Washington DC · Month comparison
November vs October
October ranks #1 overall vs November at #7. Fall foliage on the Mall, Marine Corps Marathon, crisp air — October rivals April for DC's best.
November
#7 of 12 months
Strong option
Post-marathon shoulder season — Smithsonians quiet again, good value before the holidays.
- ↑Veterans Day (November 11) commemorations at the monuments are genuinely moving — free and surprisingly intimate
- ↑Smithsonian museums back to comfortable visitor levels: American History and Natural History at their most relaxed
October
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Fall foliage on the Mall, Marine Corps Marathon, crisp air — October rivals April for DC's best.
- ↑Fall foliage across the National Mall, Rock Creek Park, and Georgetown: red and gold that genuinely rivals New England
- ↑Marine Corps Marathon (late October): 30,000 runners through Washington's most scenic monuments — spectacular spectator event
| Factor | November | October |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 6 | 9 |
| Value score | 7 | 5 |
| Crowd score | 6 | 5 |
| Events score | 6 | 7 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 13°C | 19°C |
| Monthly rain | 75mm | 80mm |
| Daily sunshine | 4.5hrs | 6.5hrs |
November trade-offs
- ↓Only 4.5 hours of daily sunshine — the Mall greying and less photogenic as winter approaches
- ↓Cool evenings (5°C) make after-dark monument walks less pleasant without warm layers
- ↓Thanksgiving week drives domestic travel surge with corresponding price and crowd spikes
October trade-offs
- ↓Moderate tourism continues through October; not the quiet shoulder it once was
- ↓Marine Corps Marathon weekend significantly affects transport and accommodation around the Mall
- ↓Foliage peaks vary year to year — late October to early November is the typical window
Scores compare months within Washington DC. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →