Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area in May
May at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area averages a daytime high near 68°F and an overnight low around 44°F, with about 2.6" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.2× the park's average month, which makes May a busy month here.
- Average low
- 44°F
- Average high
- 68°F
Range across the year: 20°F to 89°F
- Precipitation
- 2.6 in
- Daylight
- 14.7 hours
Roughly 10% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 23,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes May the 5th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (2.6×) and the December low (0.3×).
May is our recommended month at Bighorn Canyon: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 56°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 16 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 57% 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 14.7 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 8.6-hour midwinter low and the 15.4-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 228,382 recreation visits, up 3.9% from 219,815 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 7.2%, 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 | 58°F / 36°F | 0.8× Quiet | 54 Fair |
| May | 68°F / 44°F | 1.2× Busy | 65 Good |
| June | 78°F / 53°F | 1.9× Very busy | 65 Good |
All twelve months at Bighorn Canyon, with the best time to visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 68°F and an overnight low around 44°F at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, with about 2.6 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 16 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is busy at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (about 1.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good" at 65/100. May is our recommended month for this park.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is December. May sits at about 1.2× the park's average, or 10% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 23,000 recreation visits at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Bighorn Canyon in May
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Top-rated places to stay near Bighorn Canyon
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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.