How Crowded Is Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve in May?
May runs about 1.2× Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 10% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.
In a typical May the park sees about 27,000 recreation visits, 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 (2.3×) and the January low (0.1×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 56/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated August at 60/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.
Typical May weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 62°F and an overnight low around 40°F, with about 1.6" of precipitation.
That average of about 51°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.
Because June, July and August together draw about 53% 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 14.5 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 8.8-hour midwinter low and the 15.2-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 260,418 recreation visits, down 17.1% from 314,118 in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
May is busy at Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve (about 1.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair". The single best month overall is August.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. May sits at about 1.2× the park's average, or 10% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 27,000 recreation visits at Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Craters Of The Moon in May
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Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-07-14.