How Crowded Is Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in October?
October runs about 1× Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 9% of the park's yearly visitors come in October.
In a typical October the park sees about 260,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 2011 to 2025.
That makes October the 6th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the March peak (1.6×) and the December low (0.5×).
On our Best Time to Visit score October rates 57/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated September at 69/100 — 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 69°F and an overnight low around 52°F, with about 3.7" 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 29% 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 9.3-hour midwinter low and the 14.7-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 2,843,263 recreation visits, down 12.6% from 3,251,594 in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
October is average at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial (about 1.0× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair". The single best month overall is September.
The busiest month is March and the quietest is December. October sits at about 1.0× the park's average, or 9% of annual visitation.
A typical October sees about 260,000 recreation visits at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 2011–2025.
Where to stay near Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in October
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Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (2011–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-07-14.