Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site in May
May at Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site averages a daytime high near 76°F and an overnight low around 56°F, with about 4.1" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.1× the park's average month, which makes May an average month here.
- Average low
- 56°F
- Average high
- 76°F
Range across the year: 28°F to 89°F
- Precipitation
- 4.1 in
- Daylight
- 14.2 hours
Roughly 9% of the park's yearly visitors come in May: roughly 1,400 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1980 to 2025.
That makes May the 4th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.3×) and the January low (0.6×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 60/100 ("Good"). Our recommended month is September: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 66°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 1.2 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 30% 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 14.2 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.2-hour midwinter low and the 14.8-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2023 drew 15,473 recreation visits, about flat from 15,527 in 2019.
How May compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 66°F / 46°F | 1.1× Average | 49 Fair |
| May | 76°F / 56°F | 1.1× Average | 60 Good |
| June | 85°F / 66°F | 1.1× Average | 57 Fair |
All twelve months at Edgar Allan Poe, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Edgar Allan Poe in May
The National Park Service tags 5 Edgar Allan Poe activities for spring. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Decipher the Code in Poe's Head · 5-10 minutes
- Poe-se with the Raven · 1-5 minutes
- Stamp Your National Park Passport · 1-5 minutes
- Take a Tour of the Poe House · 30-45 minutes
- Visit the Reading Room · 20-45 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
May averages a daytime high near 76°F and an overnight low around 56°F at Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, with about 4.1 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 1.2 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
May is average at Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site (about 1.1× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good" at 60/100. Our recommended month is September.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. May sits at about 1.1× the park's average, or 9% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 1,000 recreation visits at Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1980–2025.
Where to stay near Edgar Allan Poe in May
Booking a May trip to Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Edgar Allan Poe
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Visiting Edgar Allan Poe in May?
Get crowd forecasts and lodging deals for Edgar Allan Poe by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in May.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1980–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.