Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site in May
May at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site averages a daytime high near 79°F and an overnight low around 48°F, with about 1.6" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.9× the park's average month, which makes May a very busy month here.
- Average low
- 48°F
- Average high
- 79°F
Range across the year: 18°F to 95°F
- Precipitation
- 1.6 in
- Daylight
- 14.1 hours
Roughly 16% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: roughly 3,700 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
It is the single busiest month of the year at Bent's Old Fort; January, the quietest, runs only about 0.2× the average — a 11-to-1 swing between high and low season.
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 49/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is October: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 63°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 4.8 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 38% 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 14.1 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.4-hour midwinter low and the 14.6-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2024 drew 16,102 recreation visits, down 18.3% from 19,718 in 2023.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 20.8%, so May may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
How May compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 69°F / 38°F | 1.1× Average | 56 Fair |
| May | 79°F / 48°F | 1.9× Very busy | 49 Fair |
| June | 90°F / 58°F | 1.7× Very busy | 42 Poor |
All twelve months at Bent's Old Fort, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Bent's Old Fort in May
The National Park Service tags 7 Bent's Old Fort activities for spring. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Become a Junior Ranger at Bent's Old Fort
- Birdwatching at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
- Guided Tours of Bent's Old Fort · 45-55 minutes
- Hiking along the Arkansas River · 30-90 minutes
- Plaza Access in the Fort · 10-30 minutes
- Trail to History · 3-15 minutes
- Western National Parks Store at Bent's Old Fort
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 79°F and an overnight low around 48°F at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, with about 1.6 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 4.8 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is very busy at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site (about 1.9× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 49/100. Our recommended month is October.
The busiest month is May and the quietest is January. May sits at about 1.9× the park's average, or 16% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 4,000 recreation visits at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Bent's Old Fort in May
Booking a May trip to Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Bent's Old Fort
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in May.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.