How Crowded Is De Soto National Memorial in May?
May runs about 0.9× De Soto National Memorial'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 about 18,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes May the 6th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the March peak (1.6×) and the September low (0.7×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 70/100 ("Good"), versus the top-rated September at 87/100 — the best overall balance of crowds and daylight.
Because June, July and August together draw about 21% 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 13.4 hours of daylight in May to explore — near the year-round maximum.
Park-wide, 2023 drew 231,892 recreation visits, up 33.9% from 173,150 in 2022.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 22.9%, so May may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
Frequently Asked Questions
May is average at De Soto National Memorial (about 0.9× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good". The single best month overall is September.
The busiest month is March and the quietest is September. May sits at about 0.9× the park's average, or 8% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 18,000 recreation visits at De Soto National Memorial, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near De Soto 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.