Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site in October
October at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site averages a daytime high near 71°F and an overnight low around 39°F, with about 0.9" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1× the park's average month, which makes October an average month here.
- Average low
- 39°F
- Average high
- 71°F
Range across the year: 18°F to 95°F
- Precipitation
- 0.9 in
- Daylight
- 11.0 hours
Roughly 8% of the park's yearly visitors come in October: roughly 1,900 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes October the 7th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the May peak (1.9×) and the January low (0.2×).
October is our recommended month at Bent's Old Fort: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 55°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 4.8 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 38% of annual visitors, choosing October instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.
You'll have about 11 hours of daylight in October to explore — between the 9.4-hour midwinter low and the 14.6-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2024 drew 16,102 recreation visits, down 18.3% from 19,718 in 2023.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 20.8%, so October may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
How October compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| September | 84°F / 53°F | 1.4× Busy | 63 Good |
| October | 71°F / 39°F | 0.9× Average | 57 Fair |
| November | 57°F / 27°F | 0.5× Very quiet | 53 Fair |
All twelve months at Bent's Old Fort, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Bent's Old Fort in October
The National Park Service tags 7 Bent's Old Fort activities for fall. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Become a Junior Ranger at Bent's Old Fort
- Birdwatching at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
- Guided Tours of Bent's Old Fort · 45-55 minutes
- Hiking along the Arkansas River · 30-90 minutes
- Plaza Access in the Fort · 10-30 minutes
- Trail to History · 3-15 minutes
- Western National Parks Store at Bent's Old Fort
Frequently Asked Questions
October averages a daytime high near 71°F and an overnight low around 39°F at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, with about 0.9 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 4.8 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
October is average at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site (about 0.9× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 57/100. October is our recommended month for this park.
The busiest month is May and the quietest is January. October sits at about 0.9× the park's average, or 8% of annual visitation.
A typical October sees about 2,000 recreation visits at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Bent's Old Fort in October
Booking a October trip to Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live October availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Bent's Old Fort
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in October.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.