Death Valley National Park in May
May at Death Valley National Park averages a daytime high near 98°F and an overnight low around 73°F, with about 0.1" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1× the park's average month, which makes May an average month here.
- Average low
- 73°F
- Average high
- 98°F
Range across the year: 41°F to 115°F
- Precipitation
- 0.1 in
- Daylight
- 13.9 hours
Roughly 8% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: about 108,000 recreation visits in a typical year, 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 (1.4×) and the June low (0.7×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 35/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is January: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 86°F is hot, with afternoons near 98°F to plan the day around. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 7.9 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 22% 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 9.5-hour midwinter low and the 14.5-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 1,320,134 recreation visits, down 8.4% from 1,440,484 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 18.3%, so May may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
How May compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 88°F / 64°F | 1.1× Average | 55 Fair |
| May | 98°F / 73°F | 1.0× Average | 35 Poor |
| June | 109°F / 83°F | 0.7× Quiet | 52 Fair |
All twelve months at Death Valley, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Death Valley in May
The National Park Service tags 12 Death Valley 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 98°F and an overnight low around 73°F at Death Valley National Park, with about 0.1 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 7.9 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is average at Death Valley National Park (about 1.0× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 35/100. Our recommended month is January.
The busiest month is March and the quietest is June. May sits at about 1.0× the park's average, or 8% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 108,000 recreation visits at Death Valley National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Death Valley in May
Booking a May trip to Death Valley National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Death Valley
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Visiting Death Valley 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), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.