Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic SiteMissouri
Best month to visit
October
70°F / 50°F avg high / low
Our recommendation
Visit Ulysses S Grant in October
October offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, July is the most crowded month (~1.8× the average month) and January is the quietest.
- Annual visits
- 45K
- 2024
- Busiest month
- Jul
- 1.8× avg
- Quietest month
- Jan
- 0.3× avg
- 10-yr trend
- falling
- -22.4%
How crowded is Ulysses S Grant by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 1991–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site weather by month →
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 44 Poor | 41°F / 25°F | 9.6 h |
| February | Very quiet | 49 Fair | 46°F / 28°F | 10.6 h |
| March | Average | 48 Fair | 56°F / 38°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Average | 56 Fair | 68°F / 48°F | 13.0 h |
| May | Busy | 60 Good | 77°F / 59°F | 14.1 h |
| June | Busy | 47 Fair | 86°F / 67°F | 14.7 h |
| July | Very busy | 27 Poor | 90°F / 72°F | 14.4 h |
| August | Busy | 36 Poor | 89°F / 70°F | 13.5 h |
| September | Average | 64 Good | 82°F / 62°F | 12.2 h |
| Octoberour pick | Average | 59 Fair | 70°F / 50°F | 11.0 h |
| November | Quiet | 52 Fair | 56°F / 39°F | 9.9 h |
| December | Very quiet | 45 Fair | 45°F / 30°F | 9.3 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00237452, ~7 mi away).
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About visiting Ulysses S Grant
Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in MO and one of the system's hidden, low-traffic units, drawing about 45,000 recreation visits in 2024. Visitation has eased over the past decade, down about 22.4%. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: July is the busiest month at about 1.8× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.3× — a 6-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 41% 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 81°F in July down to about 33°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 July rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.3 hours in midwinter to 14.7 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. These crowd figures are drawn from 1991–2025 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
Ulysses S. Grant is known as the victorious Civil War general who saved the Union and the 18th President of the United States. He first met Julia Dent, his future wife, at her family home, named White Haven. From 1854 to 1859 the Dents, Grants and an enslaved African-American workforce lived on the property.
Weather & conditions
St. Louis weather can be uncomfortable and occasionally severe, so please plan your visit accordingly. High heat and humidity, severe thunderstorms, snow and ice, and extreme cold are all possible depending upon the season. For an update of inclement weather conditions which may affect your visit, call (314)842-1867 and follow the instructions to connect to the inclement weather report.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Ulysses S Grant
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site — 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 Ulysses S Grant
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 Ulysses S Grant
The nearest airport is Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL), about 16 mi (28 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Ulysses S Grant by car.
What takes a reservation at Ulysses S Grant
From National Park Service records read on October 11, 2026. Timed-entry and permit rules change from season to season; the official Ulysses S Grant 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 Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site. The park is busiest in July (about 1.8× the average month) and quietest in January.
July is the busiest month at Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site, running roughly 1.8 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site, at about 0.3× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site recorded about 44,732 recreation visits in 2024. Visitation has been falling over the past decade (-22.4%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site averages about 81°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL) is the closest airport to Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site, about 16 mi (28 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Ulysses S Grant
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.
- Lake Wauwanoka water qualityGrade A · 24 mi · MO
- Sherwood Lake water qualityGrade A · 34 mi · MO
- Sherwood Lake water qualityGrade A · 35 mi · MO
- Goose Creek Lake water qualityGrade A · 39 mi · MO
- Timberline Lakes water qualityGrade A · 40 mi · MO
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1991–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.