If you’re wondering about the best national parks to visit in May, you’re in the right place! May is a wonderful time to visit several US national parks. It’s a perfect shoulder season time when it’s not too hot, and also not too cold, in many parts of the country. It’s also a time when you can enjoy colorful wildflowers in some areas.
I’m an avid national park traveler who has almost been to all 63 US national parks, and these picks are based on my experiences in the parks. Use this list to come up with ideas for a May national park trip, and guide your planning process.
I tried to keep this list short so that I could really focus on the best parks for May, but it was hard to narrow it down. For more ideas, check out my longer list of the national parks to visit in the spring.
No matter which national park you visit, please make sure to leave no trace! That includes packing out all of your trash, following all park rules, never feeding wildlife and staying on durable surfaces. Please make an effort to respect our public lands.
16 of the Best US National Parks to Visit in May
1. Olympic National Park, Washington
Average temperatures in May: 54° F / 39° F
Olympic is a park known for its lush rainforest, beautiful waterfalls and coastal views. May is an ideal time for most of the park, as you’ll likely get to experience great waterfalls and fewer crowds than the summer months.
The higher elevation portions of the park, such as Hurricane Ridge, might still have snow in May, but they can still be enjoyed as long as the road is open. May can also bring rain, but I think the misty vibes are part of what makes this park special, especially in the Hoh Rainforest.
May is also one of the best times to see black bears in Hurricane Ridge, as they are becoming active for the season. You also might see marmot, deer, snowshoe hares, birds, and more.
Tip: Check the tide charts before visiting certain beaches, such as Rialto Beach.
Read my itinerary for Olympic National Park
2. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Average temperatures in May: 68° F / 39° F
This park protects the tallest sand dunes in North America! Great Sand Dunes not only protects sand dunes, but is also home to forest, wetlands, alpine lakes and tundra. It’s a fun park for sandboarding, hiking, picnicking, and more.
Each year in late Spring, you have a chance to see a seasonal river flowing through the dunes known as Medano Creek. It’s typically at its best at the end of May and early June. This unique spot is nice for swimming or relaxing as if you’re at a beach.
During a visit to Great Sand Dunes, you can rent a sled or sand board to fly down the dunes. And don’t miss Zapata Falls, which is right outside of the park.
3. Congaree National Park, South Carolina
Average temperatures in May: 81° F / 59° F
At first glance, Congaree might not feel as impressive as some of the other national parks, but there is more than meets the eye. This park protects the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeast US. The trees are beautiful, and it’s also a great park for kayaking, canoeing, and looking for wildlife.
May is a great time to visit because you have a chance to see synchronous fireflies. This phenomenon occurs as a certain species of firefly looks for a mate. They flash in synchrony and it creates a unique scene.
This is a popular event, so the park limits the numbers of visitors via a lottery. You can enter on recreation.gov and the viewing takes place for two weeks sometime between mid-May and mid-June.
It’s also quite common for Congaree to flood, which makes a lot of the trails inaccessible. This is most likely to occur between February and April, so you’ll have less of a chance of this affecting your visit in May.
4. Zion National Park, Utah
Average temperatures in May: 69° F / 43° F
Zion is an iconic park known for its towering canyon walls, adventurous trails, and incredible views. It’s a park that is fantastic for hiking at all levels.
May is a great time to visit Zion before it gets a lot hotter and busier during the summer months. Spring brings mild hiking weather and can bring some desert blooms. It’s also a nice time to see the waterfalls flowing.
In years with a lot of snow or rain, the Narrows may be closed during the first part of May. However, they typically reopen by the end of month. If you want to hike the Narrows, stick to the end of May. But if you want to avoid some of the crowds, visit at the beginning of the month. Either way, be prepared to park and utilize the shuttle system in Zion as early as you can, as Zion gets extremely crowded.
Read my itinerary for Zion National Park
5. Redwood National Park, California
Average temperatures in May: 62° F / 41° F
Redwood National Park is home to the tallest trees in the world! This stunning park is full of mystical forests, fern-covered paths and massive trees that will make you feel small. The park is located along the coast, so there is a mix of forests along with coastal views.
