Best national parks to visit in May
Ranked by hiking and camping weather from 10 years of data. Top pick: Joshua Tree.
Based on 10 years of weather data, the national parks with the best hiking and camping weather in May are Joshua Tree, Zion, Arches. 25 of the 34 destinations we track score good or better this month; Rocky Mountain, Grand Mesa, Cloud Peak Wilderness are the toughest bets on weather alone.
Joshua Tree National Park98 · Excellenthighs near 75°F, lows 56°F, mostly dry
Zion National Park93 · Excellenthighs near 76°F, lows 49°F
Arches National Park93 · Excellenthighs near 80°F, lows 54°F
Grand Canyon National Park92 · Excellenthighs near 68°F, lows 45°F
Redwood National and State Parks88 · Excellenthighs near 61°F, lows 48°F
Yosemite National Park86 · Excellenthighs near 67°F, lows 41°F, 9 wet days
Glacier National Park82 · Excellenthighs near 63°F, lows 38°F, 11 wet days
Bryce Canyon National Park81 · Excellenthighs near 61°F, lows 40°F, snow on ~2 days- Indiana Dunes National Park80 · Excellenthighs near 66°F, lows 51°F, 13 wet days
Badlands National Park80 · Excellenthighs near 68°F, lows 47°F, 12 wet days
North Cascades National Park80 · Excellenthighs near 64°F, lows 45°F, 13 wet days
Olympic National Park79 · Excellenthighs near 63°F, lows 45°F, 13 wet days
Mammoth Cave National Park79 · Excellenthighs near 77°F, lows 58°F, 13 wet days- Great Sand Dunes National Park79 · Excellenthighs near 62°F, lows 38°F, 11 wet days
Cuyahoga Valley National Park78 · Excellenthighs near 70°F, lows 51°F, 13 wet days
Great Smoky Mountains National Park77 · Excellenthighs near 76°F, lows 58°F, 14 wet days
Shenandoah National Park77 · Excellenthighs near 64°F, lows 47°F, 14 wet days
White Sands National Park77 · Excellenthighs near 86°F, lows 60°F, mostly dry, 8 days over 90°F
Buffalo National River77 · Excellenthighs near 76°F, lows 60°F, 14 wet days
White Mountain National Forest76 · Excellenthighs near 61°F, lows 42°F, 13 wet days- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore76 · Excellenthighs near 59°F, lows 46°F, 11 wet days
Big Bend National Park75 · Excellenthighs near 84°F, lows 62°F, 6 days over 90°F
Acadia National Park73 · Goodhighs near 57°F, lows 45°F, 10 wet days
New River Gorge National Park72 · Goodhighs near 71°F, lows 53°F, 18 wet days
Sequoia National Park69 · Goodhighs near 57°F, lows 37°F, 11 wet days
Grand Teton National Park55 · Fairhighs near 52°F, lows 32°F, 12 wet days, frequent freezing nights
Death Valley National Park51 · Fairhighs near 93°F, lows 75°F, mostly dry, 21 days over 90°F
Everglades National Park50 · Fairhighs near 88°F, lows 71°F, 15 wet days, 9 days over 90°F
Yellowstone National Park47 · Fairhighs near 50°F, lows 30°F, 12 wet days, frequent freezing nights
Mount Rainier National Park40 · Poorhighs near 48°F, lows 32°F, 13 wet days, snow on ~3 days, frequent freezing nights
Crater Lake National Park39 · Poorhighs near 47°F, lows 30°F, 10 wet days, snow on ~4 days, frequent freezing nights
Rocky Mountain National Park32 · Poorhighs near 53°F, lows 29°F, 19 wet days, snow on ~6 days, frequent freezing nights
Grand Mesa27 · Poorhighs near 48°F, lows 28°F, 14 wet days, snow on ~7 days, frequent freezing nights
Cloud Peak Wilderness0 · Poorhighs near 41°F, lows 26°F, 17 wet days, snow on ~12 days, frequent freezing nights
Scores rate average weather only — temperature, rain, snow and heat at each park's main visitor area. Seasonal roads, crowds and reservations matter too; each destination guide covers them.
Frequently asked questions
What national park is best to visit in May?
On weather alone, Joshua Tree scores highest in May (highs near 75°F, lows 56°F, mostly dry). Check each park's guide for road closures, crowds and permits.
Where is it warm in May?
Warmest highs this month: Death Valley (~93°F), Everglades (~88°F), White Sands (~86°F).
Is May a good time to go camping?
Depends where. 25 of 34 parks we track have good or excellent camping weather in May. Watch overnight lows: Cloud Peak Wilderness averages 26°F, Grand Mesa averages 28°F at night.