How Crowded Is John Muir National Historic Site in October?
October runs about 0.9× John Muir National Historic Site's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 8% of the park's yearly visitors come in October.
In a typical October the park sees roughly 3,300 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes October the 8th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the April peak (1.6×) and the December low (0.7×).
On our Best Time to Visit score October rates 73/100 ("Good"), versus the top-rated September at 85/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
Typical October weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 76°F and an overnight low around 46°F, with about 0.8" of precipitation.
That average of about 61°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.
Because June, July and August together draw about 27% 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 11 hours of daylight in October to explore — between the 9.4-hour midwinter low and the 14.6-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 38,384 recreation visits, down 16.1% from 45,753 in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
October is average at John Muir National Historic Site (about 0.9× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good". The single best month overall is September.
The busiest month is April and the quietest is December. October sits at about 0.9× the park's average, or 8% of annual visitation.
A typical October sees about 3,000 recreation visits at John Muir National Historic Site, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near John Muir in October
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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 2026-07-14.