How Crowded Is Dry Tortugas National Park in May?

May runs about 1.2× Dry Tortugas National Park's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 10% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.

In a typical May the park sees roughly 7,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes May the 2nd-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the June peak (1.2×) and the October low (0.7×).

On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 42/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated February at 65/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

Typical May weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 86°F and an overnight low around 75°F, with about 2" of precipitation.

That average of about 80°F is warm enough that midday heat is worth planning around.

Because June, July and August together draw about 28% 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 13.2 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 10.5-hour midwinter low and the 13.5-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 89,355 recreation visits, up 5.3% from 84,873 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 34.7%, so a May visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.