Best Time to Visit Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
OctoberBest month to visit
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Visit Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers in October
October offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, September is the most crowded month (~1.6× the average month) and October is the quietest.
Annual visits
4K
2022
Busiest month
Sep
1.6× avg
Quietest month
Oct
0.3× avg
10-yr trend
steady
+5.5%
More photos of Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 2015–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 37 Poor | 38°F / 23°F | 9.5 h |
| February | Busy | 6 Poor | 42°F / 25°F | 10.5 h |
| March | Busy | 16 Poor | 52°F / 34°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Busy | 36 Poor | 65°F / 44°F | 13.1 h |
| May | Average | 64 Good | 73°F / 54°F | 14.2 h |
| June | Average | 64 Good | 81°F / 62°F | 14.8 h |
| July | Average | 65 Good | 83°F / 65°F | 14.5 h |
| August | Average | 62 Good | 82°F / 63°F | 13.6 h |
| September | Busy | 48 Fair | 77°F / 56°F | 12.2 h |
| October★ best | Very quiet | 72 Good | 66°F / 46°F | 10.9 h |
| November | Very quiet | 54 Fair | 53°F / 36°F | 9.8 h |
| December | Quiet | 33 Poor | 42°F / 28°F | 9.2 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00339361, ~6.6 mi away).
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About visiting Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument is a National Monument in OH and one of the system's hidden, low-traffic units, drawing about 4,000 recreation visits in 2022. Visitation has held fairly steady over the past decade. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: September is the busiest month at about 1.6× the park's average month, while October is the calmest at roughly 0.3× — a 5-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 26% of the year's visitors arrive in the three summer months of June, July and August alone, so timing a trip outside that window is the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels. Weather swings from an average high-season warmth near 74°F in July down to about 30°F in January, with the wettest stretch in May. About 7 months a year see comfortable average temperatures in the 50–80°F range, which is part of why crowd timing and weather timing don't always line up. The sweet spot is October: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). Visit then and you trade a little peak-season certainty for noticeably shorter lines and easier parking than the September rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.2 hours in midwinter to 14.8 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 2015–2025 of National Park Service visitor-use records, paired with 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals, and are updated as new monthly data is released.
Park overview
Throughout his life, Charles Young overcame countless obstacles in his ascent to prominence. In spite of overt racism and stifling inequality, Young rose through the military ranks to become one of the most respected leaders of his time. A well-rounded man with a steadfast devotion to duty, Young led by example and inspired a generation of new leaders.
Weather & conditions
The park lies in a humid continental zone with a generally temperate climate. Winters are mildly cold with average temperatures around 29 degrees (F). Summers are hot and humid with an average temperature around 74 degrees (F). Average annual total rainfall is just under 40". Snowfall in the winter is generally light with an average total snowfall of about 22".
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument — live availability and prices to plan your trip. October is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather.
Top-rated places to stay near Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers
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Getting to Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers
The nearest airport is James M. Cox Dayton International Airport (DAY), about 32 mi (45 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
October offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument. The park is busiest in September (about 1.6× the average month) and quietest in October.
September is the busiest month at Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, running roughly 1.6 times the park's average monthly visitation.
October is the quietest month at Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, at about 0.3× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument recorded about 3,518 recreation visits in 2022. Visitation has been steady over the past decade (+5.5%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument averages about 74°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
James M. Cox Dayton International Airport (DAY) is the closest airport to Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, about 32 mi (45 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers
If you are planning to swim, paddle or fish on this trip, these graded lakes are within a 40-mile drive. Grades are A–F from EPA and state-agency sampling.
- Caesar Creek Lake water qualityGrade D · 15 mi · OH
- Buck Creek Lake water qualityGrade F · 19 mi · OH
- Buck Creek Lake water qualityGrade F · 19 mi · OH
- Buck Creek Lake water qualityGrade F · 20 mi · OH
- Buck Creek Lake water qualityGrade F · 21 mi · OH
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (2015–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.