How Crowded Is Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in May?

May runs about 1.5× Andrew Johnson National Historic Site's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 13% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.

In a typical May the park sees roughly 6,700 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

It is the single busiest month of the year at Andrew Johnson; January, the quietest, runs only about 0.6× the average — a 3-to-1 swing between high and low season.

On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 46/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated September at 71/100 — 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 78°F and an overnight low around 52°F, with about 4.3" of precipitation.

That average of about 65°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 30% 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 13.9 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.5-hour midwinter low and the 14.4-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 43,203 recreation visits, down 21.8% from 55,270 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 11.4%, so a May visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.