How Crowded Is Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park in October?
October runs about 1.1× Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 9% of the park's yearly visitors come in October.
In a typical October the park sees about 428,000 recreation visits, 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 June peak (1.3×) and the January low (0.6×).
On our Best Time to Visit score October rates 28/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated February at 80/100 — the best overall balance of crowds and daylight.
Because June, July and August together draw about 31% 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 9.3-hour midwinter low and the 14.7-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 4,579,704 recreation visits, up 3.6% from 4,421,276 in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
October is average at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (about 1.1× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor". The single best month overall is February.
The busiest month is June and the quietest is January. October sits at about 1.1× the park's average, or 9% of annual visitation.
A typical October sees about 428,000 recreation visits at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Chesapeake & Ohio Canal in October
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Top-rated places to stay near Chesapeake & Ohio Canal
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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). Updated 2026-07-14.