How Crowded Is African Burial Ground National Monument in May?

May runs about 1.4× African Burial Ground National Monument's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 12% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.

In a typical May the park sees roughly 4,900 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 2010 to 2025.

That makes May the 3rd-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the October peak (1.6×) and the January low (0.3×).

On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 51/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated September at 66/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

Typical May weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 71°F and an overnight low around 55°F, with about 4" of precipitation.

That average of about 63°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 34% of annual visitors, choosing May instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.

You'll have about 14.3 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.1-hour midwinter low and the 14.9-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2024 drew 36,007 recreation visits, down 11.8% from 40,817 in 2023.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 33.7%, so May may feel a touch quieter than it once did.