Our recommendation
Visit Ozark in October
October offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, July is the most crowded month (~2.6× the average month) and January is the quietest.
Annual visits
1.1M
2025
Busiest month
Jul
2.6× avg
Quietest month
Jan
0.2× avg
10-yr trend
steady
+3.3%
How crowded is Ozark by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 1979–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 43 Poor | 45°F / 21°F | 9.7 h |
| February | Very quiet | 47 Fair | 51°F / 24°F | 10.6 h |
| March | Very quiet | 54 Fair | 61°F / 32°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Quiet | 67 Good | 71°F / 42°F | 13.0 h |
| May | Average | 76 Excellent | 80°F / 54°F | 14.0 h |
| June | Very busy | 56 Fair | 87°F / 62°F | 14.5 h |
| July | Very busy | 39 Poor | 92°F / 65°F | 14.3 h |
| August | Very busy | 44 Poor | 91°F / 64°F | 13.4 h |
| September | Busy | 65 Good | 83°F / 56°F | 12.2 h |
| October★ best | Quiet | 64 Good | 73°F / 42°F | 11.0 h |
| November | Quiet | 52 Fair | 60°F / 32°F | 10.0 h |
| December | Very quiet | 46 Fair | 48°F / 24°F | 9.5 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00232619, ~5.5 mi away).
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About visiting Ozark
Ozark National Scenic Riverways is a National Scenic Riverways in MO and a moderately visited park, drawing about 1.1 million recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has held fairly steady over the past decade. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: July is the busiest month at about 2.6× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.2× — a 15-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 56% 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 78°F in July down to about 33°F in January, with the wettest stretch in May. About 7 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 July rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.5 hours in midwinter to 14.5 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 1979–2025 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
Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the first national park area to protect a river system. The Current and Jacks Fork rivers are two of the finest floating rivers found anywhere. Spring-fed, cold and clear: they are a delight to canoe, swim, boat, or fish. Besides these two famous rivers, the park is home to hundreds of freshwater springs, caves, trails, and historic sites such as Alley Mill.
Weather & conditions
Ozark National Scenic Riverways is located in southeastern Missouri. Summer temperatures generally range from 75-100 degrees (°F) with high humidity. Winter temperatures generally range from 0-50 (°F) degrees with periods of intermittent freezing and snow. Periods of excessive heat are typical in summer, while heavy rains or flooding can occur throughout the year. Be sure to plan accordingly when camping, hiking, or floating.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Ozark
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Ozark National Scenic Riverways — live availability and prices to plan your trip. October is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather.
Top-rated places to stay near Ozark
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Getting there — nearest airports
Updated July 2026The closest airport to Ozark National Scenic Riverways is Cape Girardeau Airport (CGI), about 152 mi (3 hr 17 min drive) away. For the most flight options, most visitors fly into Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL), about 3 hr 42 min away.
| Airport | Distance | Drive time | Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau Airport (CGI)Closest | 152 mi | 3 hr 17 min | Cape Air |
| Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) | 153 mi | 3 hr 14 min | Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta, Silk Avia, United Airlines |
| Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL)Best for flights | 155 mi | 3 hr 42 min | Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Cape Air, Delta, Electra Airways |
| Memphis International Airport (MEM) | 222 mi | 4 hr 53 min | American Airlines, Delta, Fly Lili, SeaPort Airlines, Silk Avia, United Airlines |
| Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) | 224 mi | 5 hr 4 min | American Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, Gulf Air, Silk Avia, Southwest Airlines |
Which airport should you choose?
- Shortest drive: Cape Girardeau Airport (CGI) — about 3 hr 17 min from the park.
- Most flights / best value: Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL) — the largest hub near Ozark, about 3 hr 42 min away.
Frequently Asked Questions
October offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The park is busiest in July (about 2.6× the average month) and quietest in January.
July is the busiest month at Ozark National Scenic Riverways, running roughly 2.6 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Ozark National Scenic Riverways, at about 0.2× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways recorded about 1,116,835 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been steady over the past decade (+3.3%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Ozark National Scenic Riverways averages about 78°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Cape Girardeau Airport (CGI) is the closest airport to Ozark National Scenic Riverways, about 152 mi (3 hr 17 min drive) away.
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL) is the nearest major airport, about 155 mi (3 hr 42 min drive) away, with the most flight options of any airport near Ozark.
There is no airport inside Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Fly into Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL) and drive the rest of the way — about 3 hr 42 min.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Ozark
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.
- Clearwater Lake water qualityGrade A · 27 mi · MO
- Fourche Creek Lake water qualityGrade A · 37 mi · MO
- Ripley County Lake water qualityGrade A · 37 mi · MO
- Clearwater Lake water qualityGrade C · 25 mi · MO
- Clearwater Lake water qualityGrade C · 25 mi · MO
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.