Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National BattlefieldMissouri
Best month to visit
May
75°F / 56°F avg high / low
Our recommendation
Visit Wilson's Creek in May
May offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, August is the most crowded month (~1.8× the average month) and January is the quietest.
- Annual visits
- 371K
- 2025
- Busiest month
- Aug
- 1.8× avg
- Quietest month
- Jan
- 0.5× avg
- 10-yr trend
- rising
- +41.5%
How crowded is Wilson's Creek 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
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield weather by month →
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Quiet | 45 Fair | 43°F / 23°F | 9.7 h |
| February | Quiet | 50 Fair | 48°F / 26°F | 10.6 h |
| March | Average | 50 Fair | 58°F / 35°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Average | 60 Good | 67°F / 44°F | 13.0 h |
| Mayour pick | Average | 70 Good | 75°F / 56°F | 14.0 h |
| June | Busy | 63 Good | 84°F / 64°F | 14.5 h |
| July | Average | 53 Fair | 88°F / 68°F | 14.3 h |
| August | Very busy | 33 Poor | 88°F / 67°F | 13.4 h |
| September | Busy | 57 Fair | 81°F / 58°F | 12.2 h |
| October | Average | 58 Fair | 69°F / 46°F | 11.0 h |
| November | Quiet | 52 Fair | 57°F / 35°F | 10.0 h |
| December | Quiet | 42 Poor | 46°F / 27°F | 9.5 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USW00093981, ~9.2 mi away).
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About visiting Wilson's Creek
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield is a National Battlefield in MO and a relatively quiet park, drawing about 371,000 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has climbed over the past decade, up roughly 41.5%, so crowds are trending heavier each year. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: August is the busiest month at about 1.8× the park's average month, while January is the calmest at roughly 0.5× — a 3-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 34% 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 May: 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 August 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
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focused national attention on the war in Missouri. Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield commemorates and interprets the battle within the context of the war in the Trans-Mississippi West.
Weather & conditions
Summer months are frequently hot and humid, with occasional showers and thunderstorms. Winter months (especially January and February) are frequently cold, with occasional ice and light snow. Spring and fall months are generally pleasant, with occasional showers.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Wilson's Creek
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Wilson's Creek National Battlefield — live availability and prices to plan your trip. May 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 Wilson's Creek
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 Wilson's Creek
The nearest airport is Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF), about 15 mi (30 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Wilson's Creek by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
May offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. The park is busiest in August (about 1.8× the average month) and quietest in January.
August is the busiest month at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, running roughly 1.8 times the park's average monthly visitation.
January is the quietest month at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, at about 0.5× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield recorded about 370,558 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been rising over the past decade (+41.5%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield averages about 78°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) is the closest airport to Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, about 15 mi (30 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Wilson's Creek
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.
- Fellows Lake water qualityGrade A · 18 mi · MO
- Lake Taneycomo water qualityGrade A · 30 mi · MO
- Lake Taneycomo @ Rockaway Beach water qualityGrade A · 31 mi · MO
- Lake Taneycomo Ab. Bee Cr. Arm water qualityGrade A · 32 mi · MO
- Table Rock L. Lake water qualityGrade A · 32 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.