May is one of the best times to visit to get that balance of nice weather and fewer crowds than summer. The spring tends to bring some rain, which leads to lush greenery and misty vibes, but it’s not as wet as the winter months. You also might get to see rhododendrons in bloom at the end of May.
Read my itinerary for Redwood National Park
6. Arches National Park, Utah
Average temperatures in May: 80° F / 50° F
Arches is a park famous for its high concentration of natural bridges and arches. The park has some amazing hiking trails, and plenty of scenic views.
Arches is one of the busiest national parks, and it might feel extra busy compared to larger parks, due to small parking lots. May is a great time for mild hiking weather, but it’s best to visit in early May to avoid the larger crowds and higher heat.
May is also a great time to see desert flowers scattered throughout the park.
7. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Average temperatures in May: 64° F / 45° F
Shenandoah is home to beautiful mountain trails, lush waterfalls, and a jaw-dropping scenic drive. The park is not far from Washington D.C., making it accessible to locals and travelers alike.
Spring is a wonderful time for mild weather, wildflowers and fewer crowds in the park. It’s an ideal time to see waterfalls flowing, and the park tends to be less crowded than in the summer. Plus, May is the time to see rhododendrons in bloom. Shenandoah even has a “wildflower weekend” where they celebrate spring with walks, talks and more. In 2026, this will occur during the first weekend in May.
May temperatures tend to be warm during the day and chilly at night. Spring showers can occur, so don’t forget your rain coat.
Tip: It’s best to avoid Memorial Day weekend if you want to avoid crowds.
8. Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Average temperatures in May: 67° F / 39° F
Mesa Verde is an incredible park to learn about a part of history that your history books probably glossed over. The park protects over 600 cliff dwellings and over 5,000 archaeological sites, and tells the stories of the Ancestral Pueblo people who lived here. On a visit to Mesa Verde, you can literally step into history with a ranger-led tour of a cliff dwelling.
The ranger-led tours only occur between May and October, so I recommend visiting during those months. Of those months, May, September and October offer fewer crowds and lower temperatures. This park can be quite hot in the summer.
Some tours start at the beginning of May, but tours don’t begin in the Wetherhill Mesa portion of the park until the end of May. So, stick with the end of the month if you want to ensure all the options are available.
Tip: Reserve your tour tickets online two weeks in advance (they sell out quickly).
Read my itinerary for Mesa Verde National Park
9. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Average temperatures in May: 67° F / 49° F
Capitol Reef is an underrated Utah national park that protects cliffs, arches, slot canyons and more. They even have historic fruit orchards that contain 1,000’s of trees.
Spring is a great time to visit Capitol Reef, as you’ll likely experience warm days and cool nights, without the intense summer heat.
May is also a time to see some of the fruit trees in bloom. The pear and apple trees tend to flower in early May, and can be harvested later in the year.
Read my guide to visiting Capitol Reef
10. Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina
Average temperatures in May: 69° F / 43° F
Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited US national park. It’s known for its Appalachian mountain beauty, waterfalls, and diverse plant and animal life. The park protects over 800 square miles of land.
May is one of the most ideal months to visit this park. You can experience mild weather for hiking, blooming wildflowers, and fewer crowds than summer or fall. Flowers bloom at lower elevations in April, but you can enjoy flowers blooming at higher elevations in May. Some flowers you can enjoy in May include trillium, fire pink and dwarf crested iris.
You can also see synchronous fireflies in this park at the end of May. Like Congaree, a lottery takes place for this event.
Tip: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free to visit, but they do have a parking fee that you’ll need to pay at certain areas or online.
11. Yosemite National Park, California
Average temperatures in May: 72° F / 44° F
Yosemite is an iconic park known for its massive valley, granite cliffs, incredible waterfalls and much more. The park is also thought of as the birthplace of modern rock climbing.
Spring is an amazing time to see waterfalls in Yosemite, which is one of the best parts of the park. May is the peak time to see Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite Falls and the Mist Trail.
