How Crowded Is Grand Portage National Monument in October?

October runs about 0.9× Grand Portage National Monument's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 7% of the park's yearly visitors come in October.

In a typical October the park sees roughly 6,500 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes October the 5th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the August peak (3.1×) and the January low (0.2×).

On our Best Time to Visit score October rates 47/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated May at 64/100 — 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 51°F and an overnight low around 33°F, with about 3.4" of precipitation.

That average of about 42°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter.

Because June, July and August together draw about 64% 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 10.6 hours of daylight in October to explore — between the 8.2-hour midwinter low and the 15.8-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 85,734 recreation visits, down 3.6% from 88,931 in 2024.