How Crowded Is Buck Island Reef National Monument in May?
May runs about 1× Buck Island Reef National Monument's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 8% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.
In a typical May the park sees roughly 3,100 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes May the 7th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the March peak (1.5×) and the September low (0.4×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 49/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated September at 87/100 — the best overall balance of crowds and daylight.
Because June, July and August together draw about 28% 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 12.8 hours of daylight in May to explore — near the year-round maximum.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 40,079 recreation visits, down 5.2% from 42,289 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 40.3%, so a May visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
May is average at Buck Island Reef National Monument (about 1.0× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair". The single best month overall is September.
The busiest month is March and the quietest is September. May sits at about 1.0× the park's average, or 8% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 3,000 recreation visits at Buck Island Reef National Monument, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Buck Island Reef in May
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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). Updated 2026-07-14.