The higher elevation areas may still be closed in May, such as Tioga and Glacier Point Roads. You also may need to carry chains to travel on some of the roads.
May also brings fewer crowds than the summer months for this popular park.
12. New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia
Average temperatures in May: 72° F / 51° F
New River Gorge is a unique park that has a massive gorge, one of the oldest rivers in the world, mining ruins and massive cliffs. The park offers great hiking, rock climbing opportunities and epic white water rafting.
May in New River Gorge is a prime time for hiking and rafting. Spring brings nice hiking weather before the summer heat sets in, and you might get to see rhododendrons in bloom.
Spring is also an fantastic time for white water rafting on both the Upper and Lower New River, as the water levels are higher due to rain and snowmelt.
Read my guide to visiting New River Gorge
13. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Average temperatures in May: 62° F / 32° F
Bryce is one of those places that I think everyone should visit at least once. The expansive display of hoodoos is breathtaking, and you can enjoy the views whether you’re hiking or not.
Bryce Canyon is located at the highest elevation of the five Utah national parks. This means that it doesn’t get quite as hot here during the summer, and that it receives more snow in the winter. Even though the heat isn’t quite as bad here, I still recommend avoiding a summer trip due to the heat and crowds.
May is a perfect time to enjoy cool hiking weather in Bryce. Early in the month can be quite chilly, and you could even receive some snow, but the park warms up a lot as the month goes on. I also think that Bryce is stunning with snow!
14. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Average temperatures in May: 79° F / 45° F
Petrified Forest is a unique national park that is well known for its petrified logs and colorful badlands. It might not have the same epic views that some of these other parks have, but it’s still a beloved park among anyone who loves geology and desert beauty.
May brings mild hiking temperatures before the high heat of summer, and fewer crowds. May also tends to be dry. The biggest downside is that the winds can be bad in May, and sandstorms are a possibility.
Read my guide to Petrified Forest
15. Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim), Arizona
Average temperatures in May: 67° F / 43° F
The Grand Canyon is a place that will take your breath away. The massive canyon is about a mile deep and 277 miles long. It has been carved away by the Colorado River over millions of years.
As with all of the desert parks on this list, I recommend avoiding a summer visit due to high heat and crowds. May is the sweet spot where you can enjoy warm days, cool nights and slightly fewer crowds than the peak months.
Spring also brings a variety of colorful wildflowers throughout the park. Keep in mind that the Grand Canyon North Rim sits at a higher elevation and is not open year round. It typically opens for the season in mid-May.
16. Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Average temperatures in May: 78° F / 46° F
Canyonlands is a Utah national park that is home to a canyon that has been carved away by the Green and Colorado Rivers. The park has a great mix of accessible views and trails, along with backcountry adventures that require special preparation.
Canyonlands is not far from Arches, so it’s a great add-on to a trip to Arches or Moab. May is a great time to enjoy mild hiking weather before the heat of the summer, and to avoid the summer crowds. You also might get to enjoy some desert blooms throughout May.
Honorable Mentions
- Channel Islands
- Joshua Tree
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison
- Badlands
- Guadalupe Mountains
Final Thoughts
I hope this list helps you decide on a spring national park road trip! May is a wonderful shoulder season for so many of the national parks, and brings great weather and spring blooms. From the desert to the mountains, May is a great time for a USA road trip.
For more US National Park Guides, check out these blogs:
- The Best National Park to Visit in the Spring
- The Best National Parks to Visit in the Summer
- The Best National Parks to Visit in the Fall
- The Best National Parks to Visit in the Winter
- How to Avoid Crowds in National Parks
- A Guide to Which National Parks Require Reservations
- Exactly How to Plan a National Park Road Trip
Looking for some ideas for non-US national park trips for May? Check these out:
- The Best Things To Do in Cave Junction, OR
- The Best Things To Do in Savannah, GA
- The Best Things To Do in Santa Fe, NM
- The Best Hiking in Arkansas
- The Best Things To Do in Texas Hill Country
Thanks for Reading!
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