Buffalo National River in May
May at Buffalo National River averages a daytime high near 77°F and an overnight low around 55°F, with about 5.3" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.7× the park's average month, which makes May a very busy month here.
- Average low
- 55°F
- Average high
- 77°F
Range across the year: 24°F to 90°F
- Precipitation
- 5.3 in
- Daylight
- 13.9 hours
Roughly 14% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 204,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes May the 3rd-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the June peak (2.3×) and the January low (0.2×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 59/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is October: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 66°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 11.3 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 46% 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 9.6-hour midwinter low and the 14.4-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 1,393,246 recreation visits, down 17.4% from 1,686,348 in 2024.
How May compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 70°F / 45°F | 1.0× Average | 61 Good |
| May | 77°F / 55°F | 1.7× Very busy | 59 Fair |
| June | 85°F / 64°F | 2.3× Very busy | 44 Poor |
All twelve months at Buffalo, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Buffalo in May
The National Park Service tags 36 Buffalo activities for spring. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Hike Shine Eye to Gilbert · 4 hours
- Hike the Buffalo River Trail - Woolum to Dillards Ferry · 24-48 hours
- Hike the Old Railroad Trail · 3 hours
- Hike to Hideout Hollow · 1-3 hours
- Paddle Hasty to Carver · 2-3 hours
- Paddle Pruitt to Hasty · 3-5 hours
- Paddling Dillards Ferry to Rush Landing · 4-6 hours
- Paddling North Maumee to Spring Creek · 2-4 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 77°F and an overnight low around 55°F at Buffalo National River, with about 5.3 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 11.3 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is very busy at Buffalo National River (about 1.7× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 59/100. Our recommended month is October.
The busiest month is June and the quietest is January. May sits at about 1.7× the park's average, or 14% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 204,000 recreation visits at Buffalo National River, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Buffalo in May
Booking a May trip to Buffalo National River? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Buffalo
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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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.