Visiting St. Louis in October.jpg

Visiting St. Louis in October

by  Ayesha Munir
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2024-10-25

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If you're thinking about visiting St. Louis in October, you're in for a treat! The crisp air, beautiful fall foliage, and lively cultural events make this a fantastic time to explore the city. Whether you're strolling through the stunning Missouri Botanical Garden, enjoying family-friendly activities, or soaking in the charm of Forest Park, St. Louis offers something for everyone during the fall. Let’s dive into why October is an excellent month to explore the city, what the weather is like, and the top things to do while you're there!

Photo credit@KennyNguyen/Unsplash

Is St. Louis a Good Time to Visit in October?

Absolutely! If you love cooler temperatures and don’t mind crowds or shorter hours for some attractions, October is a good time to visit St. Louis. The climate starts with a hot summer and the city moves well into the pleasant fall weather. The average temperatures in October are between 10-21 degrees Celsius, which is optimal for strolling around the city, getting acquainted with its main attractions, as well as attending outdoor events.

October is also fully loaded with family entertainment, outside markets with craft sellers, and as you might have expected – a lot of tunes. Besides, the area over and around the Missouri River, including the city, is especially beautiful during this part of the year because trees display their fall hues. If you are a lover of Mother Nature or history, there are lots of things to do in St. Louis in the month of October.

Photo credit@KirkThornton/Unsplash

Reasons to Visit St. Louis in October

There are several reasons why St. Louis is a fantastic destination in October:

Perfect Weather for Exploring:

St Louis in the fall is relatively not so cold and this makes the city conducive for walking tourism and tourism in general. Unlike the scorching summer season or the freezing winter, October provides a fine climate for outdoor experiences.

Beautiful Fall Foliage:

As is common with many other places across the country, the moment the leaves start falling is when St Louis turns into an amazing place to be during the fall. Autumn with all its intensity overshadows the city parks – the largest of which is the Forest Park – with colors of gold, orange, and red lease for a walk, a bike ride, or a picnic.

Cultural Events and Festivals:

October is festival time in St. Louis! When it comes to festivals, there are numerous, varying from food and wine, to art, and even music festivals. There is always an opportunity to buy craft from local artisans at markets and fairs selling true artisanal creations.

Family-Friendly Fun:

When it comes to families and traveling I can inform you that there are lots of things for everybody to do. There are seasonal parties in Missouri Botanical Garden during fall and children will love the Busch Stadium and Saint Louis Zoo attractions.

Fewer Crowds:

Since October is almost a shoulder season, there are no long lines to the most famous sights to see them. Spend as much time as you want to visit museums, parks, and landmarks and enjoy moments out and about instead of being stuck in traffic.

Explore St. Louis with our Best of St. Louis Small Group Tour - a perfect to the city's iconic landmarks!

St. Louis October Weather

The St. Louis October weather might start with fairly cool temperatures during the early morning hours and late in the evening but will be warmer during the middle of the day. They record more of about fifty degrees in the morning, to around seventy degrees of heat by the afternoon. Layering is important – you may need a t-shirt and a jacket for the early morning/early evening, but you’ll be sweating in the armpits during the mid-afternoon.

Rain is rarely a problem but still not something that should interfere with your vacation routines. It is always advisable to have an umbrella with you, maybe you will need it. In general, the climate is moderate to hot and is favorable for weather activities.

Things to Do in St. Louis in October

Here is a broad guide of the things to do and areas to visit to maximize the fun the next time you’re in St. Louis this October.

Explore Forest Park

Hence, it would be remiss not to visit Forest Park while in St. Louis. The park occupies as much territory as 1,300 acres, and that makes it substantially larger than New York’s famous Central Park. October sees this park donning the autumn hues and they are busy here alright. I would like to advise a bike for traveling round the park or to visit the St Louis Art Museum, or just to go inaning walking. The most famous sights located in and near Forest Park are the Saint Louis Zoo and the Missouri History Museum which are free to visit!

Visit the Missouri Botanical Garden

The Missouri Botanical Garden is an interesting attraction and should ideally be visited especially in the early fall when the facility is full of ‘fall-feel’. October also marks the annual ‘Best of Missouri Market ‘ which is an annual craft fair selling everything from handcrafted items to food. It’s also a fantastic spot for gift shopping and tasting local delicacies from the comfort of the lush green surroundings.

Want to explore St. Louis up close? Join the Best of St. Louis Walking Tour for an immersive experience!

Catch a Game at Busch Stadium

If you like sports then a great place to visit is Busch Stadium accompanied by the game! This stadium houses the St. Louis Cardinals and the games here can get pretty great, especially as October approaches, and baseball is nearing its end. If, however, you’re not up for sports, the atmosphere of the crowd and the mere sight of downtown St. Louis make it super exciting.

River Cruise Along the Missouri River

Ever since the dawn of mankind, people preferred to explore a city from the water perspective. Taking a ride on the Missouri River on a riverboat is a nice leisure activity that will let you admire the skyline, and learn the history of Kansas City. This is the right time for this activity because the weather is very conducive for the Gateway Boat Cruise in October. You can also accompany it with a visit to the St. Louis Arch to get the epitome of exactly what the city of St. Louis offers.

Shaw Art Fair

Shaw Art Fair is one of those events that art lovers from St. Louis can expect during the autumn season. Taking place in October this is a fun family day to remember featuring over a hundred artists painting everything from canvasses to sculptures. There is a live music, nice and tasty meals, and interesting exhibits for people of different ages.

Explore the River Valley

Yes, that means that October in St. Louis is perfect for everybody who prefers the climate to be not too hot, the leaves to be orange and yellow, and the number of events to be immense. The best opportunity to take a sightseeing tour of nice parks and to join the intrigue of the current festivals.

There you have it! St. Louis in October offers a perfect blend of nature, culture, and excitement. From enjoying fall foliage in Forest Park to exploring the Missouri River Valley, there’s no shortage of things to do. So pack your bags, and get ready for an unforgettable fall adventure in the heart of the Midwest!