CoasterReady
The best and worst months to visit the coaster parks
Every month graded on crowds, cost, weather and what is actually running. We commit to a letter grade for each one — including the months we think you should avoid.
Ranked, best to worst
One verdict per month, in order. Click through for the reasoning.
September
A
September can offer quieter ride days, while Halloween events start on different dates and often bring larger evening crowds.
Moderate crowds
Moderate cost
January
A-
January at these parks: one of the year's best windows. The quietest month on this site.
Low crowds
Low cost
May
A-
May at these parks: one of the year's best windows. The best overall month on this site: every park in full operation, summer crowds still weeks away, and the weather warm without the Texas and Florida extremes..
Moderate crowds
Moderate cost
February
B+
February at these parks: a good window with known trade-offs. The other quiet winter month: cold parks run their minimum calendars, the warm-climate parks run walk-on weekdays, and the only crowd bumps are the Presidents' Week window..
Low crowds
Low cost
April
B+
April at these parks: a good window with known trade-offs. The spring shoulder month.
Moderate crowds
Moderate cost
November
B+
Several Halloween events finish November 1; later in the month, some parks begin holiday programming and Thanksgiving brings heavier crowds.
Moderate crowds
Moderate cost
March
B
March at these parks: a good window with known trade-offs. Spring break begins the year's first crowd wave.
High crowds
Moderate cost
October
B
October offers the widest Halloween selection, with family events by day and haunts on selected nights. Check the date and ticket rules.
High crowds
High cost
June
B-
June at these parks: a good window with known trade-offs. Summer begins.
High crowds
High cost
August
B-
August at these parks: a good window with known trade-offs. Peak summer thins into the year's best-kept secret: the last two weeks, as school districts return, run near-shoulder crowds with full summer operation..
High crowds
High cost
December
B-
December at these parks: holiday weeks are busiest at the warm parks. Check each northern park's published calendar before treating December as an operating month.
High crowds
High cost
July
C-
July at these parks: a peak-crowd month that rewards a specific plan. The peak: every park at maximum crowd, maximum price and maximum heat, with July Saturdays the busiest single days most of these parks see all year..
Peak crowds
Peak cost
The same twelve, in calendar order
| Month | Grade | Crowds | Cost | SoCal high | Orlando high | Texas high | New Jersey high | Chicago high | On |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | A- | Low | Low | 68°F | 71°F | 58°F | 41°F | 31°F | 0 |
| February | B+ | Low | Low | 69°F | 74°F | 63°F | 44°F | 35°F | 0 |
| March | B | High | Moderate | 70°F | 78°F | 71°F | 52°F | 46°F | 0 |
| April | B+ | Moderate | Moderate | 73°F | 82°F | 78°F | 63°F | 58°F | 0 |
| May | A- | Moderate | Moderate | 74°F | 88°F | 85°F | 73°F | 70°F | 0 |
| June | B- | High | High | 79°F | 91°F | 92°F | 82°F | 80°F | 0 |
| July | C- | Peak | Peak | 84°F | 92°F | 96°F | 87°F | 84°F | 0 |
| August | B- | High | High | 85°F | 92°F | 97°F | 85°F | 82°F | 0 |
| September | A | Moderate | Moderate | 84°F | 90°F | 90°F | 78°F | 76°F | 13 |
| October | B | High | High | 79°F | 84°F | 80°F | 67°F | 63°F | 13 |
| November | B+ | Moderate | Moderate | 73°F | 78°F | 68°F | 56°F | 49°F | 10 |
| December | B- | High | High | 68°F | 73°F | 60°F | 46°F | 37°F | 0 |