How Crowded Is Missouri in September?
September is a very busy month at Missouri National Recreational River, running about 1.8× the park's average month — roughly 15% of the year's visitors come in September. It is in fact the busiest month of the year here, so expect full parking lots, busy trails and booked-out campgrounds. If crowds bother you, February (the quietest month) or the recommended May are easier. Typical September weather averages a high near 76°F and a low around 53°F, with about 3.2" of precipitation. You'll get about 12.3 hours of daylight to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
September is very busy at Missouri National Recreational River (about 1.8× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor". The single best month overall is May.
The busiest month is September and the quietest is February. September sits at about 1.8× the park's average, or 15% of annual visitation.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (2004–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-06-20.