How Crowded Is Fossil Butte National Monument in October?

October runs about 0.7× Fossil Butte National Monument's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 6% of the park's yearly visitors come in October.

In a typical October the park sees roughly 1,200 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes October the 6th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (2.8×) and the January low (0.1×).

On our Best Time to Visit score October rates 47/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated August at 56/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.

Typical October weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 57°F and an overnight low around 23°F, with about 1.3" of precipitation.

That average of about 40°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter.

Because June, July and August together draw about 61% 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 10.8 hours of daylight in October to explore — between the 9-hour midwinter low and the 15-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 20,626 recreation visits, down 4% from 21,491 in 2024.