How Crowded Is John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in October?

October runs about 0.9× John Day Fossil Beds 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 about 13,000 recreation visits, 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 (2×) and the January low (0.2×).

On our Best Time to Visit score October rates 52/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated July at 57/100 — 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 62°F and an overnight low around 37°F, with about 1.2" of precipitation.

That average of about 50°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter.

Because June, July and August together draw about 47% 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 10.7 hours of daylight in October to explore — between the 8.6-hour midwinter low and the 15.4-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 131,119 recreation visits, up 7% from 122,529 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 28%, so October may feel a touch quieter than it once did.