Rock Creek Park in October
October at Rock Creek Park averages a daytime high near 68°F and an overnight low around 47°F, with about 4.4" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1× the park's average month, which makes October an average month here.
- Average low
- 47°F
- Average high
- 68°F
Range across the year: 26°F to 88°F
- Precipitation
- 4.4 in
- Daylight
- 11.0 hours
Roughly 8% of the park's yearly visitors come in October: about 175,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes October the 6th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.5×) and the December low (0.6×).
On our Best Time to Visit score October rates 55/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is April: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 57°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 3.5 miles from the park.
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 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 1,865,048 recreation visits, down 2.7% from 1,917,170 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 18%, so October may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
How October compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| September | 79°F / 59°F | 1.1× Average | 61 Good |
| October | 68°F / 47°F | 1.0× Average | 55 Fair |
| November | 56°F / 36°F | 0.8× Quiet | 52 Fair |
All twelve months at Rock Creek, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Rock Creek in October
The National Park Service tags 21 Rock Creek activities for fall. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
October averages a daytime high near 68°F and an overnight low around 47°F at Rock Creek Park, with about 4.4 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 3.5 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
October is average at Rock Creek Park (about 1.0× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 55/100. Our recommended month is April.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is December. October sits at about 1.0× the park's average, or 8% of annual visitation.
A typical October sees about 175,000 recreation visits at Rock Creek Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Rock Creek in October
Booking a October trip to Rock Creek Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live October availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Rock Creek
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in October.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.