or Florida City for the main entrance, or Everglades City for the Gulf Coast side.
Add a second park: Biscayne National Park is about 9 miles from Homestead. The park is mostly water, so book a boat or snorkel tour.
Sun and bugs: bring sunscreen, a hat, and bug spray. Mosquitoes are lighter in November but not gone.

4. Zion National Park, Utah

Zion in November means smaller crowds, cold mornings, and comfortable afternoons for hiking. Fall color often lingers on the cottonwoods along the Virgin River into early November. The one thing you need to plan around is the shuttle schedule, which changes at the end of the month.

We visited in spring, rode the shuttle into the canyon, hiked Angels Landing, and did one of the canyon’s waterfall hikes. The shuttle worked fine for getting around. We haven’t hiked The Narrows yet.

Heading to Zion? Read our full Zion National Park Travel Guide.

Top things to do in Zion

Angels Landing (5.4 miles round trip, 1,488 ft gain, strenuous): a permit is required year-round. Apply in the day-before lottery by 3 p.m. MT, or in the seasonal lottery for winter dates.
Canyon Overlook Trail (1 mile round trip): a short hike with a big view over lower Zion Canyon. It starts just east of the Zion–Mount Carmel Tunnel. Parking is tight, so go at sunrise.
Observation Point (6.8 miles round trip via the East Mesa Trail, moderate): looks down on Angels Landing from above, and no permit is needed. The old route from Zion Canyon is closed because of a major rockfall, so start from the East Mesa trailhead on the park’s east side.
The Narrows: only if water levels allow. The river is cold by November, so rent drysuit gear in Springdale and check the flow and flash flood forecast the morning you go.

Planning tips for Zion

Shuttle schedule: for the 2026 season, NPS lists the Zion Canyon shuttle running through November 28 and no service from November 29 to December 25. While the shuttle runs, you can’t drive your own car on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Check the NPS shuttle page before you go.
Where to stay: Springdale, right outside the South Entrance. The free Springdale shuttle line saves you from hunting for park parking.
Layers: mornings are cold and afternoons warm up quickly.
Thanksgiving week: the busiest week of the month. Book lodging early.

5. Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Temperatures around Tucson usually sit in the 70s in November, so it’s comfortable to explore the giant saguaro forests. Some of these cacti are over 40 feet tall. The park has two districts on opposite sides of Tucson. So far we’ve explored only the East (Rincon Mountain) district, so the West district tips below are based on our research.<h3>Top things to do in Saguaro</h3>

Cactus Forest Loop (8-mile paved drive, East/Rincon Mountain District): a scenic loop through dense saguaro forest with pullouts and short trails.
Valley View Overlook Trail (0.8 mile round trip, easy, West/Tucson Mountain District): a short walk to a wide view over the saguaro-covered valley, and a strong sunset spot.
Signal Hill Petroglyphs (West district, short walk): a small hill covered in Hohokam rock art.

Planning tips for Saguaro

Where to stay: Tucson sits between both districts.
Do both districts: spend the morning in the East district and the evening in the West for sunset.
Carry water: even at 70 degrees, the desert sun is strong and there’s little shade.

Planning Your November National Park Trip

Check conditions: look at each park’s NPS alerts page the week before you go. Storms and flash floods can close trails with little notice.
Book Thanksgiving week early: it’s the busiest week of the month at every park on this list.
Pack for temperature swings: desert parks can be 30 degrees colder at night than in the afternoon. Bring a warm layer, a hat, and gloves.
Plan around short days: daylight saving time ends the first Sunday of November, and sunset comes early. Start hikes early and carry a headlamp.
Visiting more than one park? An annual pass usually pays for itself.

Save on entrance fees: Read our Ultimate Guide to the America the Beautiful Pass.

FAQ: Visiting National Parks in November

Is November a good time to visit national parks?

Yes, especially in the desert Southwest and South Florida. Joshua Tree, Saguaro, Big Bend, and Zion have cooler hiking weather and far smaller crowds than in summer. Many mountain parks start closing roads for winter, so check conditions before planning a trip to higher elevations.

What national parks are warm in November?

Joshua Tree and Saguaro usually have daytime highs in the 70s. Big Bend and the Everglades are mild to warm. Zion is cooler, with cold mornings and pleasant afternoons.

Is the Zion shuttle running in November?

For most of the month. For the 2026 season, NPS lists shuttle service through November 28 and no service from November 29 to December 25. Check the NPS shuttle page before you go.

Do you need a permit for Angels Landing in November?

Yes. Angels Landing requires a permit year-round. Apply through the day-before lottery on Recreation.gov or the seasonal lottery for winter dates.

Are national parks crowded at Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving week is the busiest week of November at most parks, especially Zion and Joshua Tree. The weeks before and after are much quieter.

Final Thoughts

The best national parks to visit in November are in the desert and South Florida:

Joshua Tree for easy access and stargazing
Big Bend for solitude and dark skies
The Everglades for wildlife
Zion for canyon hikes with fewer people
Saguaro for a relaxed desert trip with a city base

Whichever you pick, book Thanksgiving week early and pack layers.

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