Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in October
October at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine averages a daytime high near 69°F and an overnight low around 53°F, with about 3.5" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.1× the park's average month, which makes October an average month here.
- Average low
- 53°F
- Average high
- 69°F
Range across the year: 30°F to 90°F
- Precipitation
- 3.5 in
- Daylight
- 10.9 hours
Roughly 9% of the park's yearly visitors come in October: about 43,000 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 July peak (1.4×) and the January low (0.3×).
October is our recommended month at Fort McHenry: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 61°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 2 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 35% 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 10.9 hours of daylight in October to explore — between the 9.2-hour midwinter low and the 14.8-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2024 drew 394,175 recreation visits, down 8.3% from 429,967 in 2023.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 47.4%, 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 | 80°F / 65°F | 1.4× Busy | 43 Poor |
| October | 69°F / 53°F | 1.1× Average | 49 Fair |
| November | 58°F / 43°F | 0.7× Quiet | 50 Fair |
All twelve months at Fort McHenry, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Fort McHenry in October
The National Park Service tags 18 Fort McHenry activities for fall. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- American Bastille · 30-45 minutes
- Living History at Fort McHenry
- Battle of Baltimore · 45-60 minutes
- Flag Change Programs · 10-15 minutes
- Flag Talk · 20-30 minutes
- Ranger's Choice Programs · 25-45 minutes
- War in the Chesapeake · 30-45 minutes
- Become a Fort McHenry Jr. Ranger · 1 hour
Frequently Asked Questions
October averages a daytime high near 69°F and an overnight low around 53°F at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, with about 3.5 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 2 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
October is average at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (about 1.1× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 49/100. October is our recommended month for this park.
The busiest month is July 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 43,000 recreation visits at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Fort McHenry in October
Booking a October trip to Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live October availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Fort McHenry
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.