Month guide · Minneapolis · United States
Minneapolis in October
What October is really like in Minneapolis: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Steve Lyon, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
October is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 14°C (57°F), lows of 4°C (39°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 10.9 hours of daylight. Crisp autumn days with peak leaf colour along the river and the lakes in early to mid-October.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 14°C (57°F) / 4°C (39°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in October
October is the 6th-warmest month in Minneapolis: days average 14°C (57°F) against a yearly average high of 12°C (54°F), and nights fall to about 4°C (39°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with September (22°C (72°F)), October is cooler; by November highs drop to around 5°C (41°F).
- Sunrise (15 October)
- About 07:28
- Sunset (15 October)
- About 18:29
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
Autumn (September–November). Crisp, colourful September and October days with fewer crowds, turning cold and grey in November.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, October rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in October
- Twin Cities Marathon from Minneapolis to Saint Paul (usually early October)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in October
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Museum · Phillips
American Swedish Institute
A 33-room chateau-style mansion built in 1908 for newspaper publisher Swan Turnblad houses this museum of Swedish and Nordic culture, with carved woodwork, tiled stoves and changing exhibitions.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Food
- Rainy day
Architecture · Downtown
Minneapolis Skyway System
Use the skyway maps posted at junctions; on cold days it is the quickest way to cross downtown on foot.
- Time needed
- As needed
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Gallery · University of Minnesota
Weisman Art Museum
Frank Gehry's crumpled stainless-steel museum on the University of Minnesota campus looks out over the Mississippi from the east bank.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Market · Lake Street
Midtown Global Market
Come hungry at lunchtime and share several small plates from different counters.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Rainy day
- Shopping
What to pack
For highs near 14°C, lows near 4°C and 9 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is October a good time to visit Minneapolis?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, June–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Minneapolis in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is October a good time to visit Minneapolis?
It is a shoulder-season month. Crisp autumn days with peak leaf colour along the river and the lakes in early to mid-October.
+How warm is Minneapolis in October?
Average highs are around 14°C (57°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Minneapolis in October?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.