How Crowded Is Lava Beds National Monument in October?

October runs about 0.9× Lava Beds National Monument'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 9,400 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 (2.3×) and the January low (0.3×).

On our Best Time to Visit score October rates 58/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated September at 70/100 — 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 66°F and an overnight low around 36°F, with about 0.9" of precipitation.

That average of about 51°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 49% 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 143,659 recreation visits, up 12.6% from 127,563 in 2024.