Capitol Reef National Park in May
May at Capitol Reef National Park averages a daytime high near 74°F and an overnight low around 48°F, with about 0.7" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.8× the park's average month, which makes May a very busy month here.
- Average low
- 48°F
- Average high
- 74°F
Range across the year: 21°F to 91°F
- Precipitation
- 0.7 in
- Daylight
- 14.1 hours
Roughly 15% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 190,000 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 Capitol Reef; January, the quietest, runs only about 0.2× the average — a 12-to-1 swing between high and low season.
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 48/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is April: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 61°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 1 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 32% 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 9.3-hour midwinter low and the 14.7-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 1,388,476 recreation visits, down 2.4% from 1,422,490 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 18.8%, so a May visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.
How May compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 65°F / 39°F | 1.2× Busy | 51 Fair |
| May | 74°F / 48°F | 1.8× Very busy | 48 Fair |
| June | 86°F / 58°F | 1.6× Busy | 56 Fair |
All twelve months at Capitol Reef, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Capitol Reef in May
The National Park Service tags 11 Capitol Reef activities for spring. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 74°F and an overnight low around 48°F at Capitol Reef National Park, with about 0.7 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 1 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is very busy at Capitol Reef National Park (about 1.8× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 48/100. Our recommended month is April.
The busiest month is May and the quietest is January. May sits at about 1.8× the park's average, or 15% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 190,000 recreation visits at Capitol Reef National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Capitol Reef in May
Booking a May trip to Capitol Reef National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Capitol Reef
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.