Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit Oklahoma City National Memorial
National MemorialOklahoma
Best month to visit
October
73°F / 49°F avg high / low
Our recommendation
Visit Oklahoma City in October
October offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, June is the most crowded month (~1.8× the average month) and January is the quietest.
- Annual visits
- 301K
- 2003
- Busiest month
- Jun
- 1.8× avg
- Quietest month
- Jan
- 0.4× avg
- 10-yr trend
- steady
- —
How crowded is Oklahoma City by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 2000–2003.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
Oklahoma City National Memorial weather by month →
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 50 Fair | 49°F / 27°F | 9.9 h |
| February | Quiet | 50 Fair | 54°F / 31°F | 10.7 h |
| March | Average | 54 Fair | 63°F / 40°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Busy | 53 Fair | 71°F / 48°F | 12.9 h |
| May | Busy | 55 Fair | 79°F / 58°F | 13.9 h |
| June | Very busy | 35 Poor | 88°F / 66°F | 14.4 h |
| July | Busy | 23 Poor | 93°F / 70°F | 14.2 h |
| August | Busy | 37 Poor | 92°F / 69°F | 13.3 h |
| September | Average | 68 Good | 84°F / 62°F | 12.2 h |
| Octoberour pick | Quiet | 68 Good | 73°F / 49°F | 11.1 h |
| November | Quiet | 57 Fair | 61°F / 38°F | 10.1 h |
| December | Very quiet | 49 Fair | 50°F / 30°F | 9.6 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USW00013967, ~7.5 mi away).
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About visiting Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City National Memorial is a National Memorial in OK and a relatively quiet park, drawing about 301,000 recreation visits in 2003. Visitation has held fairly steady over the past decade. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: June is the busiest month at about 1.8× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.4× — a 5-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 38% of the year's visitors arrive in the three summer months of June, July and August alone, so timing a trip outside that window is the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels. Weather swings from an average high-season warmth near 82°F in July down to about 38°F in January, with the wettest stretch in May. About 6 months a year see comfortable average temperatures in the 50–80°F range, which is part of why crowd timing and weather timing don't always line up. The sweet spot is October: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). Visit then and you trade a little peak-season certainty for noticeably shorter lines and easier parking than the June rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.6 hours in midwinter to 14.4 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. A standard private-vehicle entrance pass runs about $18, valid for several days, so a shoulder-season trip stretches that fee across quieter, more comfortable days. These crowd figures are drawn from 2000–2003 of National Park Service visitor-use records, paired with 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals, and are updated as new monthly data is released.
Park overview
The outdoor symbolic memorial is a place of quiet reflection, honoring victims, survivors, rescuers, and all who were changed forever on April 19, 1995. It encompasses the now sacred soil where the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building once stood, capturing and preserving forever the place and events that changed the world.
Weather & conditions
Summers are very warm with temperatures averaging mid-high 90’s. Also, be mindful of the heat index. Spring weather brings mild temperatures, 60’s-70’s, but the ability to produce severe storms that could include heavy rains, strong winds, hail, and tornadoes. While winters are generally mild delivering temperatures in the 30’s and 40’s, the wind chill can be brutal. No matter the season you are planning to visit, be prepared for the winds to be gusting.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Oklahoma City
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Oklahoma City National Memorial — live availability and prices to plan your trip. October is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather. Full lodging guide: when to book, gateway vs in-park, and the crowd calendar that drives room rates.
Top-rated places to stay near Oklahoma City
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
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Getting to Oklahoma City
The nearest airport is Will Rogers World Airport (OKC), about 11 mi (17 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Oklahoma City by car.
Entrance fees
A standard private-vehicle entrance pass is about $18, typically valid for several days.
What takes a reservation at Oklahoma City
From National Park Service records read on October 11, 2026. Timed-entry and permit rules change from season to season; the official Oklahoma City page has this year's.
Activities the park marks as needing a reservation
Frequently Asked Questions
October offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at Oklahoma City National Memorial. The park is busiest in June (about 1.8× the average month) and quietest in January.
June is the busiest month at Oklahoma City National Memorial, running roughly 1.8 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Oklahoma City National Memorial, at about 0.4× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Oklahoma City National Memorial recorded about 301,018 recreation visits in 2003. Visitation has been steady over the past decade.
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Oklahoma City National Memorial averages about 82°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) is the closest airport to Oklahoma City National Memorial, about 11 mi (17 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Oklahoma City
If you are planning to swim, paddle or fish on this trip, these graded lakes are within a 40-mile drive. Grades are A–F from EPA and state-agency sampling.
- Thunderbird Lake Hog Creek water qualityGrade D · 21 mi · OK
- Lake Thunderbird water qualityGrade D · 23 mi · OK
- Wes Watkins Reservoir water qualityGrade D · 23 mi · OK
- Thunderbird Lake Fisherman'S water qualityGrade D · 24 mi · OK
- Hefner Lake water qualityGrade — · 8 mi · OK
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (2000–2003), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.