How Crowded Is El Malpais in May?
May is a busy month at El Malpais National Monument, running about 1.4× the park's average month — roughly 12% of the year's visitors come in May. It is in fact the busiest month of the year here, so expect full parking lots, busy trails and booked-out campgrounds. If crowds bother you, January (the quietest month) or the recommended August are easier. Typical May weather averages a high near 76°F and a low around 37°F. You'll get about 13.8 hours of daylight to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
May is busy at El Malpais National Monument (about 1.4× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor". The single best month overall is August.
The busiest month is May and the quietest is January. May sits at about 1.4× the park's average, or 12% of annual visitation.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1988–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-06-20.