Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve in September
September at Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve averages a daytime high near 71°F and an overnight low around 45°F, with about 0.7" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.9× the park's average month, which makes September a very busy month here.
- Average low
- 45°F
- Average high
- 71°F
Range across the year: 13°F to 83°F
- Precipitation
- 0.7 in
- Daylight
- 12.3 hours
Roughly 16% of the park's yearly visitors come in September: about 43,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes September the 4th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (2.3×) and the January low (0.1×).
September is our recommended month at Craters Of The Moon: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 58°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 18.3 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 53% of annual visitors, choosing September instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.
You'll have about 12.3 hours of daylight in September to explore — between the 8.8-hour midwinter low and the 15.2-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 260,418 recreation visits, down 17.1% from 314,118 in 2024.
How September compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| August | 82°F / 54°F | 2.0× Very busy | 60 Good |
| September | 71°F / 45°F | 1.9× Very busy | 48 Fair |
| October | 56°F / 34°F | 0.9× Average | 48 Fair |
All twelve months at Craters Of The Moon, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Craters Of The Moon in September
The National Park Service tags 8 Craters Of The Moon activities for fall. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Explore a Cave · 60-90 minutes
- Hike Broken Top Loop · 60-90 minutes
- Hike Devils Orchard · 30-45 minutes
- Hike the North Crater Trail · 90-120 minutes
- Hike the Tree Molds Trail · 60-90 minutes
- Hike Up Inferno Cone · 30-45 minutes
- Visit the Spatter Cones · 10-15 minutes
- Backpack the Craters of the Moon Wilderness
Frequently Asked Questions
September averages a daytime high near 71°F and an overnight low around 45°F at Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve, with about 0.7 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 18.3 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
September is very busy at Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve (about 1.9× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 48/100. September is our recommended month for this park.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. September sits at about 1.9× the park's average, or 16% of annual visitation.
A typical September sees about 43,000 recreation visits at Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Craters Of The Moon in September
Booking a September trip to Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live September availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Craters Of The Moon
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 September.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.