The contributions of different subsets of memory CD8⁺ T cells to recall responses at mucosal sites of infection are poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the CD8⁺ T cell recall responses to respiratory virus infection in mice and demonstrate that activation markers, such as CD27 and CD43, define three distinct subpopulations of memory CD8⁺ T cells that differ in their capacities to mount recall responses. These subpopulations are distinct from effector– and central–memory subsets, coordinately express other markers associated with activation status, including CXCR3, CD127, and killer cell lectin-like receptor G1, and are superior to CD62L in predicting the capacity of memory T cells to mediate recall responses. Furthermore, the capacity of vaccines to elicit these memory T cell subpopulations predicted the efficacy of the recall response. These findings extend our understanding of how recall responses are generated and suggest that activation and migration markers define distinct, and unrelated, characteristics of memory T cells.