How Crowded Is Missouri National Recreational River in October?

October runs about 1.2× Missouri National Recreational River's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 10% 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 2004 to 2025.

That makes October the 5th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the September peak (1.8×) and the February low (0.4×).

On our Best Time to Visit score October rates 44/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated May at 62/100 — 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 62°F and an overnight low around 38°F, with about 2.6" of precipitation.

That average of about 50°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 35% 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 8.9-hour midwinter low and the 15.1-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 166,390 recreation visits, up 8.4% from 153,521 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 11.4%, so a October visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.