Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
National Historic SiteMontana
Best month to visit
September
70°F / 35°F avg high / low
Our recommendation
Visit Grant-Kohrs Ranch in September
September offers the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months. For comparison, July is the most crowded month (~2.2× the average month) and February is the quietest.
- Annual visits
- 24K
- 2025
- Busiest month
- Jul
- 2.2× avg
- Quietest month
- Feb
- 0.2× avg
- 10-yr trend
- rising
- +11.2%
More photos of Grant-Kohrs Ranch
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is Grant-Kohrs Ranch by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 1979–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site weather by month →
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 2 Poor | 33°F / 11°F | 8.8 h |
| February | Very quiet | 4 Poor | 36°F / 13°F | 10.1 h |
| March | Very quiet | 49 Fair | 44°F / 19°F | 11.6 h |
| April | Very quiet | 57 Fair | 53°F / 26°F | 13.3 h |
| May | Average | 56 Fair | 62°F / 34°F | 14.8 h |
| June | Very busy | 52 Fair | 69°F / 40°F | 15.6 h |
| July | Very busy | 49 Fair | 79°F / 44°F | 15.3 h |
| August | Very busy | 52 Fair | 79°F / 42°F | 14.0 h |
| Septemberour pick | Busy | 54 Fair | 70°F / 35°F | 12.3 h |
| October | Very busy | 21 Poor | 55°F / 26°F | 10.6 h |
| November | Very quiet | 42 Poor | 40°F / 16°F | 9.1 h |
| December | Very quiet | 39 Poor | 31°F / 11°F | 8.4 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00242275, ~2.9 mi away).
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About visiting Grant-Kohrs Ranch
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in MT and one of the system's hidden, low-traffic units, drawing about 24,000 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has climbed over the past decade, up roughly 11.2%, so crowds are trending heavier each year. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: July is the busiest month at about 2.2× the park's average month, while February is the calmest at roughly 0.2× — a 13-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 49% of the year's visitors arrive in the three summer months of June, July and August alone, so timing a trip outside that window is the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels. Weather swings from an average high-season warmth near 62°F in July down to about 21°F in December, with the wettest stretch in June. About 4 months a year see comfortable average temperatures in the 50–80°F range, which is part of why crowd timing and weather timing don't always line up. The sweet spot is September: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months. Visit then and you trade a little peak-season certainty for noticeably shorter lines and easier parking than the July rush. Daylight ranges from about 8.4 hours in midwinter to 15.6 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 1979–2025 of National Park Service visitor-use records, paired with 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals, and are updated as new monthly data is released.
Park overview
Wide open spaces, the hard-working cowboy, his spirited cow pony, and vast herds of cattle are among the strongest symbols of the American West. Once the headquarters of a 10 million acre cattle empire, Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site preserves these symbols and commemorates the role of cattlemen in American history.
Weather & conditions
Spring: Temperatures can fluctuate greatly. Sub-freezing temperatures in the morning can give way to mild days. Snow in early spring, rain in late season. Summer: Temperatures can average 70-80 F, but can reach highs of 100 F. Rain rare. Dry and hot. Fall: Temperatures can fluctuate greatly. Sub-freezing mornings can give way to mild days. Rain in early fall likely. Winter: Temperature can fall to -30 F, with highs of 10-20 F. Snow is possible. Cold weather gear is highly recommended.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Grant-Kohrs Ranch
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site — live availability and prices to plan your trip. September is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather. Full lodging guide: when to book, gateway vs in-park, and the crowd calendar that drives room rates.
Top-rated places to stay near Grant-Kohrs Ranch
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
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Getting to Grant-Kohrs Ranch
The nearest airport is Missoula International Airport (MSO), about 90 mi (1 hr 51 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Grant-Kohrs Ranch by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
September offers the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months at Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. The park is busiest in July (about 2.2× the average month) and quietest in February.
July is the busiest month at Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, running roughly 2.2 times the park's average monthly visitation.
February is the quietest month at Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, at about 0.2× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site recorded about 23,520 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been rising over the past decade (+11.2%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site averages about 62°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Missoula International Airport (MSO) is the closest airport to Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, about 90 mi (1 hr 51 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Grant-Kohrs Ranch
If you are planning to swim, paddle or fish on this trip, these graded lakes are within a 40-mile drive. Grades are A–F from EPA and state-agency sampling.
- Doney Lake water qualityGrade — · 10 mi · MT
- Rock Creek Lake water qualityGrade — · 10 mi · MT
- Upper Elliot Lake water qualityGrade — · 13 mi · MT
- Lower Elliot Lake water qualityGrade — · 13 mi · MT
- Mountain Ben Lake water qualityGrade — · 14 mi · MT
